A Prize for Being a Dark Park?

With so much light pollution in America (and worldwide), where can you go to see the night sky alight with stars?  Where does the Milky Way still brilliantly shine in a swirl of white light against black sky?

There is a special award given to parks around the world that are prime star-gazing sites.  The Headlands property located just west of Mackinaw City along Lake Michigan was recently awarded the prestigious International Dark Sky Park designation .

“The Headlands, with its two-and-a-half miles of shoreline and 600 acres of old-growth timber, is a beautiful place that will be protected forever,” said James E. Tamlyn, chairman of the Emmet County Board of Commissioners. “Add to that the ability to have uninterrupted night-time viewing and it continues that experience – and that’s what the Headlands is all about. It’s protected now, and as time goes by nothing’s going to change that.” 

I hiked through this park on my first adventure.  I might have to see the park at night this time.  

Signs Along the Way

I saw many strange and amusing signs along the first 302 miles of my hike.  This first one (above) puzzled me until I found myself standing on railroad tracks that my hiking path had crossed.  

Oh.  Okay.  

Then it clicked.  

I've see some dangerous areas, but never so fraught with danger that picnicking was forbidden.   

I thought this danger sign was pretty clear, especially with the little stick guy taking a header off the cliff.This last sign was my favorite.

It was in an otherwise empty field and this was the only signage about what would be built there.  

What is coming soon?  

Some hip club where men and women 

stand back-to-back is my best guess.  

 If there's a grand opening, I am THERE!!

Me and My Shadow

Me and my shadow

Strolling down the sand dunes...

And along the beach,

And on the roadside.  

Freakin' Phragmites!

Loreen Niewenhuis is an author, adventurer, and Great Lakes speaker. She has completed a trilogy of 1,000-mile adventures exploring the Great Lakes and has written three books about the Great Lakes [A 1,000-Mile Walk on the Beach *a Heartland Indie Bestseller*, A 1,000-Mile Great Lakes Walk *winner of the Great Lakes Great Reads Award*, and A 1,000-Mile Great Lakes Island Adventure]. To learn more about her work, or to book her as a speaker, go to http://LakeTrek.com

I was discouraged to see so much of the invasive grass -- phragmites -- along the shores I've walked so far.  

It was along the Great Lakes, along inland canals and ditches, along smaller lakes and large rivers.  

Invasive species have changed and warped and altered the ecosystem of our Great Lakes.  I spoke to one woman who remembered that the shores near the town of Sebewaing were free of  phragmites a decade ago.  Today the waterways are choked with this invasive grass.  

There had a to be a window of time when the species was first introduced and could have been easily controlled and then eradicated.  That window of opportunity has passed and now eradication will take a concerted effort over many years.   

Around Lake Michigan in a DUGOUT CANOE!

Many people have contacted me in search of information about Lake Michigan:  Can I walk the shoreline between these two cities?  How can I help protect the lake?  I'm a sailor...what are the best cities to visit with marinas?

Mary Catterlin and Amy Lukas

  

Amy Lukas contacted me recently with a unique question:  My friend Mary and I are going to paddle around Lake Michigan in a dugout canoe that she made.  Can you tell us about any obstacles on the shoreline?

Well, this caught my attention!

I met up with Amy in the town of St. Joseph for lunch yesterday so we could discuss their adventure.

Turning a 2000-pound cottonwood trunk into a canoe!

Sealing the boat

The boat is almost complete.  They will attach two outriggers and a sail soon and test it on Lake Michigan.  Their launch date is July 1.

Isn't it beautiful?

 Follow their adventure HERE.

Trial run

My path may cross theirs when I hike some of Lake Michigan's shoreline later this summer!  Keep a lookout for Mary and Amy on the lake and cheer them on!

Hands Full of the Lakeshore

The lakeshore is made up of much more than grains of sand.

..

There are the remnants of the rocks 

that are being slowly ground away.

There are many kinds of shells and the sand varies in coarseness along the way.


Next time you walk the beach, look down to discover the geological and biological clues at your feet.

This is the largest fresh water clam shell I've ever seen on the lakeshore.

Springing to Life

Fiddlehead Ferns

Mayapple from above

Hiking in April brings a mixture of weather and I had snow and rain and wind and warm days.  

Along the way, spring began to unfurl and bloom.  

Mayapple Grove

Marsh Marigolds 

I saw miniature mayapple groves, marsh marigolds blooming in the water, trillium in the forests, ferns unfurl, and many trees bursting into bloom.

Trillions of Trillium

Apple Tree in Bloom

These Boots are Made for Hiking!

I hiked the first 300 miles of my adventure in these 
Oregon PCT boots made by KEEN.  

The Oregon PCT boots in repose

As you can tell, they were quite comfortable!  

And they performed well on a variety of terrain.  

Erikson PCT boot by KEEN

  

For the next portion of my hike, there will be more rocks, so I am moving to this even sturdier boot, the Erickson PCT model by KEEN.


They have more leather and go a little higher on the ankle for support.  


Since this boot is constructed for more rugged conditions, I'm hoping they will take me all the way to the finish line in Niagara Falls.  We shall see...


*By the way, the finale of my 1000-mile Great Lakes hike will take place in Niagara Falls on the Canadian side of the river.  I will invite people to join me in Niagara, Ontario, to hike the final 15 miles with me along the 

Niagara River Recreational Trail.  

I am nailing down the details this month for the event which will include a hotel deal at the 

Sheraton on the Falls 

and celebration dinner (along with many other goodies!).  A shuttle will take hikers up to the city of Niagara-on-the-Lake which is located where the Niagara River empties into Lake Ontario.  From there, we will hike back to the falls over portions of a Friday and Saturday in mid-October.  


Details and dates are still in the process of getting nailed down.  I will send a mass e-mail out in the next few weeks with all of the particulars.  Hotel rooms and space at the dinner will be limited, so if you want to come, please watch for upcoming e-mails.  If you are NOT on my e-mail list and would like to be, please send an e-mail my way at Loreen@LakeTrek.com with "Updates" in the subject and I'll add you to my list.  

Please note that since this event takes place in Canada, 

you will need a passport or enhanced license in order to 

cross into Canada from the US.  

One Book, One County!

Book Club at White Pigeon Library

Yesterday was an exciting day!


My book, A 1000-MILE WALK ON THE BEACH, was chosen for St. Joseph County's annual "One Book, One County"event!  

What an honor!

I met with the White Pigeon Book Club for a book discussion and fantastic lunch. 


That evening, I made my way to Sturgis for a reception at the library followed by my lecture at the auditorium.  

I'm on the marquis in Sturgis! (With Jane (on left) and Barbara (on right), librarians extraordinaire!)

Signing books at reception

Reception at Sturgis Library

Reception at Sturgis Library

A big thanks to St. Joseph County and the dedicated librarians serving their community.

At the podium 

At the podium

And thanks to everyone who came to the event!   

My Mom came along to this event.  What a fantastic poster they created!

Birds Along the Water

Barn Swallows 

I always have a camera with me on my hikes and I take photos to document the sights along the way.  

I caught some birds in flight and paddling the waves and roving the waterways.

Several kinds of gulls

Tundra Swan

The last photo is a tundra swan near the island of Grosse Ile.  This winter was so mild that there was very little ice on the lower Great Lakes.  Residents of Grosse Ile told me that the tundra swans stayed there all winter and never migrated any further south.

Everyone Knows it's WINDY!

Wind Farm in distance

April was a blustery month and the winds seemed to congregate and explore Michigan's thumb more intensely than other areas.  I had many days with sustained winds of 25 mph or better, and several days with gusts reaching 50 mph.  

Much of the "thumb" is quite flat with few trees, so there is little to impede the wind as it travels, so I was not surprised to see wind farms sprouting up along the way.  

These tall towers with their whirling blades turn that racing wind into electricity.  

In this last photo, I'm trying to demonstrate the strength of the wind by holding up a tissue.  The waves behind me (and the wind burn on my face) probably do a better job of proving how blustery this day was! 

Hike-Hike-Hiking

 I hiked 302 miles in 23 days.  

 Whew!


From Port Clinton, Ohio, I headed west and made my way back to Michigan along the shores of Lake Erie.  


From there, I headed north along the Detroit River, Lake St. Clair, and the St. Clair River to reach Lake Huron.

 Whew!

 I learned so much about the geology of the lakes and their connection by walking it step-by-step.

I can't wait to share the journey with you all in my next book!