Sunday, October 11, 2015

Lake Anna boating and fishing on Saturday 10/11/2015

Got to the lake anna state park around 1pm after fighting through tons of traffic on Rt 95 going south. It was supposed to be an hour and half but it took us 2+hours. We hiked 2 trails when we got there. The 1.6 miles round trip Railroad ford trail along the lake next to the beach, and the 0.3 miles Old pond lake behind the visitor center. The morning weather was kind of cold and cloudy, but the sun started to show its face after we got to Lake Anna. The temperature started to rise to about 70ish, so it was a very nice warm afternoon. Amazingly, little to no wind, so it was a perfect afternoon for boating. Very very calm lake.

We found ourselves a picnic table under the shade and had our picnic sandwiches. It was delicious. The lake was calm and beautiful. It was the million dollar view and enjoyment but at just a few bucks door entrance to the park. We then went to launch my boat - wellcraft airslot 165 sport. We trolled for fish all the way to the visitor center on Rt 208, but didn't catch anything. So, we went past the Rt 208 bridge and sped home to the dock. We saw 2 fishermen fishing in the middle of lake so we stopped to join them after finding tons of stripe bass (my guess) in the fish finder

Hummingbird 200 DX. We didn't have any luck either after 20 minutes we called it a day and headed for the dock.

My starter was not engaged until 4th time after I opened the cover. Thanks God, we started the motor and just head straight to the dock. A very successful boating afternoon. I found my trailer light line broke, so we were hoping to rush home before dark. We got to tyson's corner in VA and pulled over by a state trooper. He asked for my license and told me my truck tail light was dark, and the boat trailer had no lights either. Bummer, I thought I was going to get a ticket. He asked me how long did I have to go? I said 1 more exit. He asked me to put on the emergency lights and he let me go. He said to me he was supposed to call for tow so I thanked him for giving me a break.

What a lucky day!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y5rgdV97BDI&list=PLpjSRCf07NBLvb-CKUDuK8-4_u1oQKgfe

Thursday, October 8, 2015

sandy point state park boating - a very calm and super beautiful sunny with blue sky day

I checked the wave forcast and it is less than 1 feet of wave with marine forcast and sunny day, so took my wellcraft sport airslot 165 boat on my venture trailer with my Johnson 90 hp v4 out to Sandy point state park. It was a gorgeous day in the Chesapeake bay. I saw sea gulls floating between the lighthouse and the sandy point state park beach, so I headed towards the lighthouse.

They are doing construction on the lighhouse, but I didn't see any workers working on the lighthouse? Very interesting? Today is not weekends, so not sure why nobody working on the sandy point shoal lighthouse. Got to the ramp around 12 noon, had a nice omlet (2 eggs with lots of vegetable) breakfast.

Left around 10:50am no traffic and very smooth ride to the sandy point state park. Launched around noon, and got around the lighthouse and went fishing very briefly under the Chesapeake bay bridge. The Chesapeake Bay bridge is as usual, you can hear the cars, trucks roaming above the bridge. It is kind of noisy to fish under the bay bridge. I am surprised that I didn't notice it the first time when i went there last year. I guess I was overly excited to be fishing from my own new boat - LOL

Finished the boating around 3:15 pm and headed home. As usual, I hit the beltway traffic and got home around 5pm. Another successful outing with my boat and Johnson 90 hp v4.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AFd5-TYX554&feature=youtu.be

Tuesday, September 15, 2015

Alaska Excursion - Skagway AK (my trip and tips)

Our 1 and only 1 excursion - Bennett Scenic Journey (White Pass and Yukon Route Railroad - #2 things to do in Tripadvisor.com) on our 7 day Norwegian Sun cruise ship (south bound – from Seward AK to Vancouver BC) at $229 per adult. (I think cruise charge $249)

Q1: How to book it independently without going through the cruise? Booked it online through this website here - http://wpyr.com/. We had to walk about 200 yards from the Skagway cruise dock to the train station. If you book it through the cruise, then you will find your sign man at the dock and board the 8:30 train along with the crowds from the ship. We boarded the first train at 7:30am from downtown Skagway AK with less than 7 other people.

Q2: How long does it take? 8 hours from 7:30am to 3:30pm. We got back to the ship before the cruise people did. The Norwegian Sun stops at Skagway from 7am to 5pm. So, I even had time to buy myself 2 20 oz. Alaska local beer at $7+ a bottle to bring onto the ship to enjoy and took some pictures of the town before I re-boarded my ship. I was also able to take a video of the Salmon ladder at the cruise dock and caught a video of a seal in the water (probably hunting for salmon near the salmon ladder – I will upload that shortly).

Q3: Where is the best seat of the train/bus to take video and photos? For train, it is the back of the train. There is a platform in the back of the train, and you can get out and take your photo and video shootings. For bus, it is right behind the driver seat. You want to take the left (or driver side) of the bus.

Q4: What is the excursion? It is the famous White Pass and Yukon train/bus route - http://wpyr.com/excursions/train-excursions/bennett-scenic-journey/

You will ride the train up and along the cliffs over numerous bridges, rivers and waterfalls. The train ride starts from Skagway AK and passes Fraser Canada and arrives in Carcross Yukon Territory (YT) for a total of 67.5 miles. We stopped at the Lake Bennett station for a hot lunch with coffee for 75 minutes, and we hiked to the church and an overlook place to get a good look of the train station and the Bennett Lake.

We were greeted at the Skagway train station by our returned bus driver at 7:25am before we boarded our train. He told us he would pick us up at the Carcross YT train station. We saw the train travelling across the valley on our return bus trip. It was truly beautiful. Let me show you a few pictures and watch my White Pass and Yukon railroad videos by clicking my videos on the screen.

· http://www.tripadvisor.com/Attraction_Review-g60877-d104383-Reviews-White_Pass_Yukon_Route_Railway-Skagway_Alaska.html

Sunday, September 13, 2015

vancouver BC visit tips

vancouver BC visit tips

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ndn4l4fOZaE?sub_confirmation=1

Denali Alaska bears on the show for us August 2015

Denali Alaska bears on the show for us August 2015.

Bear playing the road sign on denali highway video caught on iphone 6 plus



				Bear playing the road sign on denali highway video caugh...

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whale watching alaska trip - August 2015

My alaska trip tips

My alaska trip tips

Had a great vacation in Alaska in late August. So many tips to share with you.

Check out my youtube videos and subscribe my youtube channel to get the update of upcoming videos:

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC5p-k-ES0WCY5ohK1t4TXYw?sub_confirmation=1

New DIY everyday