St Croix Trip Report

 There's nothing like getting on a big stream for a week, especially if it's the Caribbean. I just finished a week stay on beautiful St Croix Island. The water and weather were perfect, I love that turquoise colored water. We stayed on Protestant Cay which is a five acre island shown below at the lower right corner. Protestant Cay is about 200 yards off the main island. 

Below is a photo of Protestant Cay Island from the Christansted boradwalk. A small boat taxi takes you back and forth to the boardwalk. Lots of sailboats dot the bay. The small boat taxi has to maneuver around the sailboats. Lots of folks come to Portestant Cay for the day to visit the beach, a great beach!

This is a view of Christansted Bay. The bay is not a deep bay, so no cruise ships dock here. The cruise ships dock on the other side of the island near Frederiksted. The water is so crystal clear that you can see many feet below, absoulutely beautiful water. I often saw fish that were 4 feet long swimming along the boardwalk. Folks would toss their leftover food into the water and it was a feeding frezey. 

One of the fish waiting for a handout. I beleive that it's a Tarpon a few feet long. Interestingly, I did not see many fishing boats around St Clorix, mostly sailboats and scuba diving boats. When we ate at the boardwalk restaurants, we would ask if the fish was fresh and most of the time it was frozen, which was disappointing. This could have been due to the pandemic, however it was mostly over. We did find some great hamburgers and a very good beer battered shrimp meal.

In the afternoon, I watched a small rainstorm come ashore. The Tiki Hut Bar Boat sailed into the storm like it was a Carnival Cruise Ship, party on baby! I guess the captain knows the weather here and realized it was no threat, "No Problem Mon". The Tiki Boat was busy everyday and folks seemed to enjoy the party.

Here a chick, there a chick, everywhere a chick! Yes, chickens are everywhere in the downtown area. It was entertaining watching the roosters, hens and chicks roam around looking for a handout. They know how to acquire food from the tourist. 

Most of the tourist businesses in Christansted is along the boadwalk, however there are a few shops and restaurants deeper in town. As with a lot of Crabbian islands, there are older areas that need repair and refurblishing.  Christansted has some beautiful tropical tree lined streets. It was fun to roam around.

On the northshore of St Croix is "The wall". If you look at the water edge in the distance, you see the deep dark purple water. This is the wall, and it's a drop of over 13,000 feet. In fact, a living reef runs along the top and it is the largest in the Craibbean. Divers love this area!

    We stopped at this bar for lunch. It is perfectly named, "Off the Wall". The views are fantastic and the food is not bad either. Look it up on facebook!

I do maps! I completed this map of St Croix a few years ago. I add waterfowl, fish and a tiny, hidden mermaid in the waters. Check-out my website: LeoLakes.com

Fishing Humor

 Okay, I'm still on a cartoon kick! For some reason, I can't stop the bobber humor. I must admit it, I love bobbers, worms, and fishing! Anyway, enjoy....

Also, check-out my lake decor maps. I have over three hundred on my website that can be purchased right from the site, or I can do custom and personalizes lake, river or bay maps, too. I have maps of Lake Winnipesaukee, Table Rock Lake, Greers Ferry, Lake Lanier, Gaston Lake, Choctawhatchee Bay, Toledo Bend, Raystown, and many others. Oh yeah, I hide a tiny mermaid in the waters of all my maps that folks love to search for. Find out more interesting facts about my treasured maps by going to LeoLakes.com

Oh yeah, this is part of my studio!

Tornado Damage

 Last year, a number of tornadoes hit Kentucky and did massive damage. One particular tornado completely destroyed a lake house located on Kentucky Lake. Luckily, no one in the family was hurt. The family who owned this lake house had purchased a map from me a few months earlier. 

Not long ago, I got a phone call from the daugther of the family. She told me that her father loved that map and she wanted to surpise him with a new map. I insisted on replacing that map free of charge, it's the least that I could do. I replaced the map and she was so happy. 

I thought that would be the end of the story, however there is more. About two weeks ago, I recieved a call from a lady about a map that she found. It was discovered on their farm and they thought that it may be from one of the tonadoes. She sent me a photo and the map number. I quickly looked up who had purchased this map. Interesting, it was from the folks who's home was destroyed by the tornadoes. I informed the lady that this map was from a lake house that was destroyed by the earlier tornadoes. In fact, the owners had contacted me about a new map. She wanted the daughter's email address to see if they may want the map back. I gave her the email and told her to let me know if they want the map. A day later. I got an email from her and she said they definately would like to have the map. 

Amazingly, this map traveled from near the Kentucky Lake Dam to approximately the center of the state of Kentucky. It was airborn for 75 miles before landing on the farm. Luckily, it was found and tracked back to its owners. I'm sure that this map will be a conversation piece.  

Here's a little bit about me. I've been doing lake, river and bay maps for approximately eleven years. Over the years, I have experimented with different elements of map art in order to provide the best and most unique map on the market. Folks will be drawn to the map like a crackling fire on a cold winter night.  I try very hard to make my maps special by adding interest to the maps. LeoLakes.com

Also, each framed map or map over 16x32, comes with a certificate of authenticity, lake poem, and interesting facts abut the map. 

I have hundreds of maps on my website that can be purchased right from the site, or I can do custom and personalized vintage style lake maps, too. Lake maps will add beauty to your Lake House Decor! Find out more interesting facts about my treasured maps by going to LeoLakes.com. 

Elephant Butte

 This is Elephant Butte Lake....Ain't she pretty! She's all dressed up in her best frame and ready tyo meet her new lake house.....two feet by 4 feet and stunning.

Here's a photo of the Elephant Butte that the lake is named for. I think that it looks like the top of the elephant's head and it's body is submurged. 

I always add the local waterfowl flying over and a few fish jumping in the water. If you look chosely, you may find a tiny hidden mermaid swimming around. They say the children really enjoy hunting for her and are thrilled when they spot her in the waters. Oh yeah, some folks tell me that she moves, but I'm not sure that I believe that. LeoLakes.com

 

Most folks add a star to a special place on the lake such as a lake house or where they caught that big fish. I've been doing lake, river and bay maps for over ten years. Over the years, I have experimented with different elements of map art in order to provide the best and most unique map on the market. Folks will be drawn to the map like a crackling fire on a cold winter night.  I try very hard to make my maps special by adding interest to the maps. Paddle over to my website for more information: LeoLakes.com

Name these trio's...

 My mind went outrageous this time. I mean, my mind wandered over into the unthinkable, a bobber costume party. When that happens it splatters on to the Baitrageous Blog. Check it out........Name that trio! Will you score 4 out of 4?

NAME THAT TRIO....

EASY

A little harder

Hard

Really hard

Email me if you need to know the correct answers. Oh yeah... I do maps, lake, river and bay maps. Believe or not for the last eight years. Over the years, I have experimented with different elements of map art in order to provide the best and most unique map on the market. Folks will be drawn to the map like a crackling fire on a cold winter night.  I try very hard to make my maps special by adding interest to the maps. LeoLakes.com

Also, each framed map or map over 16x32, comes with a certificate of authenticity, lake poem, and interesting facts abut the map. 

I have hundreds of maps on my website that can be purchased right from the site, or I can do custom and personalized vintage style lake maps, too. Lake maps will add beauty to your Lake House Decor! Find out more interesting facts about my treasured maps by going to LeoLakes.com

Christmas Kayak Trip

 It's time for my annual Christmas fishing Poem. A few years ago near Christmas time, I went to one of my favorite lakes to fish and kayak. This particular lake was stocked with "Rainbow Trout" the day before. My goal was to catch a few. Here's a poem that lets you know, just how well the fishing trip went.

Not a fish was stirring not even a carp!

T’was the night after the "rainbows" had been stocked in the lake, I went fishing to see what I might take,

The flys were hung in the tackle box with care, in hopes that a big rainbow would soon be near.

As I paddled out on the lake, there arose such a clatter, I sprang up in my kayak to see what was the matter.

When, what to my wondering eyes should appear, a just fallen tree near a old whitetail deer.

I found not a fish was stirring, not even a carp, so I paddled my Kayak back to the park.

When I arrived home, fun was had by all, as my wife had just arrived from the mall.

That pretty much sums up my fishing trip. Apparently the trout, being new to the lake, had pissed off everyone and nothing was biting.

Visit my website to see more. I have over two hundred lake, river and bay maps on my website that can be purchased right from the site, or I can do custom and personalized lake, river or bay maps, too. If you would like to see more and read about my treasured maps go to LeoLakes.com. 

As you can see, my maps make a great gift. To see more of my work, click here www.LeoLakes.com. 

Remember, get away from the big screen and get on a big stream!

Christmas gift idea for the lake house!

Need a Lake Lover Christmas Gift idea? Why not a beautiful canvas decor map of the lake that they love!  If they own a lake house, lake cottage, or lake cabin, then they are sure to enjoy a nice map of the lake that has the location of their lake house located on the map. "Hanging a Leo Lakes Treasured Map in a lake house, is like christening a boat with a bottle of champagne!" 

My maps make a great Christmas gift for the lake house.  You can star your lake house location and don't forget to look for the hidden mermaid in the waters of your favorite waters!

Check-out these other comments from our customers.

The map arrived right on time and it was a sensational hit.  Thanks so much, this was exactly what I was looking for and was even better than anticipated. Nate

I just received the map, it looks beautiful! Thank you for helping me put together such a spectacular gift and I will definitely keep you in mind for future gift ideas. Have a wonderful Sunday!

Arrived safe and sound this afternoon and looks great!  I can't wait to give it to my parents for xmas for their new lake house.  Thank you!

I must be doing something right! I'm finally getting my ten minutes of fame, sort of. Interestingly, I got a call from, now get this.......a major studio in California. They are filming a new tv series for mid-season. They want to use one of my big lake maps as a prop in the series. It won't come out for a few months, but I'm hoping that it will be prominently displayed in the series. I will have more news about this later...... 

Paddle over to website to see my Lake, River, and Bay Maps. I have hundreds of maps on my website that can be purchased right from the site, or I can do custom and personalizes vintage style lake maps, too. Lake maps will add beauty to your Lake House Decor! Find out more interesting facts about my treasured maps by going to LeoLakes.com. 

Best gift for the lake house?

Best gift for the lake house?.....A beautifu lake map. It will make a great Christmas gift for the lake house owner or lake lover. It is unique because you can add a star to the location of your lake house and add a few words like " Johnson's Lake House". LeoLakes.com

Watts Bar Lake Decor Map

Interestingly, I often get comments about the tiny mermaid hidden in the waters of all my maps. Folks love to tell me about the search for the mermaid. They say the children really enjoy hunting for her and are thrilled when they spot her in the waters. Oh yeah, some folks tell me that she moves, but I'm not sure that I believe that. LeoLakes.com

I've been doing lake, river and bay maps for approximately eleven years. Over the years, I have experimented with different elements of map art in order to provide the best and most unique map on the market. Folks will be drawn to the map like a crackling fire on a cold winter night.  I try very hard to make my maps special by adding interest to the maps. LeoLakes.com

Also, each framed map or map over 16x32, comes with a certificate of authenticity, lake poem, and interesting facts abut the map. 

I have hundreds of maps on my website that can be purchased right from the site, or I can do custom and personalized vintage style lake maps, too. Lake maps will add beauty to your Lake House Decor! Find out more interesting facts about my treasured maps by going to LeoLakes.com.