Herons hop skip ahead of me
Even sneaking through the dunes I can’t get close enough for a clear picture
I decide the tracks are likely coyotes coming to the shoreline to gorge on alewives
They’re welcome to them
Also raccoons and possibly ‘possums
At 29 minutes I turn away from the view of a lower laker making her way south and cross the grassy hills,
stopping once to breathe
Along M-116 I fill my plastic bag with food wrappers, deflated balloons, non-returnable cans, losing lotto scratch-offs, and butts
Lots and lots of butts
Next time, I think I’ll reverse my course
Save the herons for last