Reading from A 1000-MILE WALK ON THE BEACH

Here is a short reading from my book...not for the squeamish:

(you may want to let it load completely before viewing...)

Revisiting the Lake Trek: Segment 8

This segment spanned the 155 miles Escanaba, Michigan, south to the city of Green Bay, then across the Door Peninsula to Manitowoc, Wisconsin.

This was the seccond longest segment of the Lake Trek in both days (9) and miles (155).

I walked this segment alone, but was shadowed by my friend Vickie around the city of Green Bay.

I camped the first few days of this segment as I made my way south along Green Bay. I had some of the warmest days of the trek along this stretch. After reaching the city of Green Bay I made my way across the base of the Door Peninsula over two days. Part of the time I was on the 'rails to trails' hiking trail called the Devil's River Trail.

After hiking for days along shallow Green Bay then across land for two more days while crossing the lovely Door Peninsula, I was ecstatic to finally get back to the expansive Lake Michigan.

The longest day of the Lake Trek was on the last day of this segment from Denmark, Wisconsin to the lakefront in Manitowoc. It was a hike of 25 miles in one day. Whew!

Note: You may want to press the 'play' button, then pause it and let it completely load before resuming play. This will allow it to play smoothly.

You can find all videos from the Lake Trek on YouTube at: www.YouTube.com/lniewenhuis

Segment 8 Day 6 Oconto->Suamico 22 miles

High of 70 degrees. July 19

Between the towns of Oconto and Suamico is the town of Pensaukee. There is a wildlife preserve there that I hiked through hoping to see the bay. Along the way there was much evidence of wildlife (tracks, places where deer had bedded down, snakeskins, ducks, and tiny toads). I got close to the bay, but never saw it because it was hidden by an eight-foot wall of marsh grasses.

Segment 8 Day 5 Peshtigo->Oconto 11 miles

High of 75 degrees. July 18

Near Peshtigo, they are expanding route 41. In the process they are draining or filling in thousands of acres of wetlands. This is bad news for the bay and the lake. Wetlands are a natural cleansing area for the water entering the lake. They also serve as habitat for wildlife.

The gentleman on the bike is Karl, and I met him along the way to Oconto. He knew much of the history of the area and it was fascinating to listen to him.