In all the train trip down, scheduled to take about an hour and a half, took over three and a half hours. We got to our tour bus at 20 after 3 instead of noon. We had already filled out our orders for the meal, either "Gourmet Chicken Pot Pie" or Smoked Salmon Pasta, and their staff had been advised about our delay so they were ready for us when we got there. Tyler dropped us off at the restaurant and said he'd be back in an hour to take us back to the ship, and that the ship had been notified of the problem and was prepared to wait for us. Lunch was absolutely awful - worst stuff I've ever put into my mouth! As hungry as I was, there was no way I could take any more than the two bites I did. If anyone ever offers you "Gourmet Chicken Pot Pie", RUN! I swear the owner had just discovered seasonings and tried them all in one dish! I wasn't the only one, either! And I didn't know that the gravy in chicken pot pie was supposed to be PINK! Not kidding here! Tam ordered an iced tea - it would have been nice to see a menu ahead of time to know that it was an herbal iced tea.......tasted exactly like the taste you get in your mouth when you are spraying OFF insect repellent on your skin on a windy day! We had all eaten breakfast on the ship at 6 am, had nothing until that lunch at 3:30, and not one person ate their lunches!! The restaurant used to be a bordello during the gold rush - the new owners would make more money and have more satisfied customers if they had kept it as one!
We made it back to the ship at exactly 4:25 - then had to go through security to board, which took a little more time. It was so funny to see all of the people on that particular train hitting the nearest restroom and then beating feet for the buffet lines. But while we were sitting on the train waiting for the 5 other trains to go by, the kids running the tour came to front of each car with a bag full of hats. They announced that the hats are usually for sale at the end of the train ride for 10 bucks each, but for our trouble they were going to give them out at no charge. Tam said she didn't want one - I made her take one for Evan anyway. Then I wore mine the rest of the day, as did many others! I figured I earned that hat!! Later on the ship announced that we'd all get a refund for that portion of the shore excursion, and heck, 50 bucks is 50 bucks!
Interesting side-note about Skagway and Wyodreamer's hubby's gift of rhubarb to all.....in Skagway during the gold rush days one intrepid young man figured he'd never make it to the Yukon but there were other ways of making money. He had rhubarb seeds! Miners and others were dropping dead of scurvy, so he used the seeds to start growing it there. It's cold hardy, comes up early in the spring, and is full of vitamin C. Now you can't see a yard or a lot without rhubarb growing on it! Tyler said that Skagway has so much rhubarb that it now grows wild.
