Gray, Quiet, And Chilly

7:40

7:40

7:40

It's 8:00 and I have been up since 6:30, watching the sky lighten some but it still feels overcast, the sun hiding behind the cloud bank. It's 43º, still dark enough so that I am going to wait to kayak, for the first time in a couple of days because my sore back is getting better. I was out for forty minutes, turned back at Sandy Bottom because of a duck blind, and was able to get a few decent photos of mergansers. 

Kayak Morning

Merganser

Mergansers

Yesterday was a good day, especially the morning, with lots of sun and blue skies. I didn't kayak, however, and enjoyed a long coffee and breakfast time before we both were ready to do something, I suggested we drive up to Barcelona, to Lake Erie because I wanted to get outside and enjoy a hike in the woods. Evie agreed and we drove north, the back way, via Hardscrabble road with its view of the vineyards and Lake Erie in the distance. 

Vineyards And Lake Erie

Road To Westfield

We parked next to Chautauqua Creek and were surprised that the lot was full, the reason being that 10 to 15 guys were fishing in the creek. We were fortunate enough to watch a guy wrestle in what looked like a nice steelhead trout. 

Welcome

Chautauqua Creek

Evie Strolling

Colors Of Late Autumn

Fishing At the Mouth Of Creek

We walked down the path to Lake Erie, the creek dotted with fishermen. We were surprised at how windy it was on the shore, walked a bit, and then headed back to the comfort of the woods and trail. We were home by 12:30 and were glad we made the effort to get out of the house.

Steelhead Trout

Tiring The Steelhead Out

A Beautiful Spot To Fish

Lake Erie

Lunch was fried potatoes and eggs and I watched another episode of The Wire. Evie was determined to start gathering dahlia tubers to store for the winter so I got out a table and pails for her. I briefly napped and read but soon got bored and went out and did some yard work, gathering the leaves from behind our garage, filling pails, and taking them up the hill. It felt good to be doing something rather than sitting on a couch with a heating pad,

Cleaning And Drying Dahlia Tubers

Around 5:30, we finished up came in relaxed with a glass of wine, and listened to the depressing news on the radio. Dinner was a couple of pork chops, mac n cheese, Brussels sprouts and a salad. We watched another episode of Lessons In Chemistry and The Great British Baking Show and ended the evening with ER, surprisingly riveting for Season Eleven. Evie went up to bed and I watched what I thought would be the last three minutes of the Golden State/OKC game. Unfortunately, it was still not over after a half hour and multiple timeouts and commercials so I just went up to bed, not caring who won.