Beachcombing Bike Adventure
By Laura Deering
“Biggggg truck,” I would bellow as loud as I could to ward off the fear while riding my bicycle along Lake Huron’s shoreline. The double tandem rigs loaded with logs would roar by me with inches to spare. To keep me focused on pedaling, the trick that worked was to scream for as long as it took for them to pass me on the rural highway road.
What was I doing biking 550 miles around the Lake Huron coastline?
Beachcombing, of course!
When it All Began
It started innocently, with a teenager reading a book by a woman who solo bicycled across Canada. What sealed the deal was her mentioning her frequent stops at beautiful lakes and rivers to pick up pretty rocks and “mermaid tears,” which is what Canadians call beach glass. By the end of the trip, she had more weight than she started with due to the rocks and glass she picked up along the way. My kind of person…and my kind of trip.
After biking Europe in my teens, I was antsy for a United States bike journey, but pondered logistics. In my office cubicle, I would often peer at a map of the States, when it struck me to bike the Great Lakes. It was a combination of taking advantage of living in Michigan, and an international experience by starting with Ontario, Canada. Plus, biking and beachcombing were two top passions of mine. Thus began my quest to bike the Great Lakes in search of beach finds.
Left to right: First solo trip to Lake Huron. unakite rocks, Laura’s favorite. Lake Huron shoreline.
Start of the Great Lakes: Maiden Journey
Lake Huron and I were already old friends. My hiking boots kissed the shore on several backpacking trips to Ontario, Canada, as well as earlier bike outings from Michigan to the beautiful Pinery Provincial Park, about 180 miles round trip.
My first pedal spree to the Pinery was casually planned and combined with bad luck, when on the first day, my tire was sliced by a broken bottle. After buying a new tire, I learned—the hard way—how to survive on six dollars for the next four days. Being low on funds for food and camping, roadside stands of fresh farm produce were lifesavers. As for camping, one night was a beautiful shore view, albeit adjoining the local cemetery. Another night was sharing scratchy bedding with the resident rats in a farmer’s barn hayloft.
But all faded in comparison to the beach finds. With miles of park shore, everything was there for the pickings: beach glass of all colors, plenty of jasper, unakites, and an occasional agate. There were even more Petoskey stones than in Michigan, where it is the state stone.
Naturally, I couldn’t wait to do it again. Once home, I pored over my beachcombing treasures, including the driftwood I had bungee corded onto my bike rack.
Great Lakes red sea glass find.
Biking and Beachcombing: Lake Huron
Over the winter, I plotted a longer journey on Lake Huron. With great excitement, once the calendar flipped to May, I was off. This time, riding over 550 miles. Solo.
Yes, I brought more money, along with extra bike tubes and tires. Nothing was going to stop me—literally. Being spring, the no-see-um pesky bugs were out in full force. While pulling over to scan for treasure at a waterfall or explore a stream, the insects devoured me. Whenever I stopped, they were relentless, forcing me to pedal, pedal, pedal. Once at camp, I would set up my tent, throw in my gear, and zip it shut for the night. One night a tornado swirled nearby. I rolled in huge lake rocks to anchor each corner of the tent. Then, a few days later, the temperature plunged, and I woke up to frozen water bottles and snow. Having little choice but to bike home, I kept my head down and eyes peeled for shore sandbars to beachcomb.
Thankfully the snow quickly melted, and the constant beach breeze foiled the no-see-ums. I loaded my bike with finds such as vivid green unakite rocks, Petoskey stones, and ever-abundant beach glass.
Rollingstone beach pottery chip.
O Canada: Lake Erie
Lake Erie’s Canadian side was an easy choice for me. Clean parks, broad road-side shoulders, and courteous drivers. By now, I relished Canadian offerings; Canadian bacon for breakfast, vinegar on french fries, and the reliable “eh.” I started noticing a very significant beachcombing skill when it came to the slow roll of discovering beach hot-spot sites at 12 mph.
Often, small rural lake side towns have their own local parks, tiny spits of beach for fishing, and are a thrill to find. Many of them are not marked on maps and are brimming with beach treasures. Usually situated near the original town, remnants of beach glass glinting in the shallow waters revealed telltale signs. Lingering longer would pay off. Here you find days-gone-by fine china pieces lazing with wave worn pottery chunks. Amongst long ago discarded glass, the evening sunset made them flash with glimmering hues of amber, purple, and green. One does not notice these secluded hot spots whipping by in a car.
Lake Michigan shoreline. Puddingstones. Lake Michigan shoreline.
Shhh, It’s a Secret: Lake Michigan
Now smarter and with a Visa card, off I sailed on two wheels. Biking Lake Michigan shores, I would camp at state parks perched on the lake. With my tent pitched, I would combine beachcombing with swimming off the aches of the day. In the evening, with most of the tourists gone, l would stroll endless shores with only the birds for competition.
Collection of Great Lakes beach finds.
Tourists often appear at popular beaches such as Petoskey, Michigan, famous for its Petoskey stone. I learned a secret from the locals to avoid the obvious. Instead, go to the smaller beaches just a few miles from town in either direction to find an ancient coral stone. Heeding their advice, I merrily peddled home on sagging tires loaded down with Petoskey stones, Ludington Blue stones, and multicolored puddingstones.
Kelly and Laura on tandem bike along Lake Superior. Lake Superior dune.
Only One Lake is Superior
Lake Superior threw all it had: long, long hilly vistas, blistering heat, and frigid nights. It is a lake with a superiority complex, and it has every right to be so. Being the largest surface body of fresh water on the planet, everything is more…the blue is deeper, the waves are massive, and the winds relentless. Lake Superior makes you earn what you find. Thankfully, my friend Kelly joined forces with me, and we tandem biked our way across the Upper Peninsula.
Big Bay Point Lighthouse B & B, Big Bay, Michigan. Miners Castle, Munising, Michigan.
Searching for beach gems, Lake Superior paid back with special finds of glassy agate and scarlet banded jasper. If you are looking for it all—be it beach treasures, lighthouses, or vivid sunsets, all this grandeur can be found at Grand Marais, Michigan.
Lake Superior Agates.
More to Discover: Lake Ontario
It took a span of 20 years and over 3,300 miles to finish my bicycle version of the “Great Lakes Circle Tour,” with the last hurrah being Lake Ontario. This trip transformed from stark camping to staying at comfy bed-and-breakfast homes. It was heavenly to lie on a clean dry bed at night and arise to the aroma of Earl Grey tea brewing. Being the eastern most of the Great Lakes, the area offered more historical beach finds. Dotted with colonial towns, historic forts, and British ship battle sites meant a broader range of beachcombing treasures—be it colonial pottery, chunky air-bubble beach glass, or mysterious tetanus-inducing rusty iron pieces.
Clockwise from top left: Great Lakes beach finds. Canada port of entry. Canal crossing. Turtle Crossing, Prince Edward Island. Rural beach hot spot, Lake Ontario.
Not stowing camping gear allowed for more rocks, shells, and mermaid tears. Lake Ontario with the Erie Canal bike trail was the ultimate setting—cruising along the canal on a level path dotted with small town parks allowed for quick jaunts to scan the shore. To keep faithful to Lake Ontario’s parameter meant angling north to the Canadian side. It felt comforting to be back in Canada and looking for the ever-faithful mermaid tear.
Sunset in Grand Marais, Michigan.
Beachcombing Destinations
Learn more about the best beaches and destinations for sea and beach glass, seashells, fossils, rocks, and more beach finds around the world. Articles ›
All photos courtesy of Laura Deering.
This article appeared in Beachcombing Magazine Volume 39 November/December 2023.
