Cloudy and Muggy Monday, With A Gentle Morning Rain (Now A Down Pour)

6:25

Well, the 4th of July weekend is over, the wonderful weather we have been having as well.  Clouds and thunderstorms forecast for the next couple of days.  What a difference a day makes.  Not a boat on the lake when I got up around 6:20, compared to yesterday afternoon when the lake looked like a boater's highway.  At the moment, it's 7:15 and a couple of bass boats are out but that's about it except for a guy in a single red scull, gliding effortlessly by, a silence of movement.

Sunday was another great day at the lake; I know, I keep saying that  but it has been a holiday weekend to remember, for its weather and of course, The Great Blue Heron Music Festival.  We had a relaxing morning yesterday, no kayaking because we decided to take the boat down to the Chautauqua Institution for the morning.  Boating in the morning is so refreshing, as always, to be on the blue lake, sunny with clear skies, wind blowing in your face, an occasional spray of water...the good life.  The Institution's Amphitheater was mostly full for the 10:45 church service. A sea of white heads gives one some idea of religion in America, fewer and fewer young in attendance, but the the church goers, at least yesterday, were well dressed, many in their Sunday best, the way it used to be when I was a boy, hauled out of bed on a Sunday morning, forced to wear a tie and coat, attend church, and listen to the boring, seemingly interminable sermons in between hymns, with their archaic, even silly words.  Now, at most churches, shorts, tank tops, and jeans are acceptable, every day wear, and the organs are often replaced by guitars, the hymns by religious country rock.  This, however, is not so at the CI, a throwback Thursday kind of service and place.  I like it.

Religious Service at Chautauqua Institution

We stayed only a short time, then walked some, through Bestor Plaza, busy with people enjoying the sun, having coffee, eating at the two cafes on the square.  We then decided to mosey down to the Art Show, which was just being set up, to open at noon.  We spent a half hour looking at the various booths, lots of photos, paintings, pottery, jewelry, knit wear, some chotsky, except for one jewelry maker from Pittsburgh, who we liked, for her earrings.  Beth bought from her last year.  They are not cheap but the ones we liked were made with Murano glass from Venice.  Evie did end up buying a winter knit hat, like a head band, in burgundy, really neat. After walking the show, we took a nice, slow cruise home, in no hurry on a Sunday, after all it's a day of rest.

For breakfast, Evie made me a quick western omelet, with hamburger leftover from the 4tth and it was delish.  I timed my breakfast perfectly to watch the last six games of the fifth set of Wimbledon, as Novak Djokovic defeated Roger Federer in five sets.  Federer, unfortunately, seemed to fall apart in the final game, with at least three unforced errors, losing the match.  The rest of the afternoon we did the usual, read on the dock, in the yard, coming into the house occasionally to fill up our glasses with ice water, checking email or Facebook, then back to the sun, the busy lake, and our books.

Linda and Rocker, the Lenhart Hotel's Cat

At 6:30, the McClures stopped by and we drove over to Bemus.  This used to be a Sunday routine for them, a beer on the porch of the Lenhart, then dinner at the Italian Fisherman.  So we went along with them and followed their lead.  The porch of the Lenhart Hotel, unfortunately, was in bright sunlight, one of the problems with eating or drinking at the lakeside along Bemus Point.  We were able to arrange our chairs so we could enjoy the view and our Old Viennas.  We then walked over to the Italian Fisherman, moderately busy, and we sat out on the floating dock, in cushioned chairs around a large coffee table. Perfect.

On The Italian Fisherman's Floating Dock

The Setting Sun At 8:37 

We were one of only two or three couples eating on the dock. As the sun set, it became increasingly pleasant, and we all enjoyed our meals, the setting sun.  Three of us ordered the Bang Bang shrimp, and Evie had fish tacos, all really tasty.  They put a spicy white sauce over the shrimp which really gives it a unique taste.  And the slaw on the fish tacos is to die for, an exaggeration perhaps but it's mighty good.  We sat out on the dock, even after it closed, enjoying the cooling, darkening evening before walking back to our car.  For some reason, we got on the topic of candy bars, and spent at least fifteen minutes remembering the names of the candy bars we enjoyed when young.  

Dusk...9:06

We were home around 9:45, after a delightful evening in Bemus Point.