A Touch of Italy on Lake Erie!

I love staying in B&Bs while on my adventures. I meet great people who know the history of not only their B&B, but also of their town. Owners are often generous with their time and knowledge and sometimes they go so far beyond in their efforts to welcome guests.





Deb and Jim Pufnock, owners of A Touch of Italy B&B in Port Clinton greeted me with open arms. Deb was thrilled that I was beginning my adventure in Port Clinton. She even created a welcome sign for me and put it outside with a bunch of balloons!







Deb and Jim have transformed this historic home in Port Clinton into one of the best appointed B&Bs I have ever seen. From the game room and veranda on the third floor, to the massage room and mini-gym in the basement, there is fun on every floor.

{photo: Deb by the mural she painted in the dining room}
Deb was also gracious in contacting local media about my first book and new adventure. She even contacted local businesses who sent over a huge gift bag of local products!





Two reporters came to the shores of Lake Erie to take photos and wish me well on my journey.

If your travels take you anywhere near Port Clinton, be sure to stay at A TOUCH OF ITALY B&B!

Location:Port Clinton, OH

What A Way To Begin!

My adventure began with a road trip to Port Clinton, Ohio, with Leslie and Milene (two of my most favorite people).
We checked in at the B&B where I was staying -- A Touch of Italy B&B (more on that in a moment) -- then had a fabulous brunch at the Mon Ami Winery.








We had a bit of time, so we explored the area and toured the Marblehead Lighthouse.




Les & Mi noticed some open stores in Marblehead and we stopped in a couple.




There is such rich history and natural wonders in this area. I am looking forward to sharing what I've discovered on this blog and in my next book!




(Les & Mi at the Marblehead Lighthouse)

Location:Port Clinton, OH

Packing for the Long Hike

I am getting organized for the first part of my adventure!



Time to take all of this...



...and sort and stuff...




...until my pack is ready.



My pack weighs in at 25 pounds for this leg of the adventure.
It begins April 1!

Location:Battle Creek, MI

 I spent the day in Wilmington today.  This lovely and historic city is on the edge of the Cape Fear River about 30 miles upstream from the Atlantic Ocean.  This river drains over 9,000 square miles in the midsection of North Carolina and these waters are used for industry, household use, and agriculture.  It is estimated that the water has been used and recycled back to the river twenty times by the time it reaches Wilmington.

 Fresh water is vital for life and we need to take better care of our fresh water sources.  The Great Lakes contain 90% of the fresh surface water in America!


I met up with the photographer Steve Brimm (in photo below) at a restaurant overlooking the river.  Steve splits his time between Michigan and North Carolina and has captured some beautiful images in both places (and beyond).  And he has put out a book of images taken in Michigan's Upper Penninsula.

Since my next adventure takes me along the shores of Steve's favorite lake -- Superior -- I consulted with him about this largest of the Great Lakes.  He has lived and hiked and biked and kayaked along Lake Superior for years and has a gallery for his photography in Copper Harbor, Michigan called Earthwork Gallery.  I will be certain to drop in the gallery when I hike the Estivant Pines Sanctuary in Copper Harbor on my next hike.  


Check out Steve's work HERE.

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!

A Symphony of Voices for the Great Lakes!

The orange shaded region on the map above represents the Great Lakes basin.
This means that every drop of rain that falls in this area will drain into the Great Lakes and then flow to the North Atlantic Ocean through the St. Lawrence Seaway. Every river in the orange flows into the lakes, everything that is dumped onto the land or waterways here will eventually make its way to the Great Lakes.

The idea of a "Symphony of Voices" is being coordinated by the International Secretariat for Water, a nonprof based in Montreal. They say:

"The Great Lakes–St. Lawrence Symphony is part celebration and part public awareness campaign to bring people together for a shared vision that can help influence policy and the way we treat this precious resource in the future.

The project began in the autumn of 2011 and will run into the summer of 2012. Several interested parties have signed on to partner with the ISW, including members of American Indian and First Nation tribes, regional sustainability groups, Great Lakes United, LSSU, Wayne State University and other universities.

The 1st Great Lakes–St. Lawrence Symphony is an attempt to unite the people who live and work along the hydrological basin of the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence River in an effort to protect this natural resource that plays such a vital role in our lives--from its importance as a shipping channel for commerce, to the fish we catch, and the water we drink."

They are seeking input from everyone in the basin, from scientists and environmental groups, to lake freighter captains, to CEOs of companies whose businesses rely on these waters, to fishermen, to parents who enjoy taking their kids to their favorite beach.
EVERYBODY!

Here are the questions they are asking people to address:

• What unites all of us who live along the Great Lakes/St. Lawrence system?
• What is important to us and what worries us regarding our water?
• What do we want to promote?
• What is our shared vision for 2035?
• What actions should we take to make our vision come true?

Read more about the project HERE

And post YOUR answers to the questions on their BLOG HERE as a comment

The group will gather input to help them form a vision statement for the region.

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!

Bird Island hiking

I've been hiking this nature preserve in NC to train for my next hike!

Location:Sunset Beach, NC

Training for the Next Adventure

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