So we made it to Skagway and across the US boarder. The day was windy, hense the name of the town known in Tlingit as the "Windy Place". Our boats were yet to arrive, due in at midnight off the barge, so we amused ourselves in the crowds of tourists from the cruiseliners in dock and explored this once smaller gold rush community (very similar to Sovereign Hill in Victoria, Australia for those who know it - outfitted for the tourist).

Our day was highlighted with the purchase of our expedition footwear - the standard Alaskan boot, Xtra Tuff. In research, I was told that this is the way to go, on sighting this boot, neither Lachie nor I were convinced that this would work for us. We asked around at local guiding outfitters and they backed up the original resource and confirmed this was a sure thing. So we dropped US$80 on a pair of  rubber boots, insulated of course with additional wool liners for warmth. (Now two months on.........I wouldn't wear anything else and they go well with Jeans for casual wear!). We often laugh wondering if the Xtra Tuff is government issued on moving to Alaska as everyone seems to wear them.

Our Kayaks arrived and were unpacked after the groceries and ice cream, we carried my boat back to the camp ground on our shoulders through crowds of people disembarking from cruise ships. A local, also leaving from the transport depot, loaded us into the back of his truck to move Lach's kayak, also amusing to us, as curious people turned their heads.

An exciting moment followed as we unwrapped our packages to find our boats in prime condition, brand spankers new and layed out before us. I think thats when the reality of what we were about to undertake sunk in. The questions of 'what are we doing' and 'how did we actually get to this point reasonably smoothly' ran through my mind. All we had to do now was watch the tides of 25 foot ebb and flood, pack and wait for the weather to co-operate. With regular hourly updates on the VHF marine radio, we carried our boats towards the launch dock in the early evening and bivvied for a few hours.

At 1 am on the summer solstice 2005, Lach and I got ready and caught the 2am 25ft ebb out of town.

Kayaks in Seawards factory - Vancouver Island

Kayaks in Seawards factory - Vancouver Island	Lachie with his Quest X3 in Seawards factory	Unloading the kayaks from the transport container	Unloading in Skagway Alaska
Our new Address	Preparing to unwrap in Skagway	Lach unveiling his kayak	Brand spankers - Seawards Ascente
Lach modelling the xtra tuff