Happy Fourth of July

Skagway, AK

ORMOND BEACH, FL - - How about having the Royal Canadian Mounted Police marching in your parade on the Fourth?  These marchers were from the nearby Canadian border control post.  And they were in full regalia including the RCMP  trademark red tunics, campaign hat, sam brown belt plus firearm, jodpur trousers and highly polished tall boots. Toss in Old Glory and some vintage automobiles plus a cruise ship at the Main Street dock and you have a very festive Skagway, Alaska circa 2006.
     Skagway is like an island in that you've got the Inland Passage on one side for the cruise ships and Alaska Marine Highway ferry service.  On the other sides of town it's the Coast mountains and the Canadian border about 8 miles up the Klondike Highway.  It's a one road kind of place and that road comes in from Canada and across their border control and then crosses the U.S. border before dropping down to Skagway.
     The middle of nowhere is a fitting description.  This means all supplies - -like groceries and milk  and beer- -come on a weekly barge from the Lower 48 because customs duties and distance from the U.S. make this solution less expensive than truck freight.
     Party on!  But wear a mask and practice social distancing