Sunny and Cold (Hiking Long Point and Warner Bay)

7:00

8:00

 Twenty six degrees outside when I got up at 6:40, a surprise as I thought it was getting warmer today.  Perhaps it will but right now it's crisp out when I walked out to get the paper, cloudless, a light blue sky as the sun peaks over Wells Bay, another great day for a hike, or just to be outside.  The lake remains frozen, though there appear to be patches of open water; they may just be rough surfaces, reflecting differently in the bright sunlight.  If it's 26 degrees, I would assume the entire lake is frozen.  Another couple of days, and we might feel comfortable skating or walking, even cross country skiing on the lake.

Long Point Ravine

Yesterday, Evie decided to try out the new YMCA in Lakewood, see what it's fitness center was like, combine it with shopping, so I stayed home, caught up on a few things, then went for a long walk along  Lake Drive in Bemus, down to the marina, back through the woods south of the park, and up through the new houses, a private road at the end of Lake Road.  I love these woods, as its a huge ravine, untouched, lots of vinca, downed trees, and hardly touched by a hiker or visitor.  I assume I am trespassing somewhat when I head up the private drive that leads from the three large homes on the lake up to the main road but at this time of year, the homes are vacant.

Hiking Trail at Long Point

Later, in the evening, I went to a Jamestown Red Raider basketball game, deciding I didn't want to stay home and watch the New Hampshire election returns.  I had a beer and three tacos at Taco Hut, about a five minute walk from the gym.  The gymnasium was probably half to three quarter full, and it was not much of a game as  the Red Raiders were ahead by 30 points at the end of the third quarter.  Neither team is very good, not tall, nor particularly good shooters, but they play hard.  The fans seemed somewhat disinterested, talking with each other, playing or talking on their phones, even Ipads, as the game progressed.  The fans base at this game was much more diverse than other area high school games, with lots of black, Hispanic, and mixed families, students and adults.  Very different from watching a Maple Grove or a Randolph volleyball game, where everyone, fans and players are white.  Jamestown's culture is obviously diverse, much more urban, than surrounding communities, which are rural, unchanged in the last few decades.  The kids at the game dressed alike, the guys mostly urban, with their ball caps with flat rims, like the NBA players, the girls in jeans, tight fitting, similar tops.  A small band of 40-50 kids seemed to enjoy each other and the game, perhaps the cool kids at the school, and during the second half, they stood most of the way, not particularly cheering, except during foul shots.  No cheerleaders, no half time show, a strangely emotionlesst game, much in contrast to the volleyball regionals, where the fans were into the game.