Sunny And In The 80's Day #2

Hiking Chautauqua Gorge

Gorging It At Chautauqua Creek

6:26

Another mostly cloudless sunrise over Long Point, bright enough to drive me inside to my couch.  I know what it's like now in Bemus when the late afternoon sun forces restaurants and homes to pull their shades because of its brightness.  Tom and I are the only ones up; he's working on some work related documents on his Mac as I sit here, writing my blog, listening to MSNBC talk about how Trump is blowing up his candidacy.  If only people have long memories come November.  I fear not.

Marisa And Marlena Wading Among The Rocks

Granny And Her Girls

The Adults

Evie and I started yesterday morning, after our coffees of course by getting things ready for an excursion to the Chautauqua Gorge, a must whenever family visits.  It's about a half hour drive from our home and we usually spend a couple of hours hiking the Chautauqua creek, swimming and then having lunch.  So as the gang was getting up, Evie was making peanut butter and jelly and/or honey sandwiches, putting together other snacks like crackers and cheese, to satisfy the variety of tastes of our grandchildren.  She packed up backpacks with food, water and towels, and after a breakfast of bagels or omelets, we were off as we hoped, just before 10:00, a miracle.  I was afraid the Gorge creek would be so low that we would not be able to enjoy it but there was still a heavy flow of water at various low points and the swimming hole, at the bottom of Hannum Road was still deep and cold, cold, cold.  So cold that only Evie and I and Nick and Marlena dared to jump in.  Once we walked down the trail to the creek, we left our backpacks on the rocks and went exploring the creek, walking up and back, jumping from stone to stone, sometimes wading through water, always aware of the slippery rocks.  No falls this time fortunately as everyone was careful.

The Reluctant Marlena

The Hearty

Zeus Pondering Life

Mitch brought his drone and was able to fly it when the creek opened up enough for him to fly it without hitting the trees or sides of the Gorge.  And he was able to fly it up and down the creek, at a height of about 10-15 feet which was neat.  About 12:30, all were back at the swimming hole, and we had our lunch, sitting on the rocks, looking for a sunny area.

Unfortunately, a young couple, hiking the creek, sat down by the swimming hole and started to rigorously make out, showing no embarrassment at the gawking of our kids.  Ah youth, their cluelessness and lack of civility.  After lunch, we hiked up the trail, back to our cars, stopped at Tops to get groceries for dinner, and Tom and the kids stopped at Boxcar Barney's for an ice cream cone.

Enjoying A Flight At The Ellicottville Brewing Company

We were home just about 1:00, so we did have the rest of the day to enjoy the water.  It was hot but not uncomfortable so we spent the rest of the afternoon swimming, lazing about on our floats, coming into the cool house for a respite from the heat.  Nick gathered some of the drying weeds for me, a daily chore it seems.  And around 4:30, Tom and family took the boat over to Bemus Point to do some shopping and have a flight of beers at the new Ellicottville Brewing Company.

Mitchell's Watermelon Salad

They were back around 6:00, so we took a last dip in the lake and came in to get dinner ready.  Evie had par boiled the chicken thighs, so all I had to do was coat them with barbecue sauce and brown them on the grill while she poured the noodles in chicken broth and steamed the corn, shucked by the girls.  Mitch made a salad he loves composed of watermelon, basil, feta cheese, balsamic vinegar and olive oil.  And Evie made a small salad, topped with beets, Tommy's favorite.  Dinner was great, the corn at its peak, and everyone loved Mitch's salad.

Barbecued Chicken Dinner For Nine

We then spent the rest of the evening relaxing in the house, as no one seemed to want to go out and play bean bag or have a fire except Tommy and Evie kayaked at dusk.  We were all seemingly tired from our stroll along the Gorge.  Evie and I did watch some of the evening news programs which seemed strange since we have not been able to watch much of the past few weeks.  Not much has changed as Trump continues to dominate the news with one faux pas after another.

It's now just 9:00 and Tommy and I paddled over to Tom's Point and back, close to an hour of kayaking.  I am sure our shoulders will be sore tomorrow.  A few are up, a couple are still sleeping, the lucky dogs.

Drone Photo Of Tom's Point and Long Point