Tag: Tim Mulherin

You’re Never Too Old to Become a Water Warrior

The northern part of Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore along the shores of Good Harbor Bay is one of Mulherin’s favorite places.

Author Tim Mulherin

By Tim Mulherin

For the past two months I’ve been interviewing a host of people in northwest lower Michigan for a book concerning the impact of the pandemic and climate change on the region, as well as the increasing pressure from tourism, and how economic and population growth can be optimally balanced with environmental conservation. I’ve spoken with a wide range of professionals including realtors, developers, politicians, public safety experts (e.g., representatives of the United States Coast Guard and Leelanau County Sheriff’s Office), retailers, members of the Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa and Chippewa Indians, and leaders of local environmental organizations such as the Grand Traverse Regional Land Conservancy, Saving Birds Thru Habitat, the Watershed Center Grand Traverse Bay, and FLOW.

One question I ask of every interviewee is, what do you love most about living and working in the region? Although there are unique variations in the responses, there is always one predictable central word: water.

The inland sea, Lake Michigan, has a profound effect on everyone who encounters it for the first time.

I first laid eyes on Grand Traverse Bay in 1986. I was living in Indianapolis, and a friend who encouraged me to enroll in college at the “advanced” age of 26 invited me to come Up North for the first time upon my graduation four years later. I’ll never forget my initial exposure to the bay. I was driving west on M-72 from Kalkaska. As I crested a hill while nearing Acme, the expanse of the bay suddenly appeared. I pulled my car over, got out, and took in its stunning beauty. As a flatlander living in central Indiana where the glaciers had worn the terrain nearly bowling alley-smooth, I was totally enchanted by Grand Traverse Bay and its surrounding hillsides. The inland sea, Lake Michigan, has a profound effect on everyone who encounters it for the first time. Soon after, many start thinking about how to relocate to the area, whether ASAP or eventually as part of the “Silver Tsunami.” It’s completely understandable—for better and for worse.

Last week, I interviewed several experts from FLOW, including senior policy advisor Dave Dempsey and FLOW’s founder and senior legal advisor Jim Olson. Both enlightened me about the many threats to the Great Lakes while commenting on the specter of climate change. My conversation with Jim was, frankly, sobering. He characterized climate change as “the predominant force on the planet right now in terms of human impact.” Jim went on to say, “We’re existentially facing the end of the planet and severe suffering by our children and grandchildren.”

One question I ask of every interviewee is, what do you love most about living and working in the region? Although there are unique variations in the responses, there is always one predictable central word: water.

Now, thanks to what I’m learning from these environmental champions, I’m finally paying full attention to climate change—which is undoubtedly the highest stakes issue of our time. Simultaneously, my appreciation for the Great Lakes and what they mean to all living things that rely upon them is rising exponentially. I may be 66 years old, but it’s never too late to have one’s consciousness raised and to become extremely protective of this freshwater treasure—something we play in and on, drink from, and largely take for granted—and to recruit more “water warriors” to the cause.

If you ever have any questions about how vital and fragile the Great Lakes are and how climate change is impacting the region, our friends at FLOW will give you a straight answer, one that’s as hard to hear as it is hopeful and inspiring.

I may be 66 years old, but it’s never too late to have one’s consciousness raised and to become extremely protective of this freshwater treasure—something we play in and on, drink from, and largely take for granted—and to recruit more “water warriors” to the cause.

Tim Mulherin is the author of Sand, Stars, Wind, & Water: Field Notes from Up North, a nonfiction collection of stories and essays about his outdoor adventures in northern Michigan over the past 36 years. He can be reached at timmulherin@sbcglobal.net.

Exploring the Soul of Place: New Book Conveys Stories of Northwest Michigan

By Dave Dempsey

Author Timothy Mulherin

Author Timothy Mulherin’s new book, Sand, Stars, Wind, & Water: Field Notes from Up North, sees the Grand Traverse region through the eyes of a frequent visitor who has fallen in love with its natural beauty and character. In this interview with FLOW, Mulherin talks about what inspired him to write the book—and the good and bad he sees on his saunters along the shoreline.

How would you describe your book to somebody who’s not yet picked it up? What is the story that you tell?

The book has three major themes: place and identity, enduring friendship bonded by love of the outdoors, and environmental concern due to the increasing visitor pressure on the region and how we can coexist and successfully manage this human impact. The reader will find that humor is in no short supply 

I first came to northwestern lower Michigan in 1986 at the invitation of my best friend, a Traverse City native, who tended bar with me in Indianapolis while we worked our way through college. When I drove in on M-72 from Kalkaska and saw Grand Traverse Bay for the first time, it was absolutely love at first sight. I spent my first 10 years on the planet in Scranton, Pennsylvania, in the heart of the Appalachian Mountains. My parents moved us to Indianapolis in 1966 under unfortunate familial circumstances. I stepped off the TWA prop plane and onto the tarmac—and was in a state of shock I’ve never completely recovered from: not a mountain in sight; flatland as far as the eye could see. I was a stranger in a strange land. But when I visited Grand Traverse County and the surrounding region for the first time, with all of its natural splendor, it was a life-changing experience: I had come home.

Describe several of your stories, and explain what they’re about and how they fit into the book’s overall theme.

“M-22” characterizes the overarching theme of place in the book and how people connect with areas of striking beauty such as Leelanau and Benzie counties. M-22 is now a heavily branded destination, and the logo is ubiquitous (and can be frequently spotted as vehicle window decals in Midwestern cities like Indianapolis). I explore what makes this road, and the land it winds its way through, so special for me, and what I believe makes it so appealing and memorable for those who travel this incredibly scenic highway.

“Invasive Species” starts out talking about the many damaging aquatic species that are afflicting the Great Lakes, and specifically, Lake Michigan. It then veers into the increasing popularity of northern Michigan as a tourist destination and all that comes with that. How we identify with place carries an inherent obligation to take care of it—for visitors and locals alike.

 “One Helluva Sail” portrays the adventurous spirit of my consummate outdoorsman best friend and our close relationship, built over many years and countless diversions, which pervades a number of the pieces. In 1996, we sailed the 30-plus nautical miles from Charlevoix to Beaver Island—big lake on a small boat. His admirable sailing skills got us there and back in one piece, despite the rough seas on the way home. He’s my surrogate big brother, and this story shows how big brothers can influence younger ones to step outside of their comfort zone, which, if you survive the experience, is truly good for the soul.

How long have you been thinking about writing the book? What was the impetus for completing it now?

I served as the CEO of an urban public charter school in Indy during the pandemic, which was enormously challenging, having to make public health decisions during a national emergency. The silver lining for me is that I realized that my love of writing, which began four decades ago while pursuing my English degree and then journalism master’s degree, and my later college teaching experience, deserved my attention. The adage that life is short came sharply into focus for me during the past 15 months. It was time to return to my calling.

What are you seeing on the beach when you walk it this summer? What does it tell you about people’s concern and respect for the outdoors?  

I’m spending nearly a month at our seasonal cabin in Cedar [in Leelanau County] this summer. Every morning I drive down to Good Harbor Bay Beach and hike southwest toward Pyramid Point. My walks are quiet meditations before the visitors set up camp for the day. However, my solitude has been disturbed by the amount of trash that is littering the shoreline. Some of it comes from boats, some from storms clawing at coastal properties, and much of it from folks spending the day at the beach. It’s an extraordinary amount of refuse. My question is, why? People should inherently respect our nation’s beautiful natural resources. Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore—and the entire region, for that matter—is a national treasure. Enjoy your visit, and leave no trace—other than goodwill. There is a palpable tension growing due to the increasing tourist pressure and the thoughtless disrespect for nature that insults those who call this special place home. I realize that most people are respectful and pick up after themselves, but those who don’t are making quite the negative impact. It really doesn’t have to be this way. 

What would you tell people who want to keep the area beautiful for future generations?

We’re all just passing through in this life. As the Indigenous people tried to explain to the Europeans when they first made landfall here in North America, and have repeated ever since, none of us really owns this land. We are all called to be stewards of the Earth. If we made it a way of life to behave as if our children are watching—and they are, you know—this world would be a better place. So, visit, enjoy, and fall in love with the region and its people. It’s easy. Just remember that it’s everyone’s responsibility to respect the land and leave it the way we found it for those who come after us.

Like most of us who know the area, one of the primary attractions for me in northern Michigan is water. I love being on, in, or just near Lake Michigan, as well as the region’s many inland lakes, rivers, and streams. It’s always something of a spiritual experience for me, especially trout fishing in the Jordan and Boardman rivers. And that’s because trout can only live in clear, clean waterwhich is nowhere to be found in central Indiana, where I currently reside. That water Michiganders and visitors enjoy is such a gift and should never be taken for granted. The work of FLOW, to protect and preserve the vital natural resource that is the Great Lakes, is so critical and worthynow more than ever before. Such essential organizations deserve our thanks and ongoing support.

For more information about Tim Mulherin and his book, Sand, Stars, Wind, & Water: Field Notes from Up North, visit Mulherin’s website.