virtual reality happy hour

 

 

 

 

At the virtual reality happy hour to try out new gears. I tried the Google Cardboard which images were rougher than the VR bike rides by IBM I tried in SXSW 2016, but more user interaction points. Vive's fruit Ninja has great images and even more user interaction points and fun to play. I sweated pretty bad while killing the flying fruits during the VR game, and I broke the record of the game (martial art trainings helped). You can see the video in the comment. — checked in to 1776 Crystal City Campus.

Watched a workshop Motherless Children

Watched a workshop (a book-in-hand, fully-staged production), Motherless Children, with two friends on Sunday afternoon in DC. I thought it was about two angles tried to help humans punished by a dreamless disease, but found out at the after play discussion that the whole thing was a bad dream of a despaired angle. The lighting made us look like Na'vi in the Avatar movie (or Blue Man Group?) LOL — checked in to Spooky Action Theater

21 m day hike in Dolly Sods, WV

This was the third time I visited Dolly Sods, and finally got to hike for real (did 3-day backpacking trip in one day: 21 m with 2,520 ft elevation gain). I was just picking blue berries and camping previously. It was in the 70sf in the shade, and in the 80sf under the sun for the day. "Arguably one of the most unique, and beautiful hiking areas on the East Coast. The high plateaus of Dolly Sods are made up of wind carved sand stone, stunted red spruce, grassy meadows, and sphagnum bogs." This year the blueberries were small, but other berries looked ok (photoed of the berries picked by another group). — checked in to Dolly Sods Wilderness Area

camping trip to Assateague National Park, MD

The ride into the national park only took 3 hours, and we checked in the campsite smoothly. I went to bed after instant noodles dinner to minimize horsefly exposure. I woke up to capture the sunrise, then walked 5-6 miles along the beach. It was too hot for me to swim or kayak so I made friends with a big family at the next campsite to hide in their huge tent before headed to the Burley Oak brewery with a few campers. I took the brewery tour and photoed with the owner who majored in bio-Chem. We decided to have dinner at a restaurant Tugos Pizza in Berlin instead of fighting the traffic into Ocean city. The second night was noisy and warm, so I sleep only 6 hours, then carpooled back to DC in the early morning. I got about a dozen itchy fly bits, even coating my skin heavily with deet. If I ever visited back, I will make sure it is a season without horseflies.— at Assateague National Park.

hike 24 m on Bull Run Occoquan Trail

I signed up a 32m training hike along the Bull Run Occoquan Trail (Full Distance: Out and Back) with a meetup group, but bailed out to finished 24 miles at 3-3.5 m per hour with 3000 ft gain in 96f (feel like 105f). I felt so hot like my cells were going to explore! Thanks to Mike for a treat of icy cold Gatorade at 12 m point where I decided to turn back. I took photos and walked at my own pace (2.5 m per hr) on the way back. I saw many families swimming and BBQ along Bull Run. Glad that I downloaded Map.Me for Bull Run so I got back to the trail after lost three times. I ate seafood noodles at a Korean restaurant after the hike, and bought a giant watermelon at H-mart as dessert after a hot hike.— checked in to Bull Run Regional Park.

dinner at Kizuna Sushi & Ramen

 

 

 

 

I missed Japanese food so met a friend living in Tysons to share travel stories and investment tips over dinner in this restaurant. This was the first time I tried Brussel sprout tempura. — eating dinner at Kizuna Sushi & Ramen.

14 m Pine Hill Gap/Hannah Run/Broad Hollow Loop Hike

 

 

 

 

I took a 14 m 3500 ft gain hike with a group today to easy into strenuous hikes after traveling overseas for 2 months. The Pine Hill Gap/Hannah Run/Broad Hollow Loop Hike (Rating: A+) consisted of three peaks and along beautiful rivers (stream crossing). The mountains were foggy then sunny and then we luckily escaped thunderstorms right before jumping into the cars. I slipped on wet rocks two times without injury, and screamed at the 2nd time which scared three black bear cubs to climb up trees just 20 feet away. Too bad that my hiker leader did not get a clear shoot of the Bears. Nevertheless, it was a good training hike to prepare me for the 41 mile 5500 ft gain on Maryland AT on 9/24. BTW, I saw a red orange finger size mushroom 1st in my life (see one of the photos). And one hiker told me it was dog penus mushroom.— at Shenandoah National Park.