It's Only WEDNESDAY?!

Kayak Krazy

5:45

6:07

Right now, it's an overcast morning although when I got up at 5:30, there was a brief sunrise, so bright that I had to leave the porch and go inside.  At the moment, the sky off to the east is mottled, a gray and cream, like a Pollock, dripping colors on a canvas.  It's 49º and will warm up considerably by the end of the day.  Today, Wednesday, we walk the Chautauqua Gorge, something we have been planning since the boys arrived because 'it was supposed to be sunny all day.'  It isn't, of course, and there's a slight chance of rain later in the day.  We should be fine.

Tuesday was another spectacular day on the lake, smooth and calm early, a light breeze during the afternoon, then settling down around 6:00, just in time for our cruise.  As usual, Evie and I were up early, and I drove off to both Home Depot and the grocery store to get things done before the boys woke up.  When I got back, they had just come in from a morning swim and were ready for another big breakfast.  They set the table outside and Evie brought out the scrambled eggs with tomatoes, avocado and feta cheese, along with bagels.  They devoured every bit of the dozen eggs and bagels and were ready for bear.

Paddling To Snug Harbor

We saddled four kayaks around 10:45 and paddled off to Snug Harbor and Prendergast Creek.  The creek winds it way for miles, first past a marina, then a few homes, and finally mostly farmlands. The boys thought it was something out of a Florida swamp; it reminded me of the movie DELIVERANCE.   It was sunny and warm so the boys were shirtless, wanting to get savage tans. We paddled out for an hour, crossing under the bridge at #394 and paddling until the water became too shallow.  I then let the boys head back on their own, as they were like puppies, racing and splashing each other much of the way. I took my time winding out of the creek, as they forged ahead.  As I was paddling out, I noticed a duck, paddling madly ahead of me, as if she could not fly.  This went on for about 30 yards until we paddled around a corner, then she flew back over my head.  I realized, then, she was just leading me away from her babies.  When I finally glided out of the creek, the boys were out in the middle of the lake, jumping in the lake to cool off, not understanding how difficult it is to get back in a kayak without filling it with water. They finally realized they had to help each other by holding the kayak so it would not tip.  We were home by 1:00, not quite a two hour paddle.

Nick's Got It

Acrobatics

The Old Man Ain't Got It

They were hot to try wind surfing and paddle boarding (our neighbors let us borrow their board), so we set up the windsurfer, with some effort, as I had forgotten at first how to rig it.  And Chris went down and paddled the paddle board back to our dock.  And for the next three or four hours, with a break for a lunch of hot dogs, soup, and sandwiches, the boys struggled with learning how to windsurf.  I have to say they showed extraordinary patience, as each would stand up, start out and fall, and repeat this over and over, for at least 20 or 30 minutes, then let the next one try it.  The wind was changeable though not too strong,  but it made it difficult to stay up.  The worst part was they always ended up floating down a couple of docks, and it's an onerous task to paddle it back to our dock.  In years past, other neophytes have ended up a quarter of a mile away, in the reeds, and I would have to rescue them in my boat.

Chris Almost Has It

Go Peyton

Chris...Hand Standing or Grand Standing 

We did take a brief break, as mentioned for lunch around 2:30, and I was able to make some time to spread more soil, getting the areas ready for grass seed.  We then went back out on the dock, as all three tried wind surfing again until Nick and Chris decided to go in and play bean bag. I stayed out with Peyton, as he worked and worked it, for at least forty five minutes, finally getting some sea legs. These struggles reminded me of my first summer with a wind surfer, probably back in the early 1980's.  My neighbors remember me struggling all summer, often in the middle of the lake, standing and falling, until I finally learned how to sail it.

Chris And Nick, Competitors

Peyton Wind Surfs, Chris And Nick Bean Bag It

We were having juicy lucys and homemade french fries for dinner, so Evie had gotten the burgers ready while we were kayaking.  And the boys were happy to cut the fries, using our handy Jumbo Potato Cutter.  So after an afternoon of bean bag and windsurfing, we decided to take a cruise down the lake, to Prendergast Point, across to the Viking Club and home.  It was a bit choppy and windy going but settled down on the way back.  The boys, like us, seem to enjoy a slow going on the lake, just enjoying being on the water, the sun, and talking.  They sure are easy and fun to be with, always game, enthusiastic and helpful.

Can't Wait For Juicy Lucys And Fries

We didn't get back until 7:30, time for Evie to put a final fry on the potatoes while Nick and I grilled the hamburgers.  By 8:00, everyone was starved and we sat down under the trees, to a real American dinner, burgers and fries.  The guys filled their plates with fries, leaving just enough room for their burger and all three went back for a second burger, more fries so by the time we were finished, only three of twelve burgers were left and a smattering of five pounds of potatoes.  We then spent about 15 minutes cleaning up the yard, putting away the wind surfer, the bean bag boards, and straightening the yard.

Juicy Lucy, Up Close And Personal

We were all anxious to get back to My So Called Life, so we watched the next episode until 10:00 and then had a time out for dessert, Evie's ice box pudding which she had made while we were kayaking.  It was great of course, with chocolate mousse, angel food cake and whipped cream, a family favorite.  We then watched another episode until 11:00 when Evie and I were ready to fall over so we went up to bed.  As we were trying to fall asleep, the last thing we heard were a couple of splashes in the lake, as Nick and Chris took their nightly constitutional, a quick dip in the lake.  A nice way for them to end the day.