Autumn Skies

Presque Isle State Park

7:03

7:18

8:03

It’s 7:40 as I start this, and we’ve both been up since 7:00. Evie is going to kindergarten today because it’s Halloween dress-up day. I’m up because I’m usually up at this hour. My only plan so far is to kayak, if the northerly winds aren’t too strong. It's 9:15, and I paddled for only 20 minutes because of the wind and waves. 

Kayak Morning

Northern Sky

Paddling South

Yesterday was an amazing day. We were both up early. I had breakfast in Bemus at 8:00, then took a short paddle at 9:15. Evie finished the blog and left for school at 9:30, so it was a busy morning for both of us. After relaxing a bit, I was ready to drive forty-five minutes to Presque Isle State Park, a peninsula off the coast of Erie, PA. It’s one of my favorite places to ride my bike, and I try to go at least once in the fall and once in the spring. I left around 10:30, arrived at 11:20, and joined the other bikers and hikers on the trail, 13 miles of asphalt that circles the peninsula. As you can see from the photograph, the northwest side has some of the best inland beaches in the United States, and the east side is wooded and faces Erie and the bay. I rode for over an hour, stopping a couple of times at one of the great beaches and at the Perry Monument at the tip of the peninsula. Lots of people my age were out enjoying the day, biking or walking. It couldn’t have been a better day for a bike ride and was warm enough to wear a long-sleeve T-shirt. 

One Of The Inland Ponds

View Of The Bay Side

One Of Eleven Great Beaches

Biking On The Bay Side

On my way home, I stopped at Burger King for a Whopper meal and was home by 2:00. Evie was back from school too, enjoying some lunch and watching TV. I was really tired, especially my legs from the ride, so I read and tried to nap, to no avail. Around 4:00, we both showered and got dressed because we were going out to dinner with our neighbors, Jim and Barb. We left at 5:15 and enjoyed the fall colors on the half-hour ride to the Whiskey Hill Saloon in Cassadaga. 

Dining Room

The Bar

Scary Corner

Bench

Entrance

It’s famous for its Halloween decorations, and it didn’t disappoint. We found seats in the bar and ordered beers, appetizers, and their famous garbage wings. It wasn’t too busy, with just a few people at the bar and in the restaurant. Service was great, and we enjoyed our appetizers and wings. We drove home in the dark, and all four of us were tired from the day. Evie went to bed around 8:30, and I stayed up to watch some football and started a series called American Primitive.

Our Granddaughters in Anime