Common Chicory

Common chicory (cichorium intybus) is a bushy perennial herb with blue or lavender flowers. It's also known as blue sailors, succory or coffeeweed. It can be used in salads and during the "coffee crisis" was used to supplement more expensive coffee beans. This flower is most prevalent along the entrance to North Grey Dunes, before reaching the gate.

Tree Toad or Tree Frog?

Herein lies the mystery. Last week there appeared a small green frog perched atop the lowest railing post leading to the lower sun deck. I had never seen one like this. Then suddenly, one appeared at our home on the woods side of our house. The little creature has small "sticky" pads on its feet. I don't think it flies but how does it manage to get to higher elevations? Anybody have any idea?

UPDATE: I emailed Chris VanLonkhuizen and it's his expert opinion that this is a tree toad. It's got sticky feet that help it to maneuver around in the trees and that it makes the noise that we all love to hear when August gets ripe and the summer begins to come to an end.

Drycopus pileatus

The pileated woodpecker can do major damage to a tree or even a house. This bird, also called an Indian Hen, is very elusive. It's approximately the size of a crow. This tree can be seen along Pepper's Trail. The easiest way to spot this particular tree is to look at the base of the tree where you can see a goodly amount of freshly chipped wood in a pile on the ground. It appears to be a Red Pine and lives on the east side of Pepper's Trail.

Colored Glass and Bedspreads

In the spare bedroom there is a shelf where glass and other fun items get displayed. The shelf is a natural outcome of the "window" that is between the bedroom and the entry hall. The glass is such that one cannot look into the bedroom from the hall but the window glass allows light from the front of the cottage to keep the hallway from being too dark.


The bedspread in our bedroom is quite old but it works quite well for a cottage. It has lots of memories even though it's a bit short for the "extra tall" box spring and mattress. This bedroom is wonderful when the morning light shines through the stained glass windows facing east.

Adirondack Chairs and Queen Anne's Lace

Early morning is a good time to sit "down below" in the Adirondack chairs. The gentle breeze and the sound of insects are good backdrops to a warm cup of coffee. The sunrise over the dune behind the cottage warms the day.


Queen Anne's Lace (Daucus carota) is in full bloom during the month of August. It's also referred to as Wild Carrot or Bishop's Lace. The British refer to it as Bird's Nest.

SunDecks and BeachSigns

On the front porch, the view to the north is the lower sundeck. It's a nice spot to curl up with a book or enjoy the morning sun while listening to the crickets and blue birds over a cup of coffee.

Showers Out of Doors (even when there is no thunder or even rain)

The outdoor shower is hidden between the cottage and the sundeck. It can be used to wash the sand off your feet when you come back from the beach or taking your first shower of the day outside can be quite invigorating. The rule for taking outside showers is to announce that you are taking one so everyone can hear. The rule is to give that person privacy whilst they are outside and to refrain from peeking.

Mule Rides and Dune Ramps

The ramp over the seventy five foot high sand dune looks formidable but the mule is always up to the task. Parked at the bottom of the ramp on the cottageside of the dune, it faithfully awaits the next trip for groceries or to pick up some visitors. The ramp also serves to keep one away from the poison ivy that populates the hillside.

The mule stands sentinal, anxiously awaiting it's next task.

Fruitvale Road west

Once you have left the highway, the views along Fruitvale Road are lovely. At this time of the year, the farmers are managing to get their second and third cuttings of hay. Fruitvale Road is a straight shot, about five miles of wonderful farmland with pastures of sunflowers and fields of wheat, soybeans and alfalfa. The road gently decends on its path to the west through rolling hills past barns and horses, past sweeping fields of corn.



Fruitvale Road ends at a cul de sac. Pepper's Trail officially begins at the sign for North Grey Dunes. This is the place. This is where you begin your journey into a beautiful wooded dunescape, winding your way through the woods looking for the first glimpse of Lake Michigan.






About a hundred yards past the association sign you will encounter the gate. The gate is designed to keep people out who oftentimes get themselves into trouble once they realize that they have become lost in the woods and are unable to extricate themselves. The gate code changes every fall just before hunting season. This will keep hunters out who have discovered the code during the year but find themselves unable to pass through once hunting season begins.

If you have the gate code you will be permitted to enter. Once you are in you will see the marquee of cottages. Continue on your way along Pepper's Trail and you will soon find yourself on your way to Lot 7, Lost Lake Estates.

Road Signs and Right Turns

The first road sign that will be visible is the Bix Trail and Pepper's Trail road sign. Simply stay on Pepper's Trail and soon the Pepper's Trail and Lonts Lane road sign will appear. Stay the course and don't be deceived by the allure of cottages and lake views afforded by a side spur. Stay focused and head for Pied a Terre. You can always visit Lonts Lane on a subsequent hike in the woods and explore Lonts Lane at a later time. There are in fact beautiful cottages to be seen but these can be viewed at a later time once you have settled into the cottage.

Once you have passed Lonts Lane and you are continuing to wind your way through the woods, you will travel approximately a mile until the major intersection of four trails appears. This is where Pepper's Trail splits and you will now want to head in the direction of Lost Lake.

At this point, the right turn rule comes into effect. Turn right at the major intersection and head towards Lost Lake. You will now be travelling westerly towards Lake Michigan through beautiful ducidious tree stands for a quarter mile until the sky opens and the sand dunes begin to appear.

The next road sign you will spot will be the Feather Ridge and Lost Lake road sign. Again, bear right. At this point if you look in the direction of Feather Ridge you can get a glimpse of Lake Michigan within walking distance. There's a set of stairs that lead down to the beach and you can take these on subsequent hikes in the area.

A short jaunt down the hill will lead to an open parking area. At the north end you will spot the lot "7" marker. You have arrived at Lot Seven, Lost Lakes Estates. Park your car here and look for the ramp that will lead you up and over the seventy five foot high sand dune.