Another Afternoon At The Gowanda Slovenian Club Picnic

Evie And Polka Band Guys

7:26

It's strikingly quiet both in our neighborhood and on the lake. No boats to speak of and a partly cloudy sky. At 8:00, it's 68º but will warm up later in the day to the 80s with a chance of rain. It's 9:30 and I paddled for forty minutes, shot an osprey and heron and talked with my kayak buddies, Tina and Jim for a few minutes. 

Kayak Morning

North

Osprey

Wood Duck

Same Old Heron

Yesterday was a different sort of Sunday. It began with a brief coffee and breakfast with Evie's sister Elaine and her husband Jim because they were leaving by 9:00 for a picnic with family on Grand Island, just outside of Buffalo. Once they left, as always, the house felt empty and we were not sure what to do with ourselves so we relaxed with a coffee and finished up the blog. By mid-morning, Evie deemed the lawn dry enough to mow, so she fired up the electric lawn mower if that's what you would call it and began the mowing. I was good at watching her but also moved all the lawn furniture out of the way so she did not have to stop except to take a break. 

And that was it for the morning and much of the afternoon. For lunch, I had a leftover burrito from Saturday night's dinner and watched some of the Olympics. Once I was finished, I finished my book, started another and napped. We had planned to go to the Slovenian Club picnic but Evie was pooped from the weekend and mowing the lawn but reluctantly agreed to go. I didn't want to 'let the old man in,' and hoped to convince her to take the hour drive to Gowanda. So we were on our way by 4:00, arriving around 5:15. We easily found a parking spot because the gathering started at 1:00 and many were already leaving. When we went to pay, the gals selling entrance tickets left,  so we got in for free. 

Gowanda Picnic

We quickly grabbed a hot dog and sat down in the shelter, ate and people watched until the polka band, which had been on a break, started back up. The beer was free as were the hot dogs, beef of weck sandwiches, cucumber and tomato salad, baked beans and lemon squares so we had plenty of dinner as we listened to the band. The sad part of the picnic is few if anyone dances, either those who know a polka are too old to dance, or too young to know how to polka. One gentleman, in his 90s, who we remember from last year's picnic, did dance but could hardly leave the dance floor afterward without falling. 

Still Got It!

We stayed until 7:00 when the band took a break and talked with the same accordion player and his family for a few minutes. This is our fifth year, and he has been there every year. He's from Michigan and for the last two years, his son has played the banjo in the band. I asked him if he brought the cole slaw and kielbasa as always and he did. They get together after the picnic with others back at the Slovenian Club and party. We have always wanted to join them but we need more time.

Our hour ride home was easy, on a beautiful, sunny afternoon through Amish Country, the fields and trees lush with green. When we got home, we watched the Olympics until we got tired and were both in bed by 10:00, a long day. 

An Afternoon At Gowanda's Slovenian Club Picnic

6:02

7:34

It's 6:47 and I woke to a threatening sky, as dark blue clouds hung over the lake. Now, however, it's beginning to brighten, although lots of clouds still fill the sky, especially over Bemus Bay. It's a balmy 67º and rain is expected this afternoon like yesterday. Let's hope we get some, unlike yesterday's brief drizzle. It's 8:50 and I paddled for close to an hour, one of the only boats on the lake. It was a good morning for birding, herons, ospreys, and perhaps an eagle. 

Kayak Morning

Great Blue Heron

Bald Eagle On Long Point

Osprey

Osprey

Sunday was geared around our afternoon trek to Gowanda for the Slovenian Club's picnic at the Collins Conservation Club. Our morning, however, was the same. I got in my paddle, took photos, and enjoyed a late coffee with Evie. We knew rain was predicted, so we decided to prepare for it. Evie decided the lawn needed mowing and spent part of the late morning mowing although she had enough by noon and I finished it up for her. It was not much fun because of the heat and humidity. I also decided to put the cover on our boat just in case it rained and we pulled down our porch curtain. All of this was for showers that never happened. Typical.

Lunch was easy and light, some ramen and I watched my show, then read my spy thriller, set during the  Cold War until  2:00 when both of us showered and were on our way to Gowanda by 3:00. We love the drive through the beautiful countryside along what is called the Amish Trail. It took just over an hour to get to the picnic. It was so crowded that we had a hard time finding a place to park. We bought our tickets, fifteen bucks a piece and the food and drinks were free. We were lucky to find a seat at a picnic table under the pavilion because the temperature had to be close to 90º. This is our fourth picnic and it's never been so crowded. We got beers, beef on wick sandwiches, hot dogs, watermelon, and a salad of onions, tomatoes, and cucumbers, typical of Slovenian fare.

The Polka Guys

The polka band was great, especially the three guys on the two accordions and a button box. I have to admit it was uncomfortable seating there in the heat and only one brave couple had the nerve to polka, an 80-year-old woman and a 94 year old man. 

Polking With His Cane

We talked with them later and they were great. She's Sicilian, married to a Slovenian who grew up in Gowanda. Both flew in from Boston just for the picnic. And the guy used to be a dance teacher. They were great. When we left we introduced ourselves to one of the band members. We remembered him from previous picnics and he invited us to the party at the club later. And as he has done in the past, he brought his homemade cole slaw and kielbasa. Unfortunately, we couldn't stay but it was fun to talk with him. Our drive home was fine, with a brief shower and little if any traffic.

Evie With Accordionist

Same Guy, 2017

We were home by 7:30 and relaxed on the front porch for a half hour, as the long day began to ebb. We then watched some TV, The Lost Flowers of Alice Hart, a new series on Prime. 

Dancing Polkas At The Gowanda Slovenian Club Picnic

Classic Old Accordion

Polka Band

6:05

8:25

It's a gorgeous Chautauqua Lake morning, a cool 55ª, sunny, no wind and a calm, almost empty lake.  I was out for over an hour, paddled by a couple of fishing boats and kayakers but that was it, a typical Monday on the lake.

Kayak Morning

Heron At Campground

Sunday was a day of uncertainty because of the forecast.  We were planning on attending the annual Gowanda Slovenian Club picnic, an hour's drive but the rain was forecast most of the weekend and even yesterday.  I was able to get out for a paddle but wore my rain jacket and we spent much of the morning checking the changing forecast.  About noon, it poured here as we received close to an inch of rain and it looked like Gowanda may have gotten rain as well. We sat around most of the morning and early afternoon either reading or watching the Olympics but by 2:30, it looked like it was clearing up in Gowanda, southwest of Buffalo, so we showered and were on our way by 3:00.  

Amish Hay Fields

Amish Trail

The sun came out and our drive there along the Amish Trail was picturesque, with fields of green, blue skies, and puffy clouds.  We had to take our time because numerous Amish buggies were out on the roads and the speed limit most of the way was 55 mph. We knew we were getting close when we passed through the town of Persia.

Slovenian Club Pavilion

The picnic was held at the Collins Conservation Club, just outside of the town of Gowanda.  This is the third or fourth year we have attended and like the past years, we were lucky with the weather. For fifteen dollars apiece, we could have all the food and beer we wanted.  It was crowded with locals, few Slovenias however, and as we walked in, we could hear the polka band playing.  Like previous years, the picnic table in front of the band seems to always be empty so we settled down to listen and watch the brave few dance to the polka.  Food was basically beef on wick, hot dogs, baked beans, corn on the cob, and all the beer you could drink.  

Evie With Dorothy And Louis Selan, August 2017

Dorothy Celebrating her 90th With Her Son, 2021

We recognized a few from previous years, especially ninety-year-old Dorothy. We were befriended by her and her husband Lewis, WW II vet at our first picnic.  He has since passed away and was a founding member of the club in 1926. We sat enjoying our food, walked around, bought some lotto tickets and even won two-pint bottles of booze. 

Coleslaw Guy

Leader of The Band

We recognized the two accordion players from previous years and they knew Evie's cousin Tony, the Polka King, from the polka parties held each Thanksgiving weekend in Cleveland. Evie talked with them at breaks and she remembered talking with one a couple of years about how coleslaw has to be made with white vinegar and he had bought his own coleslaw to the after picnic party.  Well, he brought some this year as well, wanted us to stay for the party which would start at 8:00 but it was too late for us. So as we left, he pulled us aside and said next year, he would bring a bowl for Evie and keep it for her at the picnic.  What a great guy.  We did end up dancing the polka after filling up on food and drink to old favorites like the politically incorrect 'I don't want her you can have her, she's too fat for me."  Evie also befriended three sisters originally from Gowanda who come every year to the picnic from Michigan.  They told us we have to go to the Slovenian Sausage Fest in Kirtland in September and they will also be there. It takes place at the Slovenian Club which we used to go to back in the 1970s with Evie's Dad. 

Homeward Bound

We reluctantly left about 6:30 and took our time going home.  Like earlier, it was a perfect time for a drive through the green fields of Western New York.  We were home by 7:45, relaxed with the Olympics, closed the windows because it rained again, and ended the night with an episode of the White Lotus on HBO Max.  It turned out to be a great day. 

 

Sunny And Too Warm

6:24

6:27

6:28

6:29

I slept in some until 6:25, just up in time to see the sunrise over Long Point on another hot, hazy morning on the lake.  We can expect another day in the high 80's, perhaps some thundershowers later in the day.   It's almost 9:00 and I just finished a long paddle on a calm deserted lake.  Love it like this, just me and the herons.

Kayak Morning

Composed

Flustered

Ruffled

Yesterday was a hot one but it did not deter us from getting things done outside.  I got my paddle in and had breakfast.  By 9:30, we were both outside working in Evie's garden despite the heat.  The garden had been neglected for the past few weeks because we were busy with family.  So the weeds were lush, needed digging out by Evie and I spent a good amount of time edging, pulling weeds, giving the garden a finished look.  We were out there until noon when I had enough, went for a swim to cool off and Evie made me an omelet for breakfast.  I then read, took a brief nap while Evie puttered around until 2:00 when she, too, took a swim. 

Budding Dahlia In Front Of A Fading Dahlia

The Beauty Of Whiteness

We both then got dressed up casual and drove for an hour to Gowanda, New York, for the annual Gowanda Slovenia Club picnic.  It's a beautiful drive, through Amish country, mostly green fields, lush forests, occasional farms.  And, unfortunately, run down, abandoned buildings in one small town after another with names like Persia, Markham, Leon, and Conewango.  The picnic is set just outside of Gowanda at the Collins Conservation Club.  We arrived just after 4:00, to a crowded parking lot and polka music.  There's a pavilion to sit under and lots of tents, all crowded with residents from the town of Gowanda.  We paid only twenty bucks because Evie is a member of the club which entitled us to all the food and beer we wanted.  We had hot dogs, corn dipped in a crockpot of butter, beef on wick, sausage and sauerkraut, beans, tomato and cucumber salad, and watermelon for dessert. We were a bit disappointed as like last year, few people danced to the music except for one woman, who danced by herself, just like last year.

An Uninspired Polka Band

It was hot, in the 80's, so after eating and listening to music and walking the grounds, we decided we had enough, heading home after an hour and a half.  Last year we were able to talk with the band, with some of the locals, but this year we did not get much of a chance so that's why we left early.

We drove home around 6:00, again, a beautiful drive and decided to stop at  Big Shots, a bar/music venue in Kennedy because they often have bands we would have liked to hear.  It was practically empty, two locals,  regulars, smokers and drinkers, thin as rails, retired truck drivers, occasionally walking outside for a smoke.  We ended up talking with them and the bartender, a friendly gal who is a single Mom working a couple of jobs.  The guys ended up talking about Kennedy assassination conspiracy theories, all of which they believed in with no evidence to support their theories.  We kept quiet when it came to politics, the presidential elections and one of the guys mentioned he could care less because he was a convicted felon and could not vote.  We had a beer, tried to order french fries but the kitchen was closed.  We then headed home and as we were laughing and talking about our experience, I took a left then right on to what I thought was #86 West but soon figured out was #86 East, heading towards Binghamton, New York.  Idiot!  We got off at the Steamburg exit which had cheap gas and a gas station called The Turtle Pit, which our barkeep mentioned as having great food, cheap gas, and interesting gifts.  So we drove the extra mile to get gas at The Turtle Pit, wanted a hoagie, the best around according to our barkeep but the deli was closed, so we got two pieces of pizza, for the price of one because it was late in the day.

Sunset

We finally got back on #86 West, the right direction as the sun was setting and arrived home around 8:30, the end to an eventful day.  We settled in our TV room, me with pizza, Evie with some naan and watched another episode of THE HANDMAID'S TALE, surprisingly violent and depressing.  One episode was enough before we watched something else before going up to bed.