Sand, Stars, Wind, & Water

Description

“Sand, Stars, Wind, & Water” by Tim Mulherin

In 2011, Good Morning America viewers voted Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore the “Most Beautiful Place in America.” Long before that recognition occurred, Tim Mulherin, author of “Sand, Stars, Wind, and Water: Field Notes from Up North,” had been exploring the region – including Leelanau and Grand Traverse counties and other points north – as a frequent visitor. His writing tells of his love of the area and its people, and serves as an encouragement to visitors to respect this national treasure.

As well, the book is a meditation on an enduring decades-long friendship that developed through countless outdoor diversions: hiking and cross-country skiing on woodland trails, dune climbing, trout fishing, sailing across Lake Michigan to camp on South Manitou and Garden islands, kayaking crystalline waters of local lakes and rivers, driving scenic M-22, and savoring downtime on Lake Michigan beaches. It’s also a commentary on invasive species – both aquatic and human.

Anyone who has visited this special place – or plans to – as well as local natives and transplants will find Mulherin’s writing a thoughtful and amusing representation of what being “Up North” is really all about.