Winding Down (Chautauqua Gorge: Lyon/Hannah Road)

Hiking Chautauqua Gorge

Well, I just changed channels, from MSNBC to NPR to listen to something other than the pundits talk about Trump.  What a relief.  It's overcast, 61º, and perhaps the rain will come later in the day but I have my doubts.

6:00

Yesterday began like always, with Evie and me up early, too early actually, listening to the depressing news on the radio.  The virtue of radio...we don't have to look at the pundits spew their opinions. The boys and I were going off to hike the Chautauqua Gorge, so I got a few chores done before they got up, roughing up the soil after spreading grass seed (again).  Now all we need is some rain.  I cannot remember a spring this dry.  I woke the boys up around 9:30 and they jumped up out of bed (just kidding) and eventually made it downstairs to the smell of breakfast, scrambled egg sandwiches on bagels.  A good way to start their day.  Evie made us peanut butter and jelly sandwiches for our lunch, made sure we had everything we needed for our hike, and we were off in two cars.

Da Boyz

We dropped Nick's car off at the parking lot for the Chautauqua Gorge State Park, on Hannah Road, about twenty minutes away.  We then drove my car a couple of miles south, to Lyons Road, which dead ends at the Gorge, with easy access to the creek.  We parked out car, donned our backpacks, laden with water, sandwiches and towels, and off we went.  The boys, immediately, made a game of it, trying to avoid getting wet by stepping or jumping from one rock to another.  Within five minutes, Nick took a spill on to his derriere, more embarrassed than hurt.

Before The Fall

That was the last fall of the day.  It was a good day to hike the Gorge, occasional sunshine, not too hot, the creek lower than usual, making it easier to hike along its banks.  The Gorge empties into Lake Erie, about 18 miles from where we started.  We were walking about two miles, from Lyon to Hannah Road.

Stepping Carefully

This was the first time walking this part of the creek for me, so I was excited to do it.  We took our time, enjoying the walk, the beauty of the gorge, the rushing of water, the variety of rocks, and occasional minnows, no large fish, a bird or two.  We met one person, who was walking in the opposite direction; other than him, we had the Gorge to ourselves.

Yep

We Got Rocks

It took us about an hour and a half to get to the path which led up to our car, the area we usually picnic and swim at.  The boys were quick to take off their shirts to swim, but slow to get into the 'very' cold water.  Eventually, egging each other on, they submersed themselves, swam for about 30 seconds and jumped out.  I eventually jumped in as well.  It was cold.

Seals

It's Cold

We then enjoyed our peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, sitting on the rocks, in the warm sun.  After lunch, the boys had had enough, so we hiked up a quarter of a mile up the Gorge to Nick's car, drove it back to Lyons Road to pick up my car, then to Mayville, where we stopped at Tops to get corn, and home.

Crossing The Creek

I was tired by the time we got home but the boys were still ready for bear and because I had mentioned that the beaches of Presque Isle, in Erie, PA, were voted Best Freshwater Beaches in the US, they decided to spend their afternoon at Presque Isle, about an hours drive.  After they left, both Evie and I collapsed, like the air being let out of a balloon, mostly because we had no one to play and enjoy after five days packed with action.  The boys texted that they would be home around 6:45, so I barbecued the chicken around 6:30, Evie cooked the noodles in chicken broth and steamed the corn and made coleslaw.  Just as I brought the chicken in, the boys drove in, perfect timing.  They were famished, having eaten only peanut butter and jelly sandwiches and few snacks before dinner. Barbecued chicken, noodles, and corn is another typical summer dinner for us and the boys devoured it.  The noodles, in chicken broth, are always a favorite.

Barbecued Chicken And Noodles

After dinner, I volunteered to clean up the kitchen, so Evie and the boys went out to continue their hot games of bean bag (corn hole to those new to the game). The boys and Evie are competitive so they had many spirited games.

Early Evening Competition

Rain and darkness finally drove them inside, about 8:30, and we all settled down in the TV room and watched and old movie with Eddie Murphy called Trading Places.  We had seen it a couple of times, liked it, but it showed its age and was not as funny or interesting as we thought.  We stuck with it, had dessert mid way through, ice box pudding or ice cream.  It's too bad we didn't watch something else.  After the movie, Evie and I went up to bed, the boys stayed up watching another Fast and Furious film until?

No firm plans for today, as it depends on the weather.