"Even though we only had one day of kiting, it was well worth 12 hours of driving. It was a blast." ....Jeff Gandee in describing a recent trip from Washington DC to Erie. Jeff Gandee, 28, of Washington DC, has kept his ears on NOAA weather reports for the past three years always hoping to find the perfect winds for his sport, kiteboarding. He found the conditions on Lake Erie waters at Presque Isle State Park ideal for a thrill ride recently. Winds exceeded 35 knots. So Gandee packed his gear, took the day off of work, made the six-hour drive to Erie and, soon after jogging through the beach sands, found himself 20 feet above roaring waves while high winds toyed with his kite. Although self-taught, Gandee doesn't recommend the same approach to anyone planning to learn kiteboarding. "Gusty winds are dangerous and not suitable for beginning riders," he says. "It's too easy to get hurt." Gandee said he can practice new tricks when winds are calmer, but not this day. He was simply fighting with nature. "It's the most exciting activity I've ever done." ROB ENGELHARDT/

"It's such a nice day," says Donna Hemme, 76. "Sitting in the sun feels so good," she added while at her West 25th Street home in Erie on Oct. 20. "Yesterday I didn't get a darn thing done. I sat out here in the morning, went in for lunch, then came back out all afternoon." Reflecting on the past 43 years at her home, Hemme recalled the days when 75 kids, including five of her own, lived on the block. "There were kids everywhere." Now it's a quiet street and Hemme enjoys every chance to get out on the swing. "I love the sun. You never know what the weekend will bring. In fact, my kids are gonna take the swing apart in a few days to store for the winter." GREG WOHLFORD/Erie Times-News