Surrounded by surreality
by dreams drifting
through a rising city
I am in a constant state of seeming.
am I awake...
or am I still dreaming?
Below are some photos I've taken across my home-state, Michigan.
Click links anywhere on this page to read Michigan adventure stories,
hear some spoken word or music, and maybe learn something along the way...
Note: Everything you see on this site is original.
Nothing is altered.
~ LB
Ride With Purpose is a community activism-oriented bike ride, intended to enhance neighborhoods throughout Detroit by holding regular volunteer efforts and by promoting actions to fight the issues that affect our communities, all while raising awareness for cyclists & pedestrians in our beloved (motor) city.
Read about our past rides & the work that we've done here.
Next Ride: RWP #8 - Free Mumia!
Our purpose for Ride With Purpose #8
is to celebrate Mumia Abu-Jamal's birthday!
Register for the event here.
Ride With Purpose was founded in 2023 by Andy Meier, owner of Owl Beach Michigan.
2023: Our Spirit Wedding
In August of 2023, my partner Andy and I married each other spiritually.
Click here to read about how I proposed and how we "tied the knot" in Pictured Rocks.
2022: Michigan Thru-Hike
I am on this journey as a personal challenge to more fully connect with the land that I call home.
I walk in honor of the people whose land was colonized, for communities seeking environmental and social justice, humanity for all living beings, and for women's strength and freedom of choice. Each day I venture further from those I love, though I always roam home.
Month 1: June 1st - June 30th
Starting at the Ohio border, I hiked north 300 miles, through Hillsdale, Calhoun, Barry, Kent. and Newaygo Counties.
After reaching Lake County, I stopped for a weekend of rest at a campground with my parents.
Read about my first month on the trail here.
Month 2: July 1st - July 31st
From Baldwin, I hiked north/northeast 300 miles, through Lake, Mason, Manistee, Wexford,
Grand Traverse, Kalkaska, Antrim, Charlevoix, and Emmet Counties.
Towards "the tip of the pinky", I met my brother for a long day hiking to Wilderness State Park.
There I had a weekend of rest with my parents before continuing to the Mackinaw Bridge and the UP.
Read about my second month on the trail here.
Month 3: August 1st - August 31st
From the "tip of the pinky", I hiked north to Mackinaw City, where I was driven across the 5-mile long Mackinac Bridge by Bridge Authority. This was the only part of my trek I could not walk.
Across the bridge in St. Ignace, I hiked north into the eastern UP, through Mackinac, Chippewa, and into Luce county, where I reached my furthest point north at the mouth of the Two-Hearted River.
Westward bound from there through Alger and into Marquette County.
Read about my third month on the trail here.
Month 4: September 1st - September 30th
West from the city of Marquette, climbing mountains through Marquette county.
Through Baraga, Houghton, Ontonagon, and Gogebic counties,
then ending at the Wisconsin border, north of Ironwood,
completing my 1,160 mile thru-hike of the State of Michigan.
Read about my final month on the trail here.
Spoken Word
Da Buns
My husband and I care for 4 bunnies.
We live together in the House of Bun,
our apartment on the eastside of Detroit.
Michigan Mushrooms
Mushrooms are rad. They are one of my favorite beings to photograph. Finding an edible mushroom is magical.
In Michigan, we have loads of edible, medicinal mushrooms: morels, chanterelles, oysters, reishi, lion's mane, chaga, and others.
2017
In 2017, I started backpacking alone. I planned a month-long tour of the UP with 3 major hikes. First, I hiked ~30 miles through the Porcupine Mountains Wilderness Area with a friend. Then we parted ways and I traveled to Isle Royale National Park, hiking the Greenstone Ridge Trail alone (~50 miles). I finished solo, hiking the Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore Trail (~50 miles).
While in the UP, I made trail friends who I later met in the LP.
That fall, we hiked the Jordan River Valley Pathway, the Manistee River Trail, and through Nordhouse Dunes Wilderness Area.
2018
In 2018, I started my year of adventures by hiking through Wilderness State Park in the spring.
Over the summer, I visited the Manistee River Trail and Nordhouse Dunes Wilderness Area,
and I traveled to Isle Royale again.
On Isle Royale, I hiked the Minong Ridge Trail, then looped back on the Greenstone (~90 miles).
In the fall, I traveled to the western UP, to the foothills of the Porkies, where I camped on Norwich Bluff.
I finished my backpacking for the year in the Valley of the Giants, part of the Pere Marquette State Forest in the LP.
2019
In 2019, I backpacked the Manistee River Trail again, then returned to the trail in the fall with a friend.
2020
In 2020, I took friends backpacking on the Manistee River Trail and in Nordhouse Dunes.
As I do every year, I spent much of my summer in Detroit, kayaking, picnicking, and swimming on Belle Isle,
biking the Dequindre Cut, Riverwalk, and other greenways.
2021
In 2021, my partner and I decided to hike the 40 mile Bay de Noc - Grand Island Trail in the UP.
We hiked alone from separate ends and met in the middle.
After our UP adventure, I backpacked North Manitou Island, part of the Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore, with friends.