Do you remember when Miss Sadie, the Cowboy and I joined Loreen Niewenhuis for part of her trek around Lake Michigan? She finished the journey last September and is now at work on her book. Meanwhile, she’s stitched together photos from her adventure into a series of videos. We are featured players in the one that covers the stretch from Suttons Bay to Mackinac. Needless to say, we did not cover that stretch. We covered the merest morsel from the Palmer/Wilcox/Shah Nature Preserve north of Elk Rapids to somewhere around Golden Beach at the south end of Torch Lake Township. It was all we could do to keep up with Loreen. This woman can walk.
You can watch our debut on YouTube from a comfortable seat on Loreen’s Lake Trek blog: Revisiting Lake Trek Segment 6. If you are on sloooow dialup, you can start the video and then go do something else for awhile. Make supper. Walk the dogs. Read the paper. Eventually the video will have assembled all its bits into one five-minute show, and you can press “Replay” to watch it–and listen to it, too. Loreen’s son Lucas sat down at the piano and played Clair de lune as the panorama of blue skies, blue waters, sandy shores, and the occasional spaniel flowed past.
It will remind you of walking on the beach in the summer. It will remind you of wading in the Bay in the summer. Best of all, there are some darned cute photos of Miss Sadie and the Cowboy. Earlier this week, exhausted by the adulation of their public and the stress of pawprinting autographs, they escaped to the shore for a well-earned vacation.
The beach in winter has a different beauty, but we like it. We like it very much.
Torch Lake Views 
Kathy
February 13, 2010
I’m in the coffee shop in Houghton right now so will save the video for a more “alone” moment. Was this the woman you walked with on the day after we met for breakfast in Bellaire? I remember you went off for a marathon walk on that day.
Love the photo of the dogs walking down those steps to the beach. It looks enchanting.
Gerry
February 13, 2010
Yes indeed. I wrote about my two adventures in one post: Hardly any days are like that. You and Loreen shared double billing that day!
Watching Miss Sadie and the Cowboy dance with joy on a bright winter day is enchanting indeed. They have a way of reminding me what’s really important.
p.j. grath
February 13, 2010
The library is closing! I have to check out my materials! That means no time to watch the video today, but I will soon!
Gerry
February 13, 2010
It’s OK! It’s OK! It’s not an obligation, just one of many delightful possibilities in a world full of possibilities! Take Sarah for a walk and watch her doing a happy dance. Same thing.
Bruce Laidlaw
February 13, 2010
I enjoyed that segment. Miss Sadie and the Cowboy did indeed look enthusiastic.
Gerry
February 13, 2010
They were! There is nothing they love quite so much as a nice long walk on the beach. I think they would gladly have gone home with Loreen that day. She is a much better walker than I. I believe, though, that they considered the possibility that I might be more likely to provide excellent treats. They are fond of treats.
Anna Surface
February 13, 2010
Looking forward to viewing the video when I have a little more time. Time getting away with me these days. Those are such gorgeous shots! Look at those steps! Whew! As Kathy said, it looks enchanting. Yes, I agree about our dogs reminding us of what’s really important. 🙂
Gerry
February 13, 2010
I know – it took me a week to find the time to download it, and I was really, really motivated! Someday we will all have broadband, and then look out world. Thank you for the kind words. It was a beautiful day and we were all in a very good mood.
Cheri Sell
February 13, 2010
I watched the video and think Miss Sadie stole the show.
Gerry
February 13, 2010
Me too! I love that picture. I think Miss Sadie really liked Loreen.
isathreadsoflife
February 14, 2010
Oh Gerry ! what a beautiful moment I just spent watching the vidéo ! I loved it, those lonely beaches, Family duck and Yellow Frog, the Beach-of-the-Myriad-of-Shells, the birds, and of course You, Miss Sadie, the Cowboy, Loreen’s smile… Debussy was a treat too. Thank you. The beach in Winter is just as lovely and I would not mind accompanying the two visitors rushing down the stairs 😉
Gerry
February 14, 2010
I followed them right down the stairs myself! I do love a sunny winter day.
The lonely beaches of early summer give way to more crowded scenes in July and August, although by comparison with those in California or Hawaii or Florida, our shoreline is never really crowded.
Preston Surface
February 14, 2010
What a beautiful walk. I enjoyed watching The Cowboy and Miss Sadie. All three of you make quite a team.
Gerry
February 14, 2010
Thanks, Preston – we are a team. Don’t you just envy Loreen, though? A thousand-mile walk, with Lake Michigan always in view, always changing, always the same Big Blue.