A Deliciously Cool Morning

6:15

6:16

6:40

Well, the heat wave seems to have broken, as I woke up to a still warm house but a cool 66º outside, with highs today in the 70's.  The lake is quiet, a light breeze ruffles the surface, an inviting morning for kayaking.  Not so, as when I got out in the middle of the lake, the wind kicked up and I had to fight the waves home, not bothering to look for bird photos.  

Yesterday morning was frenetic, with an early morning paddle, breakfast in Bemus Point at a very crowded Bemus Point Inn, then home to a lakefront where the weed barge was picking up our cut weeds.  I got into the water to help the guys, and they stayed for a half hour, clearing much of our lakefront.  Once they were gone, that was it for the day as far as getting something done was concerned.  It was just too hot.  I set two thermometers out and both measured 100º in the full sun although our inside weather station said it was only 89º but it's in the shade.  Either way, it was a disgustingly hot and humid day, good for jumping in the lake occasionally just to cool off and that's what we did the rest of the morning and afternoon.

Around 12:30, I finished up my series, BABYLON BERLIN, which I really enjoyed while having an easy lunch of a salami and tomato sandwich.  No World Cup because it has not been on TV for the past two days, but it begins this morning at 10:00 with my favorite, France, playing Uruguay.  I have started a new book, after a couple of starts and I think I am going to like it, THE GREAT ALONE by Kristin Hannah.  While I was reading inside and napping, Evie was outside on the dock, under the shade of the umbrella, putting up with the heat.

Gracie And Sophie, On The Dock

Around 3:00, our nephew Pat's daughter, Sophie and her friend, Gracie, stopped over to say hi, and we sat on the dock talking, enjoying a lemonade, then hitting the Treasure Chest until 5:00.  They are both upperclassmen at Beaumont, a school in Cleveland Heights.  They were a delight to talk with, fun and outgoing, ready for adventure.  Grace's family has a family home just south of Maple Springs, big enough for seven siblings and their families.  They had been out boating and tubing earlier in the day, so it was a nice respite for them to stop at our house.  Sophie remembers coming here with her family when she was younger, especially the Treasure Chest.  Because they were 'good girls', Evie allowed them two treasures. There doesn't seem to be an age limit for enjoying the Treasure Box.  It was fun seeing them, nice that they wanted to stop over and see us.

Never To Old For The Treasure Chest

We both then jumped in the lake to cool off, got dressed and around 6:30, drove over to Bemus to have a beer and dinner.  Bemus was packed with people and all the restaurants were full.  The Ellicottville Brewery had a half hour or more waiting list and the bar was packed so we did not linger there for long.  We went to the Seezurh House for a beer but they were having trouble in the kitchen, either because it was so busy or they were understaffed.  So we left and  I have to admit I don't care to go back until September when everyone goes home.  I don't really mean that but it was obnoxiously crowded, made worse by the heat and humidity.  All we wanted to do was get out of there, so we drove to Greenhurst, to eat at Steener's Irish Pub.  When we walked in the bar was full but our good friend Stan was there, sitting alone in a booth, finishing up his dinner.  He invited us to sit down with him. We had our dinner, ribs and fries, and beers and talked with Stan till 8:00.  It was a relief to be at Steeners, nice to have Stan to talk with.  

We returned to a hot house which we had closed it up because thunderstorms were expected but never came.  We watched one more episode of Marcella, then went up to our air-conditioned bedroom, to our relief.