Indian Summer Gets a Warm Welcome

By Chris Tye
WKYC Reporter

CLEVELAND -- In a season where sick calls are a little easier to make, thanks to swine flu, Wednesday's weather made playing hooky a tempting option.

"This may be the last time I can play golf around here this year," said Henry VanHala, one of hundreds of golfers that filled Big Met golf course in Rocky River Wednesday.

"I'm the eternal optimist," he says. "There will be plenty more days like this." But when pressed a little, he caves: "OK, I don't think it will last long."

The hour-plus wait to play golf at the course was a sign of how intensely appreciative Clevelanders are of this Oct. 22 warm up.

Boaters like Don Adams were of like mind.

"October hasn't been a good month for fishing," he said. "But it's ok, God's still good and tomorrow's supposed to be pretty nice too."

Tom McMahon is a kayaker from North Ridgeville who took today to get back on the lake too. "It's been a cool summer, so I'm happy to sneak out here today," he said.

Downtown restaurants that provide outdoor options were also crowded, as were garden centers with green thumbs trying to get in some last-minute yard work.

An Indian summer that warms us up, and breaks us out of the cabin fever, seemed to set in early this year.