Where it All Began...

Loreen Niewenhuis is an author, adventurer, and dynamic speaker. 

She has completed a trilogy of 1,000-mile adventures exploring the Great Lakes and has authored three books about these adventures. 

To learn more about her work, or to engage her as a speaker, go to 

http://www.laketrek.com/great-lakes-speaker/

It was on this date 

TEN YEARS AGO

that I began my trek around Lake Michigan.

I am amazed that it has been a decade since this all began.

Standing on Chicago's Navy Pier for the beginning of this 1,000-mile hike, I didn't know if I could do it, had never done anything of this magnitude before. 

I would hike along the edge of my favorite place and get to know it completely...

all its many moods...

...the many creatures living along the edge of this Great Lake...

...the beauty along the way.

I arrived back in Chicago after 64 days of hiking (averaging 16 miles/day).

 And I got to celebrate with friends and family and followers of this amazing journey.

This adventure led to my first book:

It went on to be a Heartland Indie Bestseller!

[Available wherever books are sold -- support your local INDIE bookstore!]

Also available as an audiobook HERE.

This first adventure led to two more:

I have given over 200 presentations about my Great Lakes adventures! 

Learn more about me and my dynamic presentations about our magnificent Great Lakes HERE. 

A Shining City on the Lakeshore

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

This January, I spent some time in the largest city on the Great Lakes: Chicago.

I love this city in the winter. 

I began my first 1,000-mile Great Lakes Adventure here in the final days of winter in 2009. 

My hike around Lake Michigan began on Navy Pier.

Enjoy these photos from this shining city on the lakeshore.

Ice on the Chicago River

Lake Michigan and the Chicago River

Ice on Navy Pier

Ice on the lake and one of the water intakes for the city

 Chicago's water comes from Lake Michigan.

*Over 30 million people get their drinking water from our Great Lakes.

Navy Pier and the lake

Navy Pier

Fountain of the Great Lakes

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

When I was in Chicago on my book tour, I stopped by to see the 

"Fountain of the Great Lakes" 

sculpture in the south garden at the Art Institute.

This allegorical sculpture by Lorado Taft has five women holding vessels representing the five 

Great Lakes. 

The water flows from one to the next, just like the water flows through the Great Lakes. The uppermost woman represents Lake Superior, and the lowest represents Lake Ontario. This final figure gazes off into the distance as she reaches out with her hand, representing Lake Ontario flowing out to the North Atlantic Ocean.

On the day I visited, the Lake Ontario lady had a winged visitor.

This bronze was created between 1907-1913. 

Chicago!

Chicago!

My book tour took me to the Windy City this October for a week of events. 
The Newberry Library hosted my first presentation...

Newberry Library

Newberry Library

Ruggles Hall at the Newberry

Then I spoke at all 4 REI stores in the 

Chicago area.

Northbrook REI

Lincoln Park REI

Audience at the Northbrook REI

Schaumburg REI

Thanks to everyone who came out to hear about the islands of the Great Lakes!

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 like the REI stores in Chicago -- go to http://LakeTrek.com

Fountains of the Great Lakes

In my upcoming book about the ISLANDS of the Great Lakes, I will take you to the

James Scott Memorial Fountain on Belle Isle.

During my winter in Chicago, I watched the city wake from its snowy slumber. The ice on the lake broke up and melted, and workers climbed up on Chicago's Buckingham Fountain to prepare it to have water flowing through its pipes once again.

The fountain is quiet all winter

Workers inspect the fountain...

...and ready it for the water to flow once again.

spring is in the air...

Most people see the fountain in the summer with water streaming, so you may not be aware of the effort it takes at the end of every winter to get it running once again.

Six Year Anniversary

Six years ago, I began my first hike on Chicago's Navy Pier. The completion of that first 1,000-mile hike led me to undertake two more 

Great Lake Adventures.

Chicago's Navy Pier reaches out into Lake Michigan

Now, I've hiked, kayaked, biked or boated over 3,000 miles exploring the Great Lakes basin, the shoreline, cities and towns on the edges of the lakes, wild areas, and dozens of the islands afloat in their waters.

In this video, I take a moment to look back to where this all began.

February ice on Lake Michigan

Here's a look at the ice on Lake Michigan this February:

To see satellite images of the frozen 
Great Lakes, 
go HERE.

Explorers of the Great Lakes

If you've been to Chicago, you've probably walked Michigan Avenue over the Chicago River.

You may have walked over this historic site without realizing that you were on the location of Fort Dearborn. This garrison was destroyed during the War of 1812 and later rebuilt on the same site.

Michigan Ave. bridge

These magnificent sculptures flanking the bridge commemorate this battle.

Commemorating the defense of Fort Dearborn during the War of 1812

And a smaller plaque behind them remembers early European explorers of the region.

Cavilier, La Salle, and de Tonti passed this way in 1681

In my upcoming book, I tell the story of European exploration of the Great Lakes. Did you know Lake Erie was the last lake to be seen by Europeans? Do you know why?

Ice on the Great Lakes

On February 14, the Great Lakes had 68.3% ice coverage. Lake Erie is the shallowest Great Lake and always freezes faster than the other, 
deeper lakes. 
In the NOAA image below, the darker the area on the lake, the more complete the ice coverage.

Lake Michigan is unique. It is deeper than Lake Huron, and prevailing winds tend to break up the ice that forms on edge of the west side of the lake, then move it across to the eastern shore. 

The largest Great Lake city

Chicago is the largest city on the shores of our Great Lakes. This city has a long history of preserving access to the lakeshore 

for Chicagoans and visitors.

Daniel Burnham created a plan for the city preserving an open lakefront.

Today, there are park areas and a new playground being constructed on the lakeshore. 

And much of the architecture here relates to Lake Michigan. My favorite is the Aqua skyscraper (in photo below) designed by Studio Gang Architects 

led by Jeanne Gang. 

Aqua (center building) echoes the waves of Lake Michigan in the undulating balconies

 I am enjoying my time in this great city.

Cloud Gate (also known as "The Bean") reflects both the city and the lakeshore

City Lit Books, Logan Square, Chicago!

City Lit Books in Logan Square

Lovely space with fireplace!

 I love to discover new indie bookstores when I travel. This week I made it up to the Logan Square neighborhood of Chicago to visit 

City Lit Books.

[2523 N. Kedzie Blvd.]

While the exterior storefront is understated, the interior is warm and welcoming. 

City Lit Books gives great insight into their books

Short stories by Chicago author, Abby Geni

And City Lit not only curates a fantastic selection of books, but their staff posts comments for many books on their shelves.

I found this new collection of short stories there.

(*Oh, and if you have time, pop in to Lula Cafe a couple doors down for a great meal!)

Ice on Lake Michigan

There have been many reports about the remarkable amount of ice coverage on the Great Lakes during this frigid winter. The highest recorded total ice coverage on the Great Lakes is 94.7% from 1979 (the most modern data set only goes back to 1973). 

On February 12, the Great Lakes were 87% sealed with ice. 

Ice builds around Chicago's water intake

A witness to the freeze on Chicago's Navy Pier

Check out the remarkable growth of ice on Lake Michigan over a 4-day period this month here. 

Prevailing winds from the west tend to break up Lake Michigan's ice and push it across the lake to the shores of Indiana and Michigan. Large stacks of ice form along the shoreline.

Ice builds around Navy Pier

Ice floe meanders up the Chicago River

The ice coverage will reduce the amount of water that the lakes lose to evaporation this spring. Heavy precipitation this winter will flow to the lakes and raise them up to 11" this year.

Chicago's Indie Bookstore

Chicagoooooo!

I am having a great winter in CHICAGO!

Recently, I stopped in at Sandmeyer's Bookstore in Chicago's historic Printer's Row. 

The owner, Ellen Sandmeyer, was there and we had a lovely chat. I met Ellen just before my first book came out and she was enthusiastic about my adventure. Both of my books are now on the shelves there!

Sandmeyer's Bookstore in Chicago's Printer's Row

 Chicago's annual Printer's Row Literary Festival takes place here on Dearborn street where this lovely indie bookstore is located. 

Inside the store with Ellen Sandmeyer!

 Remember: it's important WHERE you buy your books! Support your local indie bookstore, or any wonderful indie when you're traveling!

I picked up a copy of Donna Tartt's new novel!

To find indie bookstores wherever you may go, use the store finder on Indiebound.org