Kayaking Chautauqua Lake In February

February Kayaking

6:59

 A strange winter morning, as the lake opened yesterday afternoon, as we sat out on our porch with friends, watching the ice recede towards Long Point, then gradually disappear.  And I just rushed outside as two bald eagles flew by and swooped down into the open water, to gather their prey.  And the ducks are back, both mallard and buffleheads, as well as sea gulls and geese.  It's a wet morning, as I woke to raindrops drumming on the roof at 6:15.  And to my utter disbelief, snow is forecast for late tonight after yesterday's 70º afternoon.

Good Friends For 50+ Years

Yesterday, two long time friends from high school and college, were stopping by for lunch.  Dick Allen, our high school friend, flew in from Maui to see his Mom in Cleveland and Johnny D. came with him, a basketball coach and player I have known since we played on the playgrounds of Shaw field in the 1960's. Before their arrival, I was able to get in a yoga class and hurried home because they were expected around 11:30.  They called while I was at yoga to say they were behind schedule (no surprise) and did not get here until 12:30.

The End Of Lake Ice

Long Point

By that time, it had warmed up to the high 60's, the sun came out, so we sat outside on our front porch, enjoying the afternoon and catching up on our lives and reminiscing about the good old days playing basketball with Johnny and living in Hawaii and surfing with Dick.  Both have managed to come out and visit three of four times over the past few years which is great.  We had a man's lunch, hot dogs with Stadium Mustard and Evie's homemade Indian spiced cauliflower soup. The guys loved it. They stayed until 2:30 when they had to head home to Cleveland.  It's always fun to see them, to renew our friendship and talk about the good old days.  And by the way, neither of us ever mentioned our health or the pills.  Amazing for  guys in their 70's.

Selfie While Kayaking

Avoiding Icebergs

After they left, the lake was so tempting that I talked Evie in to winter kayaking, a good choice.  We got out our boots, paddles, and life jackets, and then paddled out kayaks into the cold water towards Bootey Bay.  It was strange to be on the water in February but it was sunny, the lake a brilliant blue and despite it being winter, we loved it.  We were out for about forty five minutes, sticking fairly close to shore to be safe and saw two fishing boats out as well.  Spring, for at least 24 hours, has started early.

Dusk On An Open Lake

We were both full from a late lunch so we did not eat until after 7:00, the leftover chicken with shallots and rice.  We did manage to have a glass of wine before dinner and enjoyed the sky darkening over an open lake, so different from the evening before when the lake was still frozen.  We watched a special, 90 Years of NBC programming which was pretty good.  And we watched the first episode of THE GOOD FIGHT, a sequel perhaps to THE GOOD WIFE.  It was pretty good and we are hopeful it may be better than THE GOOD WIFE, which we grew to be less fond of in its last couple of years.