More often than not, bus drivers will let their passengers off and give them a free for all as the guests crowd the sign to take pictures. People are always getting into other people's pictures. To help the process along, drivers will draw a line in the dirt on either side of the sign about 10 feet in front and have their passengers stand on the lines. The driver can then take a picture on his side of the sign, while another driver takes pictures on the other side. The cross angle prevents strangers from getting in other people's pictures.
The Yukon sign is always a headache as far as stopping goes and most drivers dread taking the time to get the photos. However, we do it anyway in hopes that the passengers will pay out in tips in the end. In my few years of experience, I have learned that most drivers will stop at the sign on the way up, so I usually hit it on the way back to avoid the crowds.
Last Monday, I was taking a group to enjoy a morning and afternoon in the Yukon. As I dropped down the hill just south of the Yukon border, I could see that the sign was free. This isn't normal when heading north, but I was ahead of the pack and decided to stop. Just as I was pulling into the turnout, I noticed some bikers (not motorcyclists) occupying the space around the sign. One was propping his bike up against the sign, while others had already gotten themselves situated in the shade of it.
I came to a stop, set the brakes of my bus, and told my passengers to hang tight while I talked to theses guys. While under the assumption that most bikers are "earthy" types and respectful to most people, I approached them and asked them if they wouldn't mind moving out of the way. I said, "I don't mean to be a jerk, but do you guys mind moving your bikes? There are a lot of people on my bus who would like to take a picture."
"Well, I hope they don't mind having my bike in their picture," one of them said.
"I don't give a s__t, I ain't moving." another one said, while stuffing his face with a sandwich. "I'll stay out of the picture, but I am staying here."
I responded by telling them to use common courtesy.
"Well, tell your friend down the road to use common courtesy when we stop and ask for a cup of coffee. They wouldn't serve us, because we weren't part of a tour," sandwich man argued.
"That has nothing to do with me," I said. "I don't even know what you're talking about."
"Well, we're not moving," he insisted.
I just smiled and walked away. I got back on my bus and faced 39 curious passengers. They were watching the confrontation and were eager to hear about it. It wasn't hard to get them to rally against the bikers, because they wanted their sign picture. I pulled out and opened my door telling them to have a nice day. Knowing that another bus was behind me, within radio contact, I called the driver.
"Justin, are you stopping at the Yukon sign?" I asked.
"I planned on it," he responded.
"Will you do me a favor? Drive as fast as you can into the turnout and slam on the brakes?"
"O.K...?"
My intent was to have him kick up a lot of dust to cover the bikers. Luckily he didn't. He approached the sign as usual. Before he could stop, the biker who was the most outspoken walked up to Justin's bus and said, "Hey, I think I just offended one of your other drivers and I am really sorry. I am an old man, I just pedaled through a 30 M.P.H. headwind, and he just caught me at a bad time. Tell him I am sorry."
Confused, Justin unloaded his passengers and took their pictures in front of the sign as usual. I guess he saw my 39 passengers, weeping. Not really, but something gave him a change of heart.
At the end of the day, the bikers finally made it to Skagway. Just as Justin was coming to my house to fill out paperwork, they group of three rode by. The same biker stopped Justin again, making sure Justin would tell me that he was sorry.
O.K. So this story was more of a heart-warmer than it was humorous and it wasn't that heart-warming anyway.
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