Paddling Pearl Lake

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

She has completed a trilogy of 1,000-mile journeys 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/

I continue to paddle the inland lakes in the Traverse City area. These lakes funnel water to nearby Lake Michigan and the health of these lakes impacts the health of our Great Lake.

Today, I kayaked Pearl Lake west of Traverse City. This lake has land protected by the Grand Traverse Regional Land Conservancy, so it is not completely ringed by cottages. 

[*Note: If you try to find the boat launch on Wagner Road, it is NOT well marked, so drive slowly to find it.]

Here are some photos and videos from this lovely paddle:

An eagle's nest (below):

A dragonfly emerges...

A Timely Gift

A tract of lakeshore -- 171 acres of it -- has just been purchased and protected. This untouched land is located just north of Oval Beach in Saugatuck, Michigan, and stretches up to the mouth of the Kalamazoo River where it empties into Lake Michigan. The Land Conservancy, the City of Saugatuck, and The Nature Conservancy joined with private donors to close the $20 million dollar deal just before 2009 ended.

The preservation of this wild area is a gift to us all.