Back in August, 2010, we (Luke and Steve) did a short camping/fishing trip to Admiralty Island. We stayed in a rustic Forest Service cabin with friends Lisa and Joe Greenough and fly-fished for salmon in the stream in front of the cabin (Admiralty Creek). The stream was stuffed with pink salmon, which we caught by the hundreds. We released all but a couple of Dolly Varden char, which we ate. We enjoyed watching the brown bears fishing in front of the cabin, and got some great pictures.
We should have posted this video a year and a half ago, but here it is...,
Sunday, March 11, 2012
Saturday, January 7, 2012
2011Cozumel Christmas
We had a great Christmas break in Cozumel, Mexico, this year. We were joined by Juneau friends Joanna, her son Scott (Luke's age) and sister Marian (from Ireland), and mutual friend Kelly.
Getting to Cozumel involved plane flights to Miami, then Cancun, Mexico, then an hour bus ride to Playa de Carmen, then a 45-minute ferry ride to the island of Cozumel. We rented a couple of beautiful condo units within crawling distance of a pool that we had to ourselves, most of the time. Beyond that was another pool, then a nice beach sheltered by coconut palms.
Activities included snorkeling, fishing, jet-skiing, scuba diving (for Melissa, Kelly, Scott, and Joanna), shopping, and hanging out in the sun, reading books. Hannah broke her leg while skiing in Juneau, a couple of weeks before we left for Mexico, so she was mobility-impaired and had to sit out most of the water sports. We also had card games, satellite TV, and unreliable rental cars (4 of them, at final count) to entertain us. Oh yes, there was one other activity - maybe you'll be able to tell what it was from the little video, below... (turn your speakers up!)
Getting to Cozumel involved plane flights to Miami, then Cancun, Mexico, then an hour bus ride to Playa de Carmen, then a 45-minute ferry ride to the island of Cozumel. We rented a couple of beautiful condo units within crawling distance of a pool that we had to ourselves, most of the time. Beyond that was another pool, then a nice beach sheltered by coconut palms.
Activities included snorkeling, fishing, jet-skiing, scuba diving (for Melissa, Kelly, Scott, and Joanna), shopping, and hanging out in the sun, reading books. Hannah broke her leg while skiing in Juneau, a couple of weeks before we left for Mexico, so she was mobility-impaired and had to sit out most of the water sports. We also had card games, satellite TV, and unreliable rental cars (4 of them, at final count) to entertain us. Oh yes, there was one other activity - maybe you'll be able to tell what it was from the little video, below... (turn your speakers up!)
Sunday, September 4, 2011
Fly Rods in Bristol Bay!
In August, we (Luke and Steve) flew to King Salmon, Alaska, where we climbed aboard a Cessna 185 floatplane, for a week-long remote flyfishing adventure in the wilderness of western Alaska. The plane left us at Gertrude Lake, in the King Salmon River watershed. There were northern pike in the lake near camp. A mile hike to Gertrude Creek took us to great fishing for Arctic char, rainbow trout, and Arctic grayling.
After 3 days at Gertrude, the plane came back and moved us to Ugashik Narrows, a short stretch of shallow, flowing water between Upper and Lower Ugashik Lakes, frequented by fishing guides from area lodges, with their clients. Sockeye salmon were holding in the reach, beginning to spawn, and the char and (jumbo-sized) grayling were standing by to gobble up salmon eggs (or beads resembling those eggs). Toward the end of the trip, we switched to large flies and caught coho salmon and a surprise lake trout.
This was un-guided, fly-fishing only; catch and release except for a couple of char and one medium-size grayling that we cooked for dinner (check out the video for a photo of a mouse we pulled from the grayling's stomach!!!). Accomodations were a small tent. Weather was variable, from full-on sunshine to hardcore rainstorm with fierce winds.
All around, a great trip. Our friends Ron and Dom in King Salmon gave us some great help with planning and logistics; Cecil Shuman of C-Air was our pilot - his expert knowledge of the area was particularly helpful in selecting final destinations.
Check out the video, below...
After 3 days at Gertrude, the plane came back and moved us to Ugashik Narrows, a short stretch of shallow, flowing water between Upper and Lower Ugashik Lakes, frequented by fishing guides from area lodges, with their clients. Sockeye salmon were holding in the reach, beginning to spawn, and the char and (jumbo-sized) grayling were standing by to gobble up salmon eggs (or beads resembling those eggs). Toward the end of the trip, we switched to large flies and caught coho salmon and a surprise lake trout.
This was un-guided, fly-fishing only; catch and release except for a couple of char and one medium-size grayling that we cooked for dinner (check out the video for a photo of a mouse we pulled from the grayling's stomach!!!). Accomodations were a small tent. Weather was variable, from full-on sunshine to hardcore rainstorm with fierce winds.
All around, a great trip. Our friends Ron and Dom in King Salmon gave us some great help with planning and logistics; Cecil Shuman of C-Air was our pilot - his expert knowledge of the area was particularly helpful in selecting final destinations.
Check out the video, below...
Ellen's 2011 Visit
In 2011 Ellen visited in June, about 2 months earlier than usual. It was another fun visit, this time with a ferry trip to Sitka, to check out the historic sites, the fun little shops, and a nice scenic cruise. Check out the video for some photos from her time here...
Sunday, January 9, 2011
Christmas in Belize!
Another great Christmas adventure. This time (Christmas/New Year 2010/2011) we were in Belize, Central America for two and a half weeks. We spent the first 10 days on the island of Caye Caulker, where we rented a small house on the south shore. You'll see it in the first few frames of the video below. We had fun swimming, fishing, and hanging out on the dock in front of the house. Transportation around town was by bicycle, which worked out great.
Then we moved to Ambergris Caye, an island to the north, where we stayed with a family 12 miles north of the town of San Pedro. We stayed in a rustic wooden hut over the water - watch for several views of it about halfway through the video. The hut was primarily for sleeping, as it had no electricity (except a small, 12-volt light that charged with solar panels) or running water. We ate great family-style meals with our hosts, Greg and Rosemary Smith and their three kids (ages 4 to 12). Most days, Luke and Steve helped catch the fish that we ate for either lunch or dinner. Down the beach a couple of hundred yard was an upscale resort (Tranquility Bay), easily recognizable in the video by the brightly-colored cottages onshore, and a turquoise restaurant/bar over the water. Snorkeling on the reef was convenient and spectacular. Click the "Play" button to see some images from our trip. Make sure your speakers are turned up!
Then we moved to Ambergris Caye, an island to the north, where we stayed with a family 12 miles north of the town of San Pedro. We stayed in a rustic wooden hut over the water - watch for several views of it about halfway through the video. The hut was primarily for sleeping, as it had no electricity (except a small, 12-volt light that charged with solar panels) or running water. We ate great family-style meals with our hosts, Greg and Rosemary Smith and their three kids (ages 4 to 12). Most days, Luke and Steve helped catch the fish that we ate for either lunch or dinner. Down the beach a couple of hundred yard was an upscale resort (Tranquility Bay), easily recognizable in the video by the brightly-colored cottages onshore, and a turquoise restaurant/bar over the water. Snorkeling on the reef was convenient and spectacular. Click the "Play" button to see some images from our trip. Make sure your speakers are turned up!
Monday, January 18, 2010
A Christmas Reunion in Mexico!
We're just back from a two-week adventure in Sayulita, Mexico, which is about 25 miles north of Puerta Vallarta. This was a Christmas/New Year reunion for our family, and we celebrated two birthdays: Hannah turned 13 on Dec 26, 2009 and Dad turned 80 on Jan 2, 1010.
It was wonderful sharing a large, beautiful house (Casa Terramar), which was divided into 3 separate apartments, so each family had, more or less, their own space. Mom and Dad, who came from Arizona, had the courtyard level, Mark and Caroline's family (from California) had the pool level, Steve and Melissa's family (from Alaska) had the main level, and Barb (from France) moved between the pool, courtyard and main/open-air top levels.
Weather was great and the activities were abundant and fun. Highlights included time at the pool at the house, getting beat up in the surf at the beach, boogie-boarding, surfing, fishing, and a chartered sailing-yacht trip to the Marietas Islands for snorkeling, exploring, and birding.
Make sure your speakers are turned up, then click the triangular play button below to watch our video...
It was wonderful sharing a large, beautiful house (Casa Terramar), which was divided into 3 separate apartments, so each family had, more or less, their own space. Mom and Dad, who came from Arizona, had the courtyard level, Mark and Caroline's family (from California) had the pool level, Steve and Melissa's family (from Alaska) had the main level, and Barb (from France) moved between the pool, courtyard and main/open-air top levels.
Weather was great and the activities were abundant and fun. Highlights included time at the pool at the house, getting beat up in the surf at the beach, boogie-boarding, surfing, fishing, and a chartered sailing-yacht trip to the Marietas Islands for snorkeling, exploring, and birding.
Make sure your speakers are turned up, then click the triangular play button below to watch our video...
Monday, August 24, 2009
August '09 Road Trip
August 16 to 20 we did a road trip from Juneau to Skagway (aboard the Alaska State Ferry Malaspina), then drove to Whitehorse and Haines Junction in Yukon Territory, Canada, then south to Haines, Alaska, where we caught the ferry back to Juneau.
It was fun exploring new country with M's cousin Ellen, who was visiting from Ohio. The video slide show gives some idea of what we did and saw. Highlights include a nice little cabin at Sundog Retreat outside of Whitehorse, the Beringia museum in Whitehorse, great dining at the Raven in Haines Junction, trout and grayling fishing at the Kathleen River south of Haines Junction, and a big brown bear along the Lutak River near Haines. Check it out...click on the little triangular "Play" button on the lower left of the photo, below.
It was fun exploring new country with M's cousin Ellen, who was visiting from Ohio. The video slide show gives some idea of what we did and saw. Highlights include a nice little cabin at Sundog Retreat outside of Whitehorse, the Beringia museum in Whitehorse, great dining at the Raven in Haines Junction, trout and grayling fishing at the Kathleen River south of Haines Junction, and a big brown bear along the Lutak River near Haines. Check it out...click on the little triangular "Play" button on the lower left of the photo, below.
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