Sail, Sail Away

Well, I’m not going to lie, it feels slightly bizarre that this moment has finally arrived. After receiving word back in January that I would be invited onto Princess Cruise Line to give talks about the Alaskan Gold Rush, the moment has finally arrived. And I can’t think of a better moment to capture to kicks off this blog.

You’ll see in the pictures–or at least you would if I could take good pictures–my first voyage is on the Island Princess out of Skagway. The direction is north but I as I walk up to the ship I am running circles in my head.

It is surreal to think that just 5 years ago I was putting pen to paper for my first book: Tall Tales of Alaska: The Red Dog Saloon. A book that, at the time I wrote it, was meant more for me than anyone else. An outlet for me during COVID, one meant to help remember the stories I once told from behind the bar of the books namesake. Now, all those years and 6 books later, I step onto one of the massive ships that pull into Alaska’s ports for the first time as an Alaskan Enrichment Ambassador. What that means, I am still not entirely sure. An entertainer? A “historian”? A fraud? Clearly, I have a bit of imposter syndrome.

Whether this is a smashing success or a miserable mistake has yet to reveal itself. Only time will tell. But in in the meantime, I’ll do my best to enjoy the views…and the accommodations.