Skiing From Long Point To Maple Springs, Dinner at Pine Junction

Hanging Out

Love the Winter

Snow Bound

7:50

It's 7:15 and I am up to a gray morning, a few fishing huts out, and 23º, not as cold as  yesterday.  It's going to warm up later, as we may even get some sun.  No yoga this morning and it feels surprisingly good to know I have a couple of hours to just relax in the living room, with my coffee, and wait for Leah to get up so we can start our day, cross country skiing in the Dobbins Woods, as easy hour circle about ten minutes from us.

On Our Way to Maple Springs

Love Chautauqua

Sunset Bay

I started the morning with de-icing my car, so I could meet the guys for breakfast, only two because the rest are in Florida.  The Bemus Inn was packed, had a hard time finding place to park.  Mostly the regulars, people I recognize from previous mornings.  Thursdays seem like a big day for guys breakfasts because there are two or three other groups that gather on Thursday mornings as well. After breakfast, we sat around the living room enjoying the morning, sipping coffee, in no hurry to get out on the lake.  About 10:30, we gathered our cross country gear, jumped in the car and drove over to the Pavilion at Long Point State Park.  Surprise---we were the only ones there.  We wanted to ski somewhere other than on our side and thought the east side towards Maple Spring would be different.  It was another great day to be out on the lake, light flurries most of the way out and back. We got as far as Maple Springs before turning around and heading back in to a stiffer wind unfortunately.  We had fun taking pictures, goofing around on the ice, enjoying being outside with Leah.  She loved to race ahead, leaving us behind, the returning, being social, before taking off again. We wish we had her energy.  We skied three miles according to Leah's watch, were out about an hour and a half.

Alone

The Hare and the Tortoise

Long Point From Sunset Bay

Faux Zorba

We got home around 12:30, had a lunch of leftovers, a bagel and chicken piccata for Leah, black bean soup for me, with an enchilada from Monday.  I then relaxed while Evie and Leah went off to Wegman's around 2:00 to pick up some thing for dinner and go shopping.  I had enough of shopping for awhile.  They hit all the hot spots, Wegman's, Ryder's Cup for coffee, the Brick Elephant, then home by 4:15.

Bailey Road Sunset

Linda Hepp and Ron McClure came over at 5:00 because we were going to the Pine Junction for dinner, and wanted to make sure we had some daylight for the drive there because it can be so beautiful. And it was, large vistas of snow on hay fields, silos, farms, and a setting sun.  We took the long way, and the roads, especially Bailey, were mostly snow covered or icy so we had to take our time, especially on the hills. The restaurant was moderately busy, lots of empty tables, but people coming and going. No snowmobiles even though it would have been a great night to be on the trails.  We got a table in the bar, ordered beers, fried pickles for an appetizer, then dinners.  It was a the perfect choice for a clear, cold evening, a crescent moon hanging in the sky.  We took #86 home, just to be safe because it was cleared, well taken care of.

Dinner at Pine Junction

Forgot My ID, alas

We got home around 8:00 and decided to go for a walk on the lake in the dark, even though it was a chilly 15º out.   We got out our flashlights and head lamps, and headed out for a short walk.  Evie, of course, was the instigator, getting Leah and me to go out with her.  We did not stay long but it was neat to be outside if only for 15 minutes, the sky filled with stars, the moon slowly dropping.  It was dark despite our lights and would have been much more fun if it were a full moon. Leah actually loved it, did not want to go in, and ended up, like the silly puppy she is, making snow angels in the snow and standing on her head in the middle of the lake.  Ah youth.

Snow Bunnies

Snow Angel

A Snow Angel, A Night Headstand in 15º Weather

We then came in, toes and hands frozen, warmed up and watched a movie called The Skeleton Twins.  It starred two SNL veterans Kristin Wiig and Bill Hemer, so I was expecting a comedy. Well, the show opens with the two of them, a brother and sister, estranged for ten years, attempting to commit suicide.  Obviously, this was no comedy though they were a few laughs.  None of us liked the film much, but both actors were very talented and convincing in their tragic roles.

The Abode At Night