Mylar Balloons

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've blogged about the persistence of mylar balloons in the environment. In fact, the most-viewed post on my blog in 2011 was about mylar balloons I found while hiking around Lake Michigan.

This winter I had the pleasure of taking some long hikes along the Atlantic coast on North Carolina's gorgeous beaches. 

Caswell Beach, NC

Mylar balloons also accumulate here. The photo below shows 4 balloons I picked up along 

Caswell Beach.

Four weathered mylar balloons

Mylar balloons are even more harmful when in the ocean because they resemble jelly fish. Many creatures who feed on the jellies will ingest the balloons and other plastic items because they resemble the jellies. The final photo shows some of the other plastic items I found on this stretch of beach.

Migration

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

Many birds migrate to and from the Great Lakes region. I am spending some time along the coast in North Carolina this month and I've noticed several species of birds that spend the mild months along the shores of our Great Lakes.

The sanderling is one of the hardest working shorebirds. It constantly scurries along the edge of the waves looking for its next meal.

Sanderling

I am also keeping an eye out for piping plovers. The Great Lakes subspecies of this bird is endangered. It spends the mild months in the Great Lakes and migrates to the Gulf of Mexico and southern Atlantic coast for the winter. 

 Nesting areas are protected in the Great Lakes.

Piping Plover on North Manitou Island.

Moon Snails and Ocean Walks

 Have you ever strolled an ocean beach and come across one of these gasket-looking things in the sand?  I finally tracked down the answer to the question:  what is THAT?  It is the egg case of the moon snail.  The snail secretes mucus mixed with sand and places the eggs in this rather strange creation.  

I've had a few visitors down here in North Carolina where I am preparing for my upcoming 1000-mile hike.  My friend Stephanie "Stew" Lyon stopped by and we strolled the beach together for a bit.  

My next hike begins April 2 along the shores of Lake Erie!

For the Love of Book Clubs!

Every writer hopes to be published. And when that happens, every author hopes that their book will go out in the world and find readers.

I have had the privilege of meeting so many of my readers while on my book tour this past year at lectures and readings in five states. People told me their favorite part of the book, or what they were surprised to learn, or about their connection to the Great Lakes.

Many book clubs have chosen my book to read and discuss. How thrilling is that for a writer? It's amazing!

Quite a few of these book clubs have extended an invitation for me to join them while they talk about my book, and I've been able to attend several of these gatherings. This photo is from the most recent book club I attended in North Carolina! They held a lively discussion of the book and had some great questions and comments.

Thank you to all the readers and
book clubs who have chosen and
championed my book!

Training for the Next Adventure

I am having a fantastic time in North Carolina training for my next adventure.