Kayaking Lake Erie and on to Chautauqua

 7/17/23 - 7/19/23

Decided the weather was good enough to put the kayaks into Lake Erie. Kayaked 2 miles total along the coast. It was windy and a bit choppy, especially at the shore where we put in and took out. 

The buzzards were an ominous sign

But except for a wet disembark we did fine.

Drove to Chautauqua, did our laundry, and met up with Kriss and Gary. After figuring out our entrance tickets to Chautauqua Institution (the man at the ticket counter cut us a deal because he knew Kriss) we toured the Quaker House where Kriss works and then explored the beautiful campus grounds.

The hotel that was built in 90 days by 90 men

Thomas Edison's home

Many of the places reminded me of places on the Cape and Islands

The Miller Bell Tower plays every 15 min and at 8am, noon, and 6 pm the chimemaster plays a variety of songs for 15 minutes. The keyboard, from the 1940's, activates the bell clappers.

The Unitarian Universalist house

Gary told Matthew to bring his baritone uke so he could participate in Gary's gathering of musicians of all abilities on the Bestir Plaza 

Priming the pot and ever hopeful

Spent the night camping on Kriss and Gary's land nearby. The next morning we navigated the ticket situation again - this time saying we were going to Mass, which got us in free for the morning. Then later bought afternoon tickets that were good until 8pm. 

Matthew was invited to chat with first Gen college students who are brought to C.I. for a week to gain social capital by making connections with the other people at C.I. He had a great time and their questions kept him there for several hours.

Beautiful spring rolls from the farmers' market on campus.

While I participated in the Meditation and Mending session Kriss held, Matthew played with the musical gathering in the Quaker House.

Murals just outside of town

The Chautauqua Institution was beautiful and the lectures and arts programs they offer are amazing, but the privilege and insularity of it, even as they work to become more inclusive, is unsettling. Kriss and Gary are working for change and they are well equipped for it.