Great Lakes Living

The first time someone brought to my attention the Great Lakes viewed from orbit, I thought to myself, “Our little Great Lakes are perfectly distinguishable from that far away?” And now they certainly hold prominence each time I look at a globe, a world map, and most remarkably, that view from outer space. And they are no longer little to me, rather tremendous and determining, in addition to how I’ve always thought them to be, quite beautiful. Up close, blue water casually lapping sand or stone, and in that distant view, characteristic blue outlines that link our masses of land, Canada and America.

Quiet water. That’s what I grew up near. I would feel waves the most in the summers when I learned how to wakeboard and we were further out off the shore. Or when I have taken the Jiiman to Pelee Island, and the boat sways in rhythm with the lake. But for the most part, it’s been quiet water lapping at my feet at the Pinery in Grand Bend, Ontario, or lying still enough for my brother and I to skip rocks across it’s surface at our Grandparents’ summer campground, overlooking Lake Erie. Quiet water while we sat patiently in a boat with our fishing lines settled deep into the water’s depths on all sorts of outdoor trips.

It is cool water too. Each Summer’s inaugural camping and cottaging experiences were met with an unexpected chill on that pioneering jump off of the dock. Or when someone inevitably tipped over the canoe. The waters I’ve always known, taking many weeks under the hot sun before becoming balmy, if they ever do.

And so many shades of blue these lakes take on. Cerulean. I’ve looked out over Lake Erie most often from a common cliff that runs along the water from Essex County, upwards. It’s a dark blue viewed from up there. If you’re on the Ambassador Bridge, or standing on either side of the Detroit River, it is shockingly turquoise, much like the colour of the bridge itself. And then light and luminous as it has lapped up over my toes while standing on so many of our sandy beaches, like in Port Stanley or Kincardine. So many sandy beaches I have yet to sink my toes into.

I am from Essex County in Ontario. Born here and raised here. This is the base of most of my experience with the Great Lakes, in addition to travels between the two countries, but so much of the Great Lakes and what they surround I have not yet seen. I look forward to my future ventures. I also look forward to hearing from others about their communities, adventures, and memories, since it just is impossible to touch and see it all. Follow along if you can, as I write, and as my family writes, about everything that surrounds us. And I hope you too will join in to share your travels and happenings, and to share how these Great Lakes surround you.