Revisiting the Lake Trek: Segment 10!

This segment spanned the final 102 miles between Milwaukee and Chicago. It took me 6 days to hike.


A crowd gathered at the end of Navy Pier to greet me at the end of my Lake Trek of 1,000 miles. I'll always cherish that moment when a cheer went up as I reached the end of this adventure. A huge thanks to friends and family and people who just love Lake Michigan who celebrated the completion of my Lake Trek.

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 10 Day 3 Racine->Zion, IL 23 miles

High of 74 degrees.

Wednesday, September 23

This was the longest day of this segment, and one of the longest of the entire trek at 23 miles. I passed through the city of Kenosha at mid day and met up with Susan Remson and her dog Burlee (in third photo). They walked with me along the lovely Kenosha lakeshore for a bit and Susan filled me in on the recent history of the city. Then, I took a break at Susan's condo where we shared crackers and cheese and iced tea.

The shoreline was quite varied this day. I stayed near it and walked it whenever possible. I crossed into Illinois this day, where the Lake Trek began back in March.

East Park Inn, Racine

One of my favorite things about the Lake Trek was occasionally being able to stay at a historical inn along the way. In Racine, I stayed at the East Park Inn (formerly the Christmas House). Located just a block off the lake, this inn was built in 1893.

I had a beautiful view of the sunset from my third floor suite.

This grand house has had a complex history, beginning as a family home built for Emily Baker, widow of Robert Hall Baker who was one of the founders of the Case Company (manufacturer of construction and farming equipment). It was also the family home for the Horlicks, founder of the Horlick's Malted Milk Company. After that, it was used for over 30 years as a dormitory for nursing students.

Today it is a grand inn. What a wonderful way to preserve history in such an accessible way.

Segment 10 Day 2 Oak Creek->Racine 16 miles

High of 73 degrees.

Tuesday, September 22

I was able to walk the lakeshore for part of this day. The shore was rocky in areas, and there were many stone jetties that I had to climb over before I reached the Wind Point Lighthouse. South of the lighthouse, the shoreline was once again inaccessible, so I walked the roads for the rest of the day. Racine has a lovely zoo located on the lake, so I took a little time to visit the animals before finishing my day on the south side of town.

Lake Trek to come full circle September 26

I leave home on Monday (September 21) to begin the tenth and final segment of my adventure. From the 21st to the 26th, I'll walk the shoreline between Milwaukee and Chicago.

I'm taking the ferry across the lake one last time to begin this segment.

It will be strange to see the Chicago skyline growing larger as I approach from the north. When I began this adventure back in March, there was still ice in the harbors and on the east side of the lake. As I walked those first miles -- south from Chicago, then east across the bottom of the lake -- I watched the Chicago skyline get smaller and then reduce to toy-size across the water. It was a very visual way to know how far I had gone over the five days of walking that first segment. This time, the skyline will begin as a hazy suggestion of buildings on the horizon and grow to towering skyscrapers as I enter the city.

I have always loved Lake Michigan, and this year has been my time to fully explore this amazing body of water and the communities along its edges. This last segment will bring me full circle in my adventure. I will not have a computer with me as I cover these final miles, so I will post photos when I return home after completing my '1,000 Mile Walk on the Beach.'

Thank you for coming along on my adventure.