Segment 6, Day 6 Bay Shores->Harbor Springs 18 miles

High of 75 degrees

I had some company this day. Rick Land (in photo to left), a friend from way back in my college days, was up in Charlevoix while I was passing through. He joined me for 6 miles of this day's trek.

It was a perfect day, and we walked together on the pathway from Bay Shores, through Petoskey, and into Bay View. Much of the shoreline here is rocky and marshy, and a large stretch is restricted because it is owned by Consumers Power, so the pathway was a great way to move through this beautiful area. It was fun to catch up with Rick as we walked.

I continued on alone onto the beach at Petoskey State Park. This park is at the far end of Little Traverse Bay and is all sandy. It was great to take off my boots and wade in the water on this warm day.

On the north side of the bay, it got marshy once again, so I walked Beach Road which hugged the water most of the way into lovely Harbor Springs. I strolled through the town, then out just a bit on M119.

Segment 6, Day 5 Fisherman's Island State Park->Bay Shores 19 miles

I began this day in the middle of Fisherman's Island State Park where I had stopped the day before. I hiked just a short way and came upon the island (now attached by a peninsula due to low lake levels).

In the park, I saw a bald eagle in the park flying with a large salmon in its claws. Gulls were swooping at the eagle hoping to make it drop its catch.

As I got to the northern edge of the park, I heard a humming sound and saw the St. Mary's concrete plant and quarry in the distance. I had to hike inland to get around the plant and I headed into Charlevoix (last photo here). After a nice lunch, I walked to Bay Shores for a total of 19 miles this day.

Segment 6, Day 4 Eastport->Fisherman's Island State Park 15 miles

High of 64 degrees.

This part of the shoreline got rockier as I headed north. I found several petoskey stones and came across an outcropping of shale-like rock.

I ended this day in Fisherman's Island State Park, a rugged, wild place.














Once I got north of the tip of the Leelanau Peninsula across the bay, the wind picked up and the shoreline, while still rocky, got sandier.

Today I passed the 400 mile mark (now 414 miles total).

Segment 6, Day 3 Elk Rapids->Eastport 15 miles

High of 65 degrees










I had some company along on part of this day.
Gerry Sell and her dogs, Miss Sadie and Cowboy, walked along part of the way. Gerry is from this area (and author of the blog TorchLakeViews.Wordpress.com) and she wanted to share her part of the lakeshore with me. We had a wonderful walk together and we talked about the flora and fauna we came across.

The shoreline had marshy patches along the way, mini estuaries for frogs (a mass of tadpoles in photo to left) and other lake life. Mallards and pintails along with geese and swans were trailed by their newly hatched broods.

My walk this day ended by Sonny's Torch Lake Market on 31 near the shores of Torch Lake (below).

Segment 6, Day 2 Traverse City->Elk Rapids 17 miles

High of 57

I walked through Traverse City along the bottom of the bay, then headed north up the East Traverse Bay. The shoreline here was anchored by large rocks, and below those was muck, not sandy. This kept me on the road for another day, but 31 stayed along the bay most of the way to Elk Rapids.

The rain had moved off, and I enjoyed walking the countryside and seeing all the tiny cherries on the trees. When I finally got to Elk Rapids, I noticed a man suspended on the water tower. He was power washing the dirt and grime off of the surface. Quite a job!

Segment 6, Day 1 Suttons Bay->Traverse City 12 miles

High of 57, rainy.

This was the first day where I walked through some heavy rain, but it only lasted for the first hour of this day's walk. The shoreline south from Suttons Bay to Traverse City is marshy and rocky, so I had to walk on the road that skirts the West Traverse Bay. There were many times where I had a good view of Old Mission Peninsula which bisects the bay.

The rain had cleared off by the time I reached Traverse City. It was great to return to the Lake Trek, and it is in this segment that I will reach the halfway point (500 miles) in my journey.

Inland Seas Education Center

Segment 6 began up in Suttons Bay. Before I began walking, I stopped in at the Inland Seas Education Center to meet the director, Tom Kelly, and the center's dedicated staff. This group has the following mission:

"Inland Seas Education Association (ISEA) is a non-profit organization whose mission is to help people of all ages experience the science and spirit of the Great Lakes through shipboard and on-shore programs. The knowledge gained through these experiences will provide the leadership, understanding and commitment needed for the long-term stewardship of the Great Lakes."

The organization has a 77 foot schooner designed for their mission. They can take groups of 30 school kids out onto the lake to study things like the pH of water, zooplankton, invasive species, and stewardship of the lakes. The center also has an onland facility with interactive displays.

I was so impressed with this organization and their work. Find out more at: www.schoolship.org

Train Car Ferry Across Lake Michigan

I have enjoyed exploring the history of Lake Michigan and finding books in the independent bookstores that I've visited about all aspects of the lake. One fascinating book I found in Frankfort, Michigan, tells the story of the fleet of massive ferries that for 90 years took loaded train cars across the lake. Beginning in 1892, the Ann Arbor Car Ferries ran between Frankfort and Kewaunee, Wisconsin, a distance of 62 miles. These ferries even continued during the winter, breaking the ice as they crossed.
Grant Brown, Jr., is the author of this book, Ninety Years Crossing Lake Michigan, a fascinating account of these boats and their crews.

Many of these ships are at the bottom of the lake, victims of ice or storms on the unforgiving lake. One of the ships still survives, though, and is docked in Manistee, Michigan. The 'City of Milwaukee' is over 70 years old but is still in great shape and is open to tour.

Details at www.carferry.com
This summer, the crew quarters on the top of the ferry will be converted into a bed and breakfast. You can stay on board overnight in this piece of floating history and learn about the ship and the history of taking trains across the water.




I had a great time touring this living piece of history, and was pleased to meet the people who so lovingly continue to restore the ship and share it with all who visit.

Black Sand

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

The wide stretches of beach on Lake Michigan usually appear tan or even whitish in color, but if you pick up a handful of sand and look closely, there is a mixture of colors. Silica and quartz give the sand its light color, but there are specks of black from the mineral magnetite. This mineral is heavier than the other grains, so it often gathers in bands or patches on the shoreline, sorted by wind and waves.

























Right at the waterline, magnetite often looks like a smeary, oily stain. On the face of dunes the patterns can approach art. And when blown around an obstruction, the black lines lend definition and depth to the shore.





The glaciers ground rock to these tiny grains. The wind has lifted these grains into lofting dunes. And the water continues to sort and smooth the shoreline.





The next segment of the journey will be some of the rockiest I will encounter in my adventure. The geology of the lake is interesting to study, but even more fascinating to walk step by step.