Along the way we would pick up trash.
We got over 30 bags of trash as well as tires, a Barbie doll with green hair,
an Anikin Skywalker, plastic cheese, a disinfectant bottle from Germany
and some other odds and ends.

So, come along with us and revisit . . .


The Hike . . . :

Greilickville to the first overnight stop.

1018

Ellen and Trevor: This is where we picked up about 10 bags in about 15 feet !

Ken: It was amazing ... we started the hike in Greilickville
(the beginning of Leelanau County from Traverse City)
and as soon as we set foot on the shoreline, I mean our first steps!
We found the remnants of a current construction project in the form of ...
a lot of trash !
My inclination was to just skip that section as I didn't want the kids
to get discouraged this soon into the hike.
Ha!
When put to a vote, they wanted to follow through with their intended plan.
So . . . we picked up t r a s h ... lots of it.

1019

Ellen and Trevor: Hey hey, we found a big bag of unopened candy here !

1020

Ken: Ahh, rest breaks and thoughtful support folks!
Judy and Bill Livingston found us(driving) by looking for piles of trash along M-22
and brought us Stone House Bread and Juice.

1021

Ken: And then there were tires ...
I offered the kids to leave them, because of the struggle to get them up the bank
but, no way ... it was trash and they were going to get it up to the road.
Cool.

1022

1023

Ken: One of the reasons I wanted to do the hike this year is that
we are experiencing the lowest lake levels in about 30 years.
Which meant that we'd probably be able to access most if not all
of the shoreline around the county.

We had coordinated that the first night we were going to stay on DNR property
next to one of the public boat launches, but plan didn't work out.
So, we opted for plan B and accepted the kind offer of the Powell's to stay on
a section of their beach.
Wonderful!

1025

Ken: ahh sunrise and a cup of coffee ... need I say more? . . .

1026

Ken: ... and then there was activity . . .

1027

Hilary: Ellen, Anna, and I attempting to dump the sand out of our tent.

1028


1029

1030

Ellen and Trevor:
Ahh, our first breakfast.
Brought to us by Rob and Sherry ... thanks !

Ken: oh boy, scrambled eggs, fresh fruit, home made muffins, OJ . . .
thanks Rob, Sherry and Kate . . .


1017
Todd, Ken, Ellen, Sherri, Anna, Rob, Hilary,
Trevor, George and Ashley Powell.

Ken:
To me this photograph not only shows the hikers
with their first support crew,
but a confidence in themselves and what they were doing.
The essence of this image turned out to be the theme of the trip.


cool, now take me to day 2
or

back to county map
or

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