Weekend in LV

Nicki and I spent the weekend in Little Valley. Left Oberlin Saturday morning with rain storms coming in from the west. If we had stayed in Oberlin we would have been treated later that day to a tremendous thunderstorm - finally the rain we needed and the lawns are green again). On our way we stopped at New York’s Long Point State Park on Chautauqua Lake. Water was choppy as a result of all the powerboats sharing the lake. Didn’t see much wildlife other than a few herons. The lake was very grassy and weedy for 50-60 yards from the shore which doesn’t impede the kayaks but does make the water very unclear. The kayaks run well and ride the ups and downs without feeling unstable.

Leaving the park we were greeted by a fox sitting 20-30 feet from the road’s edge. Didn’t run away - in fact it seemed to be curious about us and did a lot of rolling and scratching for our entertainment. Looked thin and a little mangy. Grabbed the camera and got many shots. We finally let it cross the road and go on its way. We didn’t get out of the car and even though Nicki was tempted she didn't toss it a granola bar.

Martha was at the Little Valley house and after I took a shower we headed over to Ellicottville to meet Jim for supper at Tips Up Cafe. Great dinner. And then we all went back to LV to work on Martha’s new computer which went very late. Nicki was to first to drift off but then she wasn’t as actively involved in the project. I even gave up round 12:30 and let Jim and Martha finish the night’s work. We had done a lot of installing and tutoring but never did get the new computer to make a dial-up connection which we all know Martha will need eventually. We also did a bit of work on Martha’s iPod - one of the coolest things was putting pictures from her new camera into the iPod which she can then view.

Sunday morning we all met Ed at Dina’s in Ellicottville for breakfast. After eating, Jim and I tested out the free wireless access in downtown Ellicottville (it’s there). So Martha can take her laptop and sit on a downtown bench and check her email. Jim headed north for Geneseo while the rest of us returned to LV. After a little inspection of the recent water work Nicki and I headed off for kayaking while Ed returned to Olean and Martha started laundries. (Photo by Jim)

We went to Quaker Lake in Allegany State Park. Fantastic weather and great paddling. Started on the west end near the spill way and went about a mile toward the other end. A little choppy due to the wind which became a factor when we turned around and started our return to the launch site. The wind and chop was a challenge - to continue to make forward progress you need to keep up a steady paddle pace and fight the wind - a real confidence builder. As expected my arms and especially my hands felt the workout the next day. Highlight was spotting a hawk chasing something into the water and then circling over our heads.

From there it was back to LV, did a little work setting up Martha’s printer to work with her computer (or tried as we didn’t have the necessary USB cable), and then started back to Oberlin. On the way we did dinner at Wegmans and then stopped at Presque Isle State Park near Erie, Pennsylvania, to scout out good spots to launch our kayaks on future trips. We found several good looking spots on the east side of the isle. The west side gets the full brunt of the Lake Erie winds - the waves were impressive - not a good spot for kayaking. We did watch a fantastic sunset before heading off again.

Back to Oberlin by 10:30 p.m. Dogs were happy to see us. It was a short weekend - Saturday morning to Sunday evening - but worth it. I highly recommend a stay at the LV homestead especially when it has water.

By the way - we did check out the Indian Powwow from a distance which was happening at the Fairgrounds but it looked too quiet and unpopulated so we didn’t actually go into the Fairgrounds. No photos there. Kayaking was more inviting. (Photo by Nicki)

Moving on...

Tonight Nicki and I finally drove past our most frequented lake (Findley) and tried a new location - Spencer Lake - only another 10 miles or so beyond Findley but a little less populated with people. It is actually a big lake separated into 2 lakes by a walkway so we only boated one-half. But that was enough for one evening. Plenty of Great Blue Herons to sneak up on - they didn’t seem to mind.

And then there were 2 beavers that led us away from their home - slapping their tails when we came too close and then swimming in crisscross patterns just in front of us and leading us away - which is no wonder considering we could hear their pups whining within their home. Amazing how close we could get in the kayaks.

And then, to top everything off, another nice sunset just before we pulled the boats out of the water. I made sure we switched which side of the rack the boats were on so people won’t start thinking we never take them off. And oh yes, I was confident enough today to take my good camera with me in the kayak.

Also had a dental check-up today - flossing works.

Peaks Island Trip

Took a little while - things have been way too busy what with workshop prep, trips to the hospital, and getting the kayaks on and off the CRV, but finally have posted photos of our trip to Peaks Island. Mostly shots with the group on the beach one long afternoon. They are a combination of N's and my photos - see if you can tell whose is whose. Won’t even talk about my legs getting well sunburnt. Click on the link and enjoy.

This makes 2 blog posts in one day. I'm not trying to catch up with MJM.

Back into a routine...

Nice weekend. Perfect temperatures which meant some relief from the heat and humidity (which is coming back today). N & I scouted out Vermilion on Lake Erie for kayak launching sites. Could put them in off the public beach but it is an area fairly heavily traveled by lake watercraft - small fishing boats, pleasure craft, and ski-dooers - which doesn't appeal. Had dinner at the Old Prague which sibling 1 of 6 will remember and then joined a crowd on the beach watching the impressive sunset. Could see Cedar Point and a nuclear plant in the distance. On our way home N visited her brother who was in intensive care recovering from stent surgery.

Saturday was spent prepping for this week's tech workshop. In the evening N & I took the kayaks to Findley Lake for a late excursion. Again, a fantastic sunset. And home after dark. Sunday was more school work and another evening kayaking - but just a normal sunset. What are we going to do when the days get too short? I totally support GW's extension of daylight saving time a whole month - but he's a wuss for not advocating going year-round or not making it effective until 2007.

N's brother Hans is back home from the hospital. Was released Sunday. Seems fast.

My tech workshops began today. 8-2:30 each day for the next 2 weeks. About a dozen people attending - mostly Oberlin teachers. Everyone seemed enthusiastic. To see a bit of what we're covering check out the Oberlin Technology Institute.

We're back...

What a fantastic interesting trip. Hard to condense all into a short version. And it is going to take a while to sort through the several hundred photos to make my usual online slideshow. I'll send out an announcement when I have the photos on my website. Thanks to all our hosts: Martin, Jim & Cindy, Ben & Alicia, Will & Jen, and Martha. Everything started with a long drive Wednesday to the Bronx. Left late to make sure Hans was okay. Martin took us to Times Square for a very late evening dinner at a Olive Garden and a midnight stroll among the vendors and oddities and lights. Made it back to his apartment by 2:00 AM. Up next morning leaving at 8:00 AM for the drive to Laura's. Did a little shopping, did a little checking out her condo, and then did a long slow drive to Peaks Island. Got to Portland in time to see the little kids eating pizza, grab a quick supper ourselves, and then get the car on the ferry to Peaks Island.

We stayed Thursday and Friday nights in the log-cabin lodge in the woods along with the Ben & Alicia & Will & Jen families. Nice bunch of people. Friday was spent mostly at the beach. Then Laura's Mike arrived while we had dinner with Martha. Almost everyone else went out that evening to a SeaDogs game in Portland. Word went out that evening that the car ferry was again broken which would make Saturday very very interesting especially since most of our groups needed to be off the island and on the road.

Ben & Will were up very early Saturday to get their cars in line for the alternative ferry (smaller, more barge-like, and used a more awkward loading method). They used my vehicle to shuttle their luggage for the packing. And they were on the first load at 9:30 AM. Jim and Cindy ran that morning in a 5-mile race that came right past our lodge. After we packed we met Martha and put both of our cars in the line (numbers 59 & 60) and started the hourly move of our cars up 8 spaces - a fairly well organized and congenial process. Managed a good lunch overlooking the water watching the ferry going back and forth. Finally were loaded around 4:00 PM. Drove up to Freeport.

Did some shopping at LLBean and an excellent Italian dinner next door. Mike & Laura had joined us and with Martha stayed at the Kendall Tavern B&B. Sunday we did a little more shopping in Freeport and then did the 520 mile drive to Rochester - my car in front, Nicki and Martha in her car following. Nice to have cellphones to feel like we were together. Found a few storms to drive through. Mike & Laura stayed a little longer in Freeport and then returned to Hartford.

Monday we did breakfast out with Martha, stops at both kayak stores to get the right rack parts I wanted, and then straight back to Ohio via Hans' hospital. The total trip was only 1,750 miles. This should be our last long trip of the summer. Now to get serious about my tech workshops and getting prepped for the new school year.