Just catching up...

So I haven't written in quite awhile. I know I said I would write after my next tour, but it wasn't too exciting so I didn't have much to say! By now, I have had about 5 or 6 tours, and a bunch of transfers. Transfers are just picking people up from a vendor or the train station, and transporting them to another location. So you don't have to tour them or even talk to them, however I do so I can get more practice touring. My tours have been good so far, nothing too exciting. The other day I had a tour that went to the suspension bridge which is in Yukon Territory, Canada. That is the furthest I have ever driven with guests so I was a little nervous, but it turned out okay. I picked them up off the dock and then drove them straight to the train depot which is about 2 min. away. I then staged for a few minutes (staging is just parking your coach and waiting for your next duty) until I had to drive up to Fraser, B.C. where I picked them up off the train. After I picked them up I drove about 15 min. north to the Yukon Suspension Bridge. It's just a small bridge they can walk across, there is a gift shop, a place to get snacks and some placards they can read about the bridge and the surrounding area. We were there for about 45 min. and then we left. We headed down the pass back to Skagway and I toured them the whole way. It was a lot of fun, they seemed to like it. I was joking around with them and laughing the whole time. I always try and make an effort to connect with my passengers and make them seem like we are becoming friends, and I'm not just some boring tour guide they have to listen to all day. I ask them how their cruise is going, where they're from, how they are enjoying Alaska, etc. And in turn, they ask me where I'm from, how I heard about the job, where I live in town, if I go to school, things like that. They are always very interested in me and my life, which I love! So we got back into town, I gave them a city tour and then dropped them off in town so they could walk around. They all said thank you and said they had a great time, and a lot of them showed their appreciation in other ways =) Wait, what? I didn't say "tips", I said in "other ways"... (We are not allowed to solicit tips or talk about them so we all pretend like it doesn't happen lol.) So that was a good day.
Nothing else is really new here. I've had quite a few days off which sounds like it would be nice, but I always seem to have days off when everyone else is working, so it's not that fun. And I really want more hours. Gotta make that money! I've still been hanging out with everyone, going out, and having a lot of bonfires! We have a bonfire about twice a week. There is a fire pit right behind the parking lot by our house so it's very convenient. We also had a bonfire up at The Point, which is a little area on the rocks off of a trail at the end of town. And this was our view...

It was so much fun! Here are me and all my friends that went =)

I haven't seen any other wildlife so far, I'm keeping my eyes peeled but nothing yet. Also, I'm gonna try and convince one of the guys up here to teach me how to play guitar! I really want to learn and there are 3 or 4 guys who can play so I'm gonna bat my eyelashes and sweet talk them into teaching me =D So I'll keep you updated on that.
Also, we went on a little hike to Lower Dewey Lake and a bunch of people went cliff jumping. I want to jump, but maybe later in the season. They all said that the water was so cold, it took your breath away when you hit. Here are all the badasses that jumped!

Stay tuned for my next blog, whenever that may be...

My very first tour!

Welcome back. I have been very busy with work, training, going out, hangin' out, so I haven't had much time to write in the last few days. I am still loving it here in Skagway, probably even more then the last time I wrote! Everything and everyone is amazing; and I especially love that I get to wake up to beautiful snow-covered mountains everyday. I could talk about the scenery for hours, so let's move on...
We had our first ship day about a week ago. The Disney Wonder came into Skagway. This was the first time a Disney ship has ever been to Alaska so there was a lot of pressure. I didn't tour, I just rode along, listened and took some notes. All of the returning drivers give really good tours. I was very impressed and figured there was no way I could do that well. So I decided to try and study and read more about Skagway. Me and my friend, Alisha, (she lives with me) made plans to sit down and study every night for about 3 or 4 nights in a row, and what ended up happening? We always went out instead of studied. You'd think in this small town there would be nothing to do but it's completely the opposite. There is always something to do, even if it's just walk around downtown. Most of the time we'll go out and grab some dinner and a beer, but one night we went to Dyea. Dyea is a small town about 9 miles away right by the water. There is a historical cemetery you can walk through, woods, tidal flats, wildlife and gorgeous views. Me, Alisha, Jake and Tony (2 other drivers) drove out there just to hang out and walk around. We walked through the cemetery then walked around the tidal flats, along the water and actually saw a couple people that we work with up there. I got to see a couple bald eagles, a couple seals, and what we thought was a bear's paw print! (Turns out it was just a big dog haha) But it was absolutely beautiful up there! (I'll post pictures on Facebook soon). So pretty much every night we planned on studying and found something better to do. Finally on Thursday night we went to the library and studied because we had our first tours on Friday.
I wake up on Friday morning at 5:30am, get ready and go out to the driver room to get all of my paperwork and go to my coach. I started the pre-trip (which is the inspection of the entire motorcoach before you can drive it anywhere to make sure it is safe and in good condition), and I let the coach run for 20 min. but it wasn't building air pressure. Our coaches are equipped with air brakes, so we have a couple air bellows that have to fill up with air and build air pressure so our brakes will work. The air pressure meter(?) on the dashboard wasn't rising so I radioed into dispatch (dispatch are managers that are always on our CB radio to help us out) and let them know. This was about 10 minutes before I had to leave to go the dock and pick up my guests. So he switched me to a different coach and I had to do another entire pre-trip. Of course I was late getting to the dock and by the time I got there, there was already a few of my guest waiting for me! Ah, I hated that. So I checked all of their tickets and passports and counted them up. Because some people arrived on my bus late, I had to get off the dock really fast and I didn't really have time to tell them a little bit about myself or give them a proper safety speech. I only drove them about 2 min. to the train depot and dropped them off. I then had about an hour break, then I went up to Fraser, B.C. to pick them up off the train. Now, to get from Skagway up to Fraser (which is where Canadian customs is) you have to take the Klondike Highway, which we call "the pass". We start down at sea level and we reach the summit which is at 3,292 feet. So it is quite a climb and it's curvy, on the side of a mountain. I had only driven up the pass, which is the easy part, but I had never driven down it. There is something called a "jake brake" that we use to slow down the engine when you're going down hill. So instead of picking up speed like you would in a normal car, the jake brake helps hold the coach at one speed. You can't ride your brakes down the hill because you would burn them, and probably start a tire fire. There is also a special braking technique we use so we don't burn out our brakes. So there is a method to going down this steep hill and I knew it, I had just never done it. So that was making me very nervous that the first time I was ever going down this hill was with a group of passengers with me. I picked them up in Fraser and we headed out. As soon as I pull out and start heading down the pass this little boy yells out "How many times have you driven down this road all the way into town?" Shit! What are the odds that someone would ask me that on my very first time driving down the pass?! So of course I lied and told him at least 20 times =) Hey, these people were already hesitant getting on my bus on the dock, because I look so young, I don't need to freak them out anymore. Anyways, I get down the pass and everything was fine, it was super easy because I had a great jake brake. The touring part was a little rough though. I started saying some things about Skagway and then my mind went blank. I was just sitting there driving in complete silence for about 2 minutes. I was shuffling through my brain trying to come up with something, anything! that would kill this awkward silence. I finally squeezed out some information about the gold rush and everything was all good. The rest of the tour went well. I dropped them off at Liarsville, which is one of our vendors we use where they get to see a little show, walk around, have a snack and pan for gold. After that I drove them through downtown Skagway, gave them a city tour and then dropped them off so they could walk around town. When they got off they all said thank you and were very nice; and there was even 4 or 5 people who said I was a great tour guide, they had so much fun, they loved the tour, etc. but I wasn't happy with my performance. All well, I'm glad the first one is over. I won't be as nervous for the second one now.
Not too much else is new... Last night we had a company barbecue that was really fun. There was probably about 60 people there? We hung out, ate, played frisbee, football, and then after that we went to the company softball game. It was the most intense softball game I have ever seen! So much shit-talking and heckling. I loved it! I don't even know who won to be be honest, but we had a good time. After that a bunch of us went to a friend's house and had a big bonfire. There was probably about 20 of us. It was lots of fun, just drinking and hanging out around the fire. All around it was a great night!
Today is my first day off since I arrived. Hallelujah! I have worked the last 14 days in a row, and I think the past 8-9 days I have worked almost 70 hours. Great overtime, but I'm so ready for a day off. I think that's about all I have to write about. I'll try and write again after I have my next tour.
Stay tuned...

Home Sweet Home!

So I arrived in Skagway, Alaska a few days ago, on May 1st around 4pm. I had to take a tiny 10-seater plan from Juneau to Skagway. I was really nervous at first, but then I realized it's not so bad. The flight to Skagway was absolutely beautiful! (I posted pictures on my Facebook if you are interested). So when I arrived, me and a few other drivers got picked up from the airport, and they took us to one of the company's offices. We did some paperwork, got our uniforms, then went on a quick tour of the town. Downtown is so cute and historical looking, I love it! The views are amazing. Everywhere you look there are mountains, covered with snow. Now, we all know that I don't like snow, but it's not on the ground, it is high up on the mountains where I don't have to deal with it =) This is probably the most beautiful place I have ever seen. I can't believe I am getting paid to live here for the summer. I am so spoiled! Anyways, I was then taken to my house, which is called MP2 or "Shophouse". There is the building where we live, but the yard behind it is where we keep all of the motorcoaches. This is definitely a plus because when I wake up in the morning I just have to walk downstairs to get to work. My room is pretty small, and I have a roommate, but she is not here yet. So hopefully I'll get to meet her soon. Everyone that lives here is awesome. So far there are 7 guys and 4 girls (including me). We have a  big common room when you walk in, where everyone hangs out. We also have a dining area, a huge kitchen, 4 or 5 bathrooms, and 2 laundry rooms. It's a pretty sweet deal, I love it so far.
So the first night I went out to eat with 4 guys that I live with, to the Skagway Brewing Company, or BrewCo for short. The food is really expensive here, so that is definitely something I'll have to get used to. But it was delicious! Then we came back and hung out at the house.
The next day I started training, which means I had to "dual drive" with a returning driver from last year. They drove for a little bit, and then I drove for a couple hours. They took me around town, showed me where all the docks, restaurant and shops were, and we also went up the pass (which is the Klondike highway, the only road that takes you out of Skagway, and you have to go through to Canada to get anywhere). We crossed the border and drove into Canada about 10km. That was the first time I have ever been out of the country. Woo hoo! =) That night Uncle Mike and Aunt Shari got into town, so I hung out with them at the Westmark (the hotel where they live).
So the last few days have been training, getting to know the city, and hanging out with everyone. This morning I went on a hike with Uncle Mike and a few guys that I live with. It was beautiful! Unfortunately I forgot my camera =/ So I'll have to take pictures another time. It was a good hike, not too hard, uphill most of the time, but the end of the trail was a lake that we stopped at and it was so peaceful; I loved it. It also made me realize how out of shape I am! I'm definitely gonna have to hike a lot more to get in shape. All of the drivers have a meeting this afternoon, then we're all going out for pizza. So it's going to be a nice, easy day. Tomorrow the first ship comes in, so all of us new drivers will ride along on a tour with a more experienced driver and a bunch of tourists, so we can get a feel for how the tours will go. I am super excited for that. The town is very quiet, with not too many people, but all of the shops, restaurants and museums are preparing for the tourists in a week or so. When all the ships start coming in, it's going to be very busy and crowded and I am so excited for that!
Well, time to go put on my amazingly stylish uniform and get ready for the meeting. I'll post another blog in a week or so.

Stay tuned...