Heat Advisory

8:22

6:29

It's 8:00, and I just returned from an hour paddle down to the Power Boat Club and back to Woodlawn. It was 71º when I woke at 6:15, and for the first time, I worked up a sweat while kayaking. It looks like we'll have temperatures in the high 80s for the next four days. We may see rain on the fourth, with temperatures in the low 80s.

Kayak Morning

Northern Sky

Great Blue

Osprey

Yesterday was a different kind of Monday — no biking or hiking, just another hour paddle early in the morning. The Chautauqua Institution opened its season Monday, and its 10:45 lecture series began with two women, Norah O'Donnell and Deborah Roberts, kicking off the week's theme: Women Who Change the World. So after kayaking, the blog, and breakfast, I grabbed my bike, hooked it on the Outback, and drove to Chautauqua Shores, a neighborhood next to the Institution. I rode my bike half a mile to the gate and stood in line with 15 or 20 people, waiting to get my ticket to enter the grounds. I found a bench in the Japanese Garden along with a few others and listened to the hour-long talk. Both women are passionate about women's rights and filled the audience with stories of women from the past who affected great change. They ended by taking questions from the audience but punted when asked if their media outlets censored some of their stories — both said trust was important and they wouldn't compromise it. I rode my bike back to the car and drove home.

View Of Ampitheater

The Assembly

O'Donnell And Roberts

I was home by 12:30 and had leftover pizza for lunch, then started the second season of my Paramount+ series, The Agency. After lunch, I tried to nap, since I'd gotten up so early, but had no luck and ended up reading instead. Around 2:30, I put on my bathing suit and went out on the dock, took the cover off my boat, and started it, letting it idle while I finished putting up the bimini top. Then I spent a good hour in the water cutting weeds, putting them in a floating container, then hauling them onto the dock to dry. Later today, I hope to take them up the hill once they've dried out some. It was tough going — the weeds were up to the water's surface, four or five feet tall. I basically cleared a 30- or 40-foot square just off our dock, so we can swim and get wet without fighting the weeds. When I was done, I got a ladder and took down a couple of bird feeders for the summer and put them in the garage. By the time I finished, I was ready to relax on the porch with a glass of wine.

While I was out working, Evie was on the phone with our daughter Beth for a good hour. For the first time in years, Beth has an empty house since Marisa headed back to med school on Sunday. It's a big change, and she's doing well.

Chautauqua Belle

I changed into dry clothes, and Evie already had a glass of wine waiting for me on the porch. We enjoyed it for a bit, but it was a little too warm out there, so we came back inside, which was cooler despite not running the air conditioner. Around 6:30, Evie breaded a couple of pork chops, fried and baked them along with potatoes, and we had dinner at 7:00 with a salad and applesauce. We watched a miniseries called Families Like Ours on Netflix — Denmark will soon disappear due to rising sea levels, so the entire country is asked to leave and start new lives in neighboring countries. It's decent, and scary because there's so much truth in the rising water levels.

Summer Arrives This Week

6:29

8:34

It's 8:40, a beautiful sunny morning, and it seems as though the lake has yet to wake. Few boats other than me and my kayaking friends. Where are all the 4th of July visitors? This is usually the busiest week of the year. I'm listening to a bizarre podcast — sports writer and podcaster Bill Simmons interviewing Taylor Sheridan of Landman and Yellowstone fame. I was up at 6:15, on the lake by 6:45 for an hour and a half. A good 15 minutes of my paddle was spent talking with my kayak friends, Tina and Jim. Both of us had paddled across the lake to Warner Bay, so it was a long paddle out and back.

Kayak Morning

North

Paddling Towards Warner Bay

Sunday was another sparkling day on the lake, lots of sun and highs in the low 80s, a perfect day to be outside, and I took advantage of it early, then relaxed. I was out on the lake for close to an hour as usual and was lucky to see a single heron. When I returned, Evie picked out the photos while I wrote the blog, and then we published it. I was anxious to get outside, so I strapped my bike on the Outback and drove to Mayville Park and left my car there. I biked Webb's Trail, an old railroad track with hardly any elevation, so it's an easy ride, especially on the way back to the park. I then rode down Sea Lion Drive to the end and back to the car, and was out for a good hour.

To be honest, I was exhausted when I returned, more tired than usual, so I went upstairs and lay down on my bed and read until Evie made my breakfast, a version of huevos rancheros that was delicious. I watched another episode of The Agency, then was happy to go back upstairs to read some and take a nap. The rest of the afternoon I was unsettled for some reason — I didn't feel like reading or doing anything outside, so I just hung out and attempted to read. Finally, at 5:30, I washed up and got dressed to go out to dinner with Ron and Linda. They picked us up at 5:45 and we drove to Jamestown to our favorite pizza spot, Pace's Pizza. We were fortunate to find a table outdoors on their patio with a nice breeze. We had a great waitress, ordered our beers, then pizza for me, meatballs and two salads for Evie. It was a lovely night to be outside, enjoying good company and food. We talked about plans for the next couple of weeks — 4th of July at our house and a birthday celebration for Ron, his 80th on the 22nd of July. We left around 8:00, were home by 8:30, and were both tired. Evie went up to bed, but I made myself stay up and watch the last two episodes of my series before heading up myself.

A Quiet Sunday Morning Paddle

7:12

It's 8:40, and I was out on the lake for an hour. I was surprised at the lack of action — just a few guys out casting at the docks. I paddled down Woodlawn, across to Tom's Point, where I shot a heron and ducklings, then back past Sandy Bottom and home. A good way to spend the morning.

Kayak Morning

Kicking Back, Paddling North

Great Blue At Long Point

Heron With Duckling

Saturday turned out to be a good day. Not a lot on the agenda, but we got a few things done. I started with an early paddle, returning around 8:15, and we discussed our day over coffee. At 5:00 we had a gathering of our Woodlawn neighbors to discuss various topics, and we usually bring an appetizer. Evie searched through recipes and landed on baguettes toasted in butter and maple syrup, topped with brie. It sounded good, but we needed baguettes and brie, so after my trip to the Transfer Station I decided to swing by Wegmans. By 10:00 I was dropping off the trash and on my way to a busy Wegmans. I only needed a few things, so I was in and out fairly quickly and headed home.

Before lunch, we decided it was time to take the canvas curtain down from the back porch. I got out the ladder, and with Evie's help I undid the clasps and we pulled down the curtain, carefully folded it so as not to crease the windows, and tucked it under a bed in one of the bedrooms. One more thing off my spring to-do list! We also rolled up the curtain on the front porch.

Lunch was egg salad sandwiches, a nice break from my kuru fasulye. I watched another episode of The Agency, then went upstairs and tried to nap but ended up reading instead — still working through These Truths. We wasted much of the rest of the afternoon on our phones or reading, though I did get in some weeding and watering when I got bored. Evie, meanwhile, put together our appetizer, and we hoped everyone would like it.

By 5:00 we were on our way to the meeting of Woodlawn neighbors. It's always fun, since many of our neighbors are summer people we don't see during the winter months. We spent a good half hour just getting reacquainted and catching up before a brief informational meeting. We voted on raising our dues to $250 a summer, since snow plowing has been depleting our bank account. We stayed until 6:45 and came home with an empty appetizer plate — everyone seemed to love it and wanted the recipe. 

Porching It

We sat on the front porch until 8:30, watching the blue sky fade. Evie went to bed, and I watched the England/Ghana match until I got bored by the lack of action, then watched another episode of The Agency before turning in.

Sky

Clouds

These Truths: I'm still early in our history, and it's not a pretty picture. Along with devastating the Native American population, we imported millions of enslaved people. Slavery seemed to contradict Christianity, creating a problem of conscience for the early settlers. Unlike Spain and France, which assimilated native populations to a greater degree, we largely avoided it. Eventually, the colonists arrived at a solution to their moral problem with slavery: they invented the idea of "race," a social construct that let them enslave Black people on the premise that they were simply inferior, not human. 

Three More Days

6:57

8:30

According to the weatherman, a heat wave arrives Tuesday or Wednesday, so we'd better enjoy the next couple of days, with highs in the 70s. It's 8:50, and I just returned from an hour and twenty-minute paddle across to Tom's Point and home on a pleasant morning, in the low 60s. I was hoping to see eagles or herons at Tom's Point, but it was not to be. I did shoot an osprey on the way home. And I listened to a podcast where two British historians argued that Trump has been the most consequential president in 75 years, since Roosevelt. He's changed American politics and our relationship with the world in ways that an Obama, Johnson, or Eisenhower never did. I tend to agree, but with the caveat that he's changed things for the worse, not better.

Kayak Morning

The Sky

More Sky

Osprey

Yesterday was a typical Friday in that I had nothing I wanted to do — no biking or yoga. I did get in a good paddle as usual, and it was another stellar morning on the lake. How lucky I am to get out on the water most mornings of the year. Evie wanted to get a few things done, so I volunteered to sweep and vacuum both porches while she cleaned the bathrooms. I took everything off the back porch, which tends to get dirty, swept and vacuumed it, and then put everything back, making a big difference. For the lakeside porch, I just moved furniture around and swept and vacuumed. It took me a good hour, but I didn't mind it. I didn't start until 10:30, having read some, so by the time I was through, I was ready for lunch. I still had a pot of kuru fasulye left, so that's what I had, along with oyster crackers and Frank's Hot Sauce.

I watched another episode of The Agency, which I'm enjoying. I then napped briefly but was awoken around 1:30 by my neighbor mowing the lawn. Imagine mowing the lawn at 1:00 in the afternoon — what is this world coming to? I'd ordered some photos from Walmart and wanted to pick them up, so I left around 1:45, stopped for an iced coffee, then picked up my photos and browsed Walmart. I wore sweat pants and a black long-sleeve tee shirt and felt overdressed. I picked up some snacks for our wine time and couldn't make up my mind between Fritos or chips, so I bought both.

7:25 PM

I was home by 3:00, read, relaxed on the dock, and did some yard work and watering for a half hour — long enough to work up a sweat, so I took a shower. Around 5:15, we had wine time, with chips, Fritos, and dip. Extravagant! For dinner, we had the leftover pasta with sausage, mushrooms, and zucchini, and it was even better than the night before. Because we couldn't find anything to watch, we ended up watching the Spain/Uruguay soccer game. Evie had enough after the first half, so she went up to bed around 9:00, and I watched a bit more until I got bored and watched another episode of The Agency before heading up myself.

Aunt Tifa Vandalizing The Pond

 

Partly Cloudy And Windy

8:12

9:10

It's 9:20, and the sun keeps breaking through the clouds, and the wind picks up, then dies. When I got to Long Point, I had a tough time crossing the lake, but then the wind calmed down, and I had an easy paddle home.

Kayak Morning

Looking East

Another Heron Morning

Yesterday was busy, like most Thursdays. I was fortunately awake by 6:45 and got in a 35-minute paddle before returning home, starting the blog, then driving to Bemus for breakfast at 8:00. I was home by 9:10, finished up the blog, then left for Yin yoga at 9:40. Class was crowded, but I squeezed in at the front of the room. Most people like to stay in the back so no one can see them. I left feeling sore from a couple of poses, but eventually, the soreness went away.

For lunch, I had a bowl of kuru fasulye (white bean stew) and was happy. I watched another episode of The Agency. The rest of the afternoon went quickly, with a good nap, watching some World Cup, and reading my books — a good way to spend the afternoon. Around 4:00, Evie put together our dinner, an old standby: sausage, mushroom, and zucchini pasta with cooking sherry and chicken broth. Once it was done, we enjoyed our happy hour until 6:30, then had dinner, and we had enough leftovers for another dinner. Yippee. We watched another series called Bait, and of course, after a couple of episodes, we had had enough and watched something else. We still cannot find a series we like.

Around 9:00, I watched another episode of The Agency until 10:00, when I watched three-quarters of the Türkiye/US World Cup game. I stayed up until 11:30 to watch the game, but also because there were alerts for heavy rain, lightning, and hail. Fortunately, we avoided the worst — just some rain. I found out this morning that Türkiye won in the last seconds, 3-2, and they can head home with their heads held high despite two early losses.

Biking Presque Isle

Presque Isle State Park

6:40

9:0s

It's 7:38, and I kayaked for 35 minutes on a cloudy morning. Fortunately, it didn't rain, although it looks like today will be a rainy day. It's 9:15 and I just returned from breakfast in Bemus and have about a half hour to finish the blog before driving to yoga.

Kayak Morning

Cloudy Skies

In The Reeds

Same Guy

Poised To Fish

Yesterday was a great day, lots of sun and we were both active. I got in a good paddle, 50 minutes, and came home to a relaxing coffee morning with Evie. For some reason, I had biking in Presque Isle on my mind, and when I looked outside, it looked like a perfect day to ride. So after breakfast and the blog, I got my bike ready, attached it to the Outback, and left around 10:15. Presque Isle is a seven-mile-long peninsula that juts off of Erie, PA. It has a biking/walking trail around the entire peninsula and miles of some of the best inland beaches in the United States. It took me 45 minutes to get there, and I parked at one of the many parking areas. I've biked it three or four times before, so I knew the trails. I biked out to the Perry Monument, 7 miles, 46 minutes. Half of the ride was along the shaded bay side; the second half was along the lake side, with the amazing beaches. I ended up biking 12 miles along with walkers, inline skaters, other bikers, and families all on bikes. I ended up at Sara's, an outdoor eatery, and enjoyed a Smith's 12-inch hot dog with curly fries and a root beer for ten bucks.

Bay Side

Great Beaches

Perry Monument Construction

Erie

Erie Close Up

Typical Bay Side Path

Bay Side

Waiting In Line At Saras

On my way home, I stopped at one of our favorite nurseries, Stan's, on Buffalo Road east of Erie. Our fall-blooming clematis died for some reason, so I bought another along with a couple of geranium baskets, two for the price of one. I was home around 2:45, and Evie was relaxing on the front porch after mowing the front and side yards. It looked amazing. I then tried to nap but was still too psyched from my ride, so I went out and dug out the dead clematis and planted the new one up against our house.

Both of us were exhausted by 5:00 and were happy to relax on the porch and enjoy a glass of wine and the view, another blue sky, and puffy white clouds. Dinner was the leftover ham and potatoes, along with a salad and corn on the cob. We watched Billy Bob Thornton in Goliath, and then Evie went to bed, and I went back to The Agency on Paramount+. It was a busy but good day.