With Family At Last!

With Dallas Family. Finally

It's a bit different this morning, waking up in Highland Park, a Dallas suburb, enjoying coffee with Beth as Rami gets ready to fly to Atlanta for business, returning however in time for dinner, Marisa just woke and is getting ready for school via the web,  And Mitch in the Engineering Master's Program at the University of Texas, is still sleeping, here for a couple of days to see us. 

We left Little Rock at 8:00, as expected, and had a busy Sunday drive, the roads filled with truckers all the way to Dallas.  We took our time, stopped once for breakfast and Mickey D's and only when we got to Dallas was it white knuckle driving.  We are just not used to city driving, to six lanes filled with drivers all in a hurry to get somewhere. We made it in five as planned.

Marisa!

Hanging Out With Marisa, Mitch, And Kaia

It was wonderful to finally hug our daughter and grandchildren, for the first time in 17 months. Hallelujah. It's strange how within minutes, it was like we had never been separated.  We sat out by the pool and just enjoyed being together. We caught up on mostly Mitchell and Marisa's lives because we have not communicated with them much because of Covid.  Both are doing well, Marisa excited about matriculating to Vanderbilt in the fall, Mitch having an internship this summer, finishing his Master's in Structural Engineering in June 2022.  And Tyler,  our oldest grandchild, who lives and works in Boston, has decided to pursue his Masters in Engineering at UCLA next fall so there are lots of changes in the Albarran household. 

Mitchell And Rami

a

Mitchell And Milena

Rami and I ran out to the Container Store for an hour while the girls started prepping dinner.  Mitch picked up his girlfriend, Milena at 4:00 and she stayed for dinner.  She just graduated from UT in nursing and is working full time at a hospital in Dallas.  She is really neat.  Beth made her shrimp pasta with a tomato, basil, garlic, lemon, and shallot sauce, a family favorite  Everyone loved the dinner, with salad and a warm baguette.  We sat around talking until we had enough room for apple pie with ice cream.  By 9:00, we were all tired and by 9:30, our room was organized and we were all in bed, tired from the long day.  

Quiet And Overcast

Dazzling

Pretty In Pink

I was up around 6:20 to a flawless morning on the lake, not a ripple, breeze, or boat, the only sound, NPR.  It may clear up later although we may get a few showers early.

Kayaking At 7:30

Stately

Osprey

Yesterday was a full day, also a spectacular day to be out on the lake, lots of puffy clouds, temperatures in the 80's and a nice breeze.  I got in my paddle, had breakfast with the guys in Bemus, then came home and both Evie and I got ready for a cruise down the Chadakoin River at the south end of the lake.  We have tried to do this at least once every other year.  We had hoped to do it earlier in the summer but could not find a good day until yesterday.  Linda and Ron arrived at 11:00 bearing lunch, sub sandwiches from the Lighthouse Market and we supplied the beverages.  We took our time getting down the lake, enjoying looking at the homes until we arrived in Celeron, where the new hotel is going up.

Chautauqua Harbor Hotel In Celeron

It looks pretty nice from the lake although we had a tough time navigating through the weeds.  We had an easy time cruising down the river, staying in the middle and met three boats, enjoying the fine day like us.  We also marveled at how ferry boats in the old days navigated this narrow river, often having to pass each other.

The Gals

We parked at McCrea Park for a rest stop, then cruised back to Celeron, enjoying our lunch and the scenery.  We then took our time riding along the eastern shoreline, to Bemus, along Lakeside Drive, then Victoria and Woodlawn before arriving home around 3:30.  We then gathered our drinks and sat out on the dock for another hour, swimming and enjoying the beautiful afternoon. We could not have picked a better day for our cruise.

Ready To Lunch On Chadakoin River

Ron and Linda left at 4:15 and Evie stayed out to enjoy the afternoon until 5:00 when we both took swims and got ready for another night of dining out.  We walked over to Ken and Marjorie's house at 6:00 and had a glass of wine or two and appetizers as we decided where to eat.

Enjoying Our Dinners At Taste Of India

We decided on Taste of India, in Jamestown, as we wanted to try something different.  We had second thoughts when we saw the empty parking lot.  There was only one table with patrons when we walked in.  It turned out to be a really fun, memorable night, mostly because our waiter had a dry sense of humor, often saying no when he met yes.  Because they did not have a liquor license, he said I could buy beer across the street at Farm Fresh Foods.  So I ran across the street, bought a six-pack of Yingling brought it back and the waiter said we weren't allowed to drink.  When I said you told us we could, he smiled and laughed, then brought us glasses.  That was his sense of humor the rest of the night.  Our meals were really great and they were able to make a fried flatbread called pourri which I love.  We ended up talking with the owner and cook because he used to have an Indian restaurant in Cuyahoga Falls where we used to patronize when we lived in Hudson.  In fact, his family still lives in the area and his kids go to Walsh, a Catholic school in Stow, Ohio.  He told us all about family, especially his children who seem to be doing well, winning scholarships to college.  Both the owner the waiter Mintu are from the Punjab area in India, an area in the Himalayas, where I spent a week on a houseboat in 1974.  We ended the night with a selfie, vowing to return and support them. And as we were leaving, Mintu said to Evie, "I like you. you're not crabby."  Priceless

We did not get home until 9:15, too late to watch an episode of The Handmaid's Tale, so we sat on our front porch before going up to bed, the end of a busy and fun day.

A Voyage Down The River ( Chadakoin)

6:41

7:33

It's 6:30 and I have been up for an hour.  I can hear the geese honking, the ducks quacking off in the distance, the only sounds of the morning.  A huge cloud or fog bank hovers over the opposite shore, with pink, then blue skies above.  From where I sit, it looks like a vast mountain, dwarfing the trees at the tip of Long Point.  The lake, however, is visible, shades of blue, gray, and pink dapple the surface.  Long Point is visible but not the Bemus shore.  I am not sure a photograph will do it justice.

The Gals On A River Cruise

Yesterday was, as the British might say, tip top, a fantastic day to be out on the lake, or as we did, take a four hour boat ride down to the south end of the lake, then up the Chadakoin River to Jamestown, a trip I might add, if this were the 1920's, would be people by numerous ferries, paddle boats, taking visitors from Jamestown, down the river and up the lake to various hotels.  And only one of those grand dames remains, the Lenhart, in Bemus Point, the rest having all been victims of fire.  We try to make this trip once a year, usually with our friends, Linda and Ron McClure.  This year we left around 11:00, meandered down the western side of the lake, looking at the various homes, the neighborhoods, until we got to the village of Celeron, where the river begins.  We were worried a bit about the depth, so I pulled my motor up some, and we stayed mid river most of the way, a trip back into time, or so it seemed, few if any houses, just woods or swamps on either sides, an occasional fishing boat or kayak, a few herons and us.  It took us little over two hours to get to Jamestown, to Mc Crea Point, where we dock, use the restrooms, then head back.

Ready For Lunch

We have planned for our trip with a great lunch, which we have as we head back up the river to its mouth.  Nothing healthy this trip, sub sandwiches, chips, dip, corn curls, and a few carrots and radishes to make us feel better about ourselves.  We witnessed the strangest sight on our way back, forty to fifty birds, perched in the trees, just sitting there, watching us, like vultures but they weren't.  We still are not quite sure what kind of birds they were and assumed they were migrating South.  Our final guess is they were some kind of duck.  We took our time coming home, cruising the Eastern shoreline, always commenting on how built up this lake is compared to most.  And it's interesting to see how, each year, a new McMansion seems to appear, dwarfing the cottages on either side, empty and out of place.  We got home around 4:00, happy and full and vowed to do it again next year.

Durck? Cormorant?

More

We were tired from being in the sun, so I took a nap, read some and Evie worked on her photo album until 6:30 when we went out to dinner with our neighbors, the Leonards and Pat Jones.  They had heard that a bar/restaurant we frequent had great pot roast tacos, so they wanted to try it.  I was not sure it was their kind of place but they loved it and the tacos were great, with lots of cole slaw and fixings.  Evie and I, however, got wings because it was Wing Night.  They, too, were great as were their freshly cut fries.  The place was packed, so that we could hardly find a place to park.  Everyone said they would go back so it was a successful evening out.

Fat Boy Slim And Friends

We came home and watched the Republican debate until I could not stand it (Trump) any longer.  It was good to get back to my book.

Pink Sky In The Morning (Lunch On The Chadakoin River)

6:15

6:52

Awake at 5:30, up and downstairs at 6:10 to a pink sky, a silent lake, with hopes for another great day on the lake.  Both today and tomorrow are forecast to be sunny and warm, with rain arriving on Saturday. Right now it's 61º, the sun has just invaded our living room, a bit late as it's 7:00...the long day wanes, alas.  Fortunately, DST does not occur until November 2nd, really shortening the day.

Boating Down The Chadakoin River - Reflections of Clouds and Trees were "Dizzying"

Looking North From Celeron

No yoga yesterday because we were taking a cruise, with the McClure's down the lake to the source of the Chadakoin River, then down the river to McCrea Point in Jamestown. So, we spent part of the morning getting the boat, drinks, and towels ready and we took off at 10:40, loaded down with amenities and sub sandwiches from the Lighthouse.  We cruised under the bridge, then took our time, admiring and commenting on the homes along the west side of the lake, touching on areas like Niets Crest, Ashville Bay, Lakewood, and finally Celeron where the river begins.  The lake was a bit choppy when we started but calmed down around Lakewood, so it was like glass.  The river was quiet, as we met two kayaks, one fishing boat, going and coming. Going down the river feels like going back into prehistoric time, at least to me, a few buildings and cottages mid way to McCrea Point but that's it other than swamp lands and forests.  We docked at McCrea Point for a potty break, then started back up the river, breaking out the food and drinks half way down it.  We then cruised the east side of the lake, past Fluvanna, Point Stockholm, Driftwood, Cheney's Farms and Shore Acres.  Each year we do this we find knock downs replaced by Dynasty type homes, overdone, huge, making us wonder what the owners were thinking.  All this space for a vacation home, empty most of the year? We don't get it.  And when cruising the lake,  you really get a sense that there is little undeveloped lake ront, as houses, small, mid size and large, crowd the shoreline unlike any other lake I have seen.

The Captain And A Swabbie

A Couple of Gorgeous Waves

We were back around 2:45, the round trip taking four hours, on a spectacular September afternoon. We could not have chosen a better day, the lake calm, the sky clear, and we did not put up the canopy until our return, when it did start to get hot in the sun.  This is the second time we have done this, missing it last year for some reason.

Locals Fishing At McCrea Point In Jamestown

Scoping Out The Bridge's Health 

We spent the rest of the afternoon on the dock reading until 5:30, when we got out some refreshments, sat out on the dock, sipping a beer, munching on Utz pretzels, as the dock was slowly swallowed by shade, making it chilly enough that we decided to go in and have dinner.  We had leftover burgers for dinner, with  corn, salad, and twice baked potatoes...waste not, want not.

And we started watching the 4th season of The Killing.  We started the first episode, were a bit confused, so we watched the last episode of the previous season, clearing up many themes and problems taken up in Season Four.  We then started, again, the first episode of Season Four, with much more understanding. Both Holder and Sarah are covering up Sarah's shooting of her lover and police superintendent from Season Three.  She discovers he was the serial killer they had been chasing.  How they are going to manage to cover this up is the stuff of the next five episodes, as well as another murder case they are following.  We are hooked.

The Days Only Get Nicer

7:00

Heading Down the Chadakoin with Popcorn

Enjoying the Cruise

Blue Heron on the Chadakoin

Up later than usual, around 7:00, sun already blazing, filling the house with light.  A slight chill, 61 degrees and it looks like another glorious day on the lake, like yesterday. It's as if Monday's rain washed everything, making the world bright, shiny and new.

Yesterday, the Second Annual Big Adventure took place, a trip down Lake Chautauqua to the Chadakoin, then a leisurely boat ride down the river to the city of Jamestown Pier, called Mc Crae Park.  We went with the Mc Clures and like last year, it was a lovely day for a boat ride.  We left about 10:15, taking our time to enjoy the scenery, especially all the interesting houses on the west side of the lake as we made our way to Celeron, to the mouth/source of the Chadakoin River.  It is amazing to see how built up the shore line of Lake Chautauqua is, how little green is left though, from a distance, most of the shoreline looks lined with trees.  The cruise up  the river took close to a half hour, winding slowly along the snake like S turns.  It is hard to imagine steam boats ferrying passengers from Jamestown to spots on the lake and back, trying to pass each other on this river.  We stopped briefly at Mc Crae park, to use the facilities.  We, then, got out our lunch, and enjoyed our goodies as we traveled back up the river to the lake.  We then took our time going back on the east side, since we see little of this part of the lake, paying attention to the various neighborhoods and Points, like Point Stockholm,  Driftwood, Belleview and neighborhoods starting at the south end like Bonita, Fluvanna, Elmhurst, Sunnyside, Greenhurst, Griffiths, Driftwood, Belleview, Colburns, Lakecrest, Phillips Mill, Shore Acres, Oriental Park and Bemus Point.  I had not realized how many neighborhoods there were, how many different names.  For most of the trip, Linda and Evie sat on the front of the boat, in the fishing chairs, enjoying the sun, talking, and taking in the beauty of the lake on a sunny and warm day.  It was quite windy at times but if we went slow enough, it was no problem.  We didn't get home till 2:34, about four and a half hours on the lake, a record for us.  It was such a great day we didn't want it to end.

Later in the day, after enjoying some dock time, Evie and I went kayaking before dinner off to Long Point and then to Wells Bay, across a rough and windy lake, to the Long Point Bay, still green and algae ridden, then home.   Neither of us felt like fiddling much in the kitchen, so we had an easy dinner of kielbasi omelette's, fresh corn, salad, and home fries.  And, of course, three more episodes of Breaking Bad.

Hazy Morning, Thunder Storms to Come/Cruise Down Chadakoin

Jamestown livery on Chadakoin

I was up too early, I don't know why, around 5:00, perhaps because it was the first really warm night here at the lake.  The air conditioners will go in today, no doubt, though we hardly ever use them, more noise barriers than cooling.  We went to Linda and Ron's last night for a picnic, burgers, dogs, potato salad and beans.  It felt like summer, for sure, and it was a lovely night to sit outside and eat.  They back to Murraysville today.

Joe Barry called last night and he and Mary Lou are going to stop by today and spend the night, on their way home from New Jersey, where there son Jay lives. We have been trying to get them to stop by on their trip homes and so they will be in today, probably late afternoon, spend the night, then head home to Oxford tomorrow.  It will be fun to get to see them.

Crusin the Chadakoin

On Saturday, we took a long boat ride with the Mc Clures, to the southern end of the lake, then up the Chadakoin River into Jamestown, something we have always wanted to do but never did. We left about 10:00, with coolers and hoagies, and cruised up the west side of the lake, looking at homes and neighborhoods, really getting a feel for how built up this lake is.  There are few green areas left, as homes/cottages line the shoreline.  After Celeron, we entered the mouth of the Chadakoin and we cruised down it for about a half an hour.  It has the feel of the Florida Everglades, though not as jungle like.  There's no development or buildings, just woods and shorelines, lily pads, an occasional  boater, and two 8 man crew boats, practicing their rowing.  It's supposed to be a great place for bird watching, but we really did not notice much.  It was a spectacular day for this kind of trip, as Evie and Linda sat in the two fishing seats in front, as we cruised.  We spent about an hour going up and down the river, then wended our way down the east side of the lake, having lunch, swimming a bit, and enjoying the scenery and ride.  Though it was in the 80's by the  time we returned, about 1:30, we were never really hot on the trip.  This is something we must do again, especially in the fall, when the leaves are turning.

The Good Life

Eight man crew on Chadakoin

Today I hope to put down some grass seed in some of the bare spots, get more dirt, and then pray for rain, but not too much, later in the day.  Thunderstorms are predicted, perhaps heavy, later in the day.  It's been 21 days without rain, so we need it, our lawn needs it, but don't over do it.

Picked up some topsoil this morning at Tri James, came back and spread it over grass seed in some of the bare spots of our lawn, thinking that the predicted rain would really be good for the lawn.  Of course, it's now 3:30, no rain, and little in the forecast, as it passed south of us.  I did go off to the Lighthouse and their peaches are in, as is corn from Northeast, so the abundance of summer is about ready to show its face.  Evie's making chicken picata, rice, corn, ice cream with peaches/blueberries for dinner and for tomorrow's breakfast, she put together Mrs. Snavely's coffee cake.  Let's up Joe and Mary Lou Barry are good eaters!  I know Lou likes her red wine.  Because they are coming, Evie has spent the entire day cleaning the house, which was clean, or so I thought.  Fortunately, it's ten degrees cooler in the house, and we put two air conditioners in the big bedrooms because it's predicted to get into the 90's in the next couple of days.