Clay Cliffs

 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 live in Traverse City, Michigan, and one of the reasons I moved here was for the many hiking trails in the region. Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore is nearby and I've hiked most of the trails and all of the shoreline there. 

Northwest of Traverse City is the Leelanau Peninsula. This gorgeous area has its own conservancy organization working to protect and preserve natural areas. One of my favorite trails on this peninsula is Clay Cliffs Natural Area located just north of Leland.

The trail has two overlooks, one of Lake Leelanau and one of Lake Michigan.

Here's a video from the Lake Michigan overlook. Great views of the Manitou Islands.

Here's the view of Lake Leelanau:

The wild flowers were in bloom today...

the trout lily amongst the trillium...

And more views out on Lake Michigan...

Houdek Dunes Natural Area

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 set out on a mild, January day to explore another hiking area preserved by the Leelanau Conservancy. It is located just north of Leland. 

*Note: between this area and the town of Leland, watch for the Yak farm on the east side of the road. Yes...YAKS! 

[They weren't in the pastures today.]

 The Houdek Dunes Natural Area has several trails looping through the property and I hiked most of them. 

Trails are blazed and marked. 

Other creatures leave their marks, too.

A small stream winds between the rolling dunes.

There are many conservancy properties to explore on the Leelanau Peninsula.

Leelanau Conservancy Lands: DeYoung Natural Area

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/

I hike many of the wonderful trails in and around Traverse City to keep in shape for my adventures. 

Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore is nearby and the Leelanau Conservancy  has preserved many tracts of land on the Leelanau Peninsula.

[I blogged about one of their lovely hiking areas, Clay Cliffs.]

Today the organization called for volunteers to help create a new trail in the DeYoung Natural Area.

This natural area is west of Cedar Lake on the Leelanau Peninsula

Volunteers joined with board members, Americorps workers, and conservancy employees to work on a 1-mile loop of new trail.

Volunteers gather with Leelanau Conservancy board members and employees

Here I am ready to help clear the trail

We clipped vegetation encroaching on the trail, removed roots, tilled up the trail, then tamped it down.  

A vine leaves its mark

Invasive Japanese Barberry

Board member Gina Erb lends a hand to tamp down the trail

When done, there will be a new, 1-mile loop of groomed trail here

 Learn more about the important work this conservancy is doing at

http://leelanauconservancy.org/

Bay Books in Suttons Bay

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: 

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] 

A 1,000-Mile Great Lakes Island Adventure  [Long-listed for the Chautauqua Prize]

 

To learn more about her work, or to engage her as a speaker, go to http://www.laketrek.com/great-lakes-speaker/

I love a good indie bookstore, and I'm always thrilled when a new one opens near me.

Bay Books opened this May in the lovely town of Suttons Bay. This community has been without a bookstore for several years, so this is an important addition to the stores there. 

BAY BOOKS, 419 N Saint Joseph Street, Suttons Bay, Michigan 

[I don't know about you, but I need to visit a bookstore when I'm exploring a town!]

Tina Greene-Bevington (L) owner of Bay Books and Me (R)

The store has a homey vibe since it is housed in a former house. Books are shelved in several rooms and you can wander from room to room. 

Nicely curated selection of books

Notice the small sign on top of shelf that reads: 'SWEAT IS FAT CRYING'

The front room is where the great selection of children's books are kept. 

Children's books in front room

I found a great book for a gift, and Tina said she'd order and stock a book I asked about 

(Florida a short story collection 

by Lauren Groff).

After reading about Groff's work as she ordered the books, Tina got as excited as I was about the new book. Indie bookstore owners and workers have such passion about their stores and for literature. 

Next time you're in Suttons Bay, stop in at Bay Books. Next door to Martha's Table restaurant.

Leland, Michigan

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

My book tour recently took me to Leland, Michigan where I spoke at the library...

The Library in Leland

...and then signed books at the lovely bookstore in town, Leelanau Books. 

The bookstore always has fresh flowers for their authors!

Thanks to everyone who came out to hear me speak and to get their book at the lovely indie bookstore. Leelanau Books has signed copies in stock, so hurry to get yours!

Northport, Michigan, On the Rise

On my most recent adventure exploring the islands of the Great Lakes, I had time to stop in at Dog Ears Books in Northport, Michigan. 

Pamela Grath, owner of Dog Ears Books tallies my purchases

Dog Ears Books

This is a great indie bookstore with quality used books along with some new titles. Pamela lets me know when she's acquired a book about the 

Great Lakes that might interest me.

This is one of my favorite e-mails to receive: 
"I have a book for you..."

I have built an impressive Great Lakes library with the help of my friends at indie bookstores.

I was surprised by all of the change and construction in the little town of Northport.

Check it out: 

New buildings everywhere in Northport

Construction continues...

New places open...

This little lakeshore town is hopping!

Lighthouses of Lake Michigan

Travel on the Great Lakes can be treacherous. 

 As early as the beginning of the 19th century, lighthouse construction was commissioned to guide vessels around dangerous points and into safe harbors.

Grand Traverse Lighthouse

On the Lake Michigan leg of my 

1000-Mile Great Lakes Walk 

I came across some wonderful lights that guided ships long ago.

Grand Traverse Lighthouse

South Manitou Lighthouse

Point Betsie

Manistee channel light

Ludington Lighthouse

Ludington (Big Sable) Lighthouse

I have completed 987 miles of my journey and will finish my hike along the Niagara River 

-- culminating at Niagara Falls -- 

in October!

And the winner of the MOST BEAUTIFUL PLACE IN AMERICA is...

When people ask me about my favorite stretch of Lake Michigan shoreline, I answer without hesitation:

Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore!

Well, it's no longer a secret because it was just voted the most beautiful place in AMERICA by viewers of Good Morning America!









I hope this honor encourages the Great Lakes States (and the nation) to protect and preserve Lake Michigan and the entire Great Lakes system. Funding the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative is an important step in this direction.

We have a national treasure here and it needs our attention and protection so it remains "The Most Beautiful Place in America"!

Pintail or Merganser Duck??

Duck enthusiasts and experts, please comment: Is this a pintail or a merganser duck? I saw many of them in the greater Leelanau Peninsula area, usually with large broods of chicks.

Seeing this reminded me of the children's book
Make Way for Ducklings

I saw a lot of wildlife during my Lake Trek and tried to convey the wonderful 'wild places' we still have along Lake Michigan's shoreline in my book. Advance copies should be in my hands next week, and I'll be sending out ARCs to reviewers, many bookstores, and to those who walked at my side on the Lake Trek.

The book will be available everywhere March 2011.