Perry Monument on Presque Isle

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 recently had a speaking engagement in Erie, Pennsylvania. The natural harbor there is formed by a long peninsula reaching out into Lake Erie.  

That peninsula is called Presque Isle which is French for "almost island." 
It is attached to the mainland by a thin strip of land.

Presque Isle is the green peninsula in map above

Looking back at the city of Erie from Presque Isle State Park

It was in this harbor that the Americans built 6 ships to battle with the British at the Battle of Lake Erie in 1813.

This was the first time that the British navy was defeated and all of their vessels were captured.

The American commander that day was Oliver Hazard Perry, and a monument to him stands out on the peninsula.

Perry Monument

Inscription reads:  "Erected by the State of Pennsylvania to commemorate the victory of Commodore Oliver Hazard Perry in the Battle of Lake Erie"

Oliver Hazard Perry gave us the famous line:

"We have met the enemy, and they are ours."

Lighthouses on Lake Huron

Sturgeon Point Lighthouse, Harrisville, MI

 Lake Huron has long been a dangerous place for boats.  Huron has  shallow, rocky shoals that stretch out from the shore and there are long stretches of the lake where no safe, natural harbor exists for boats caught in storms.

Presque Isle, MI

Pictured here are a few of the beautiful lighthouses I walked by in June as I made my way from Bay Harbor to Mackinaw City.

40-Mile Point Lighthouse near Rogers City

Looking out of the 40-Mile Point Lighthouse

Old Mackinaw Point Lighthouse

 Each of these sentinels still stands due to the restoration and preservation efforts of many people who love these lights on our lakes. 

Awakened to the Call of Loons

My hike has taken me through industrial and urban areas. Now as I head farther north, I am entering the more wild and rugged places along the edges of our Great Lakes.

Arriving in the small community of Presque Isle, I stayed at The Presque Isle Lodge, a B&B with almost a century-long history. This rustic loge was built in 1920 by a furniture manufacturer based in Bay City, Michigan. They made rustic, handmade furniture and wanted a place to showcase their creations. They built the lodge before electricity was even available in the area!




The Spencer family purchased the lodge over 25 years ago. It had been vacant for many years, so they spent the first couple of years lovingly restoring the place.


The inn is huge --around 10,000 square feet -- but much of this is common area as seen in these two photos. There is also a wrap around, screened porch and lots of seating in the quiet back yard. The lodge has the largest remaining collection of the handmade "Habitant" furniture found anywhere.






The Lodge also has frontage on Grand Lake across the street. I spent a restful hour there swinging on a lakeside hammock. Zzzzzzzzzzzzzz

My bedroom faced Grand Lake and in the morning I awoke to the loons calling to each other across the calm waters.

Location:Presque Isle, MI