A Day In Full

7:50

Long Point In Black And White

It's later than usual as I start this, 8:34 because I slept in till 7:45 a record. This morning, however, is nothing to get up early for, the usual Chautauqua Gray sky and lake, no color to speak of, and a 39º and wet morning. The lake is still frozen in front of our house but open off to the north and I may be able to kayak in another day or two if this warm weather continues. 

Road Trip

Yesterday ended up being a busy but fun day, a surprise to both of us because much of it was spontaneous. I woke with an irritated left eye, so after coffee, breakfast and the blog I called my eyecare doctor, Spectrum, and was able to get an eye appointment at 10:15. After a thorough check-up, I left with a prescription for an antibiotic and salve. After the appointment, then, I went to Wegmans to pick up the prescription, did some shopping, and waited for about a half hour for the prescription.

I got home around noon and Evie was ready for our excursion to Irving, NY, home of various Seneca Nation dispensaries. On the way, we stopped in Fredonia for a Whopper meal at Burger King. We shared it and then were on our way, stopping at the first gas station/dispensary on RT.20. While I gassed up the car with cheap gas, Evie purchased some sleeping aids in a very busy place. We then drove another mile to another dispensary, run by the daughter-in-law of a good friend called Gifted. I have never seen such happy saleswomen behind the counter, ready to fill your every sleep/pain/happy desire. Evie was quickly waited on and we were on our way home we thought. We stopped in Fredonia briefly at Tuscany, a neat Italian grocery, picked up a few things, and then decided to take the long way home, west on #20 to Westfield and then home through Mayville. 

21 Brix Winery

It's always an interesting drive in contrasts, past mega vineyards and then small, desolate towns, like Portland and Brocton, once prosperous. We almost drove past 21 Brix Winery but decided to stop because its parking lot was packed. We walked into a happy wine shop, bustling with wine aficionados, We ordered a couple glasses, then tried to find a place to sit, and finally were welcomed at a table by a couple. We ended up spending a fun hour talking with them. 

Vino And New Friends

They live in Orchard Park, a suburb of Buffalo, and enjoy taking weekend trips around the area, often to Bemus Point and Chautauqua Lake. Charlie is a businessman and his wife Mindy is a teacher and both will be retired soon, hoping to retire to a house on Lake Erie. We shared our histories, kids, and favorite vacations/destinations, ending the afternoon by taking a selfie and exchanging phone numbers. They were on their way to Westfield, to Portage Pie, to pick up a banana cream pie for their son. It was a fun stop. 

Big Inlet 

We then drove through Westfield, almost stopping at Brazils for a drink, but decided to go home. Once we got to Mayville, however, we remembered that the Big Inlet Brewery was having a band called Black Widow recommended by friends, starting at 5:30. So we took a detour and were lucky to find a table upstairs overlooking the busy bar area. We ordered Evie's favorite beer, a Blond and Blue with a hint of blueberry. We were starting to get hungry so I went outside to the food truck and ordered a burger, curly fries, and chips with cheese sauce. Yum. The band started playing at 5:30 and they were pretty good, especially the attractive and buxom lead singer, much enjoyed by the men. We left around 6:30, having our fill of food, beer, and music. It was a good way to end our road trip.

 Black Widow With Lana And Dustin

We were home at 7:15, exhausted once we stepped into our house, wondering how we were going to make it through the evening but we did barely. We watched our usual TV shows and Evie had enough around 8:15 but I stayed up until almost 10:00, watching the women's basketball game between UCONN and Notre Dame which Notre Dame ended up winning.  Oh, what a day.