Sunset at Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore - Gentle Waves on the Beach: A Different Perspective

08/18/22 • 25 min

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Quick Note: I am on my way to Houston, Texas to help a friend pick up his new overlanding trailer. Our annual camping trip had to be postponed, so we used the time to make a road trip from Michigan to Texas. I’m taking my camera and a recorder, but I’m guessing that chances will be slim that I will have time to do any recording. Fingers crossed.

Welcome to the 11th episode of the Nature is my Jam Podcast! We are still at the Peterson Road Beach at Sleeping Bear Dunes and revisiting the gentle waves from last week. I received a lot of great feedback for that episode and thought it would be fun to listen to the waves from a different perspective; the seismic activity of the waves recorded from beneath the sand on the beach.

While I was recording the normal wave activity last week, I had the Zoom F3 paired with the Lom Geofón to record seismic activity. The Geofón is hand built in Slovenia by a cool group of field recordists and engineers. Getting one of their microphones is an effort as they don’t build many and the demand is very high. They will announce when an item is planned to be in inventory and then it is a mad dash to get your order confirmed before they sell out. There is a reason their gear is in such demand! Their version of the geophone is an omnidirectional microphone that has been adjusted specifically for field recording. For this session, I used the spike adapter so I could easily capture the sound from beneath the ground.

This recording is around 25 minutes and very different from what one might consider a natural soundscape. I find the sound to be very hypnotic and feel a sense of calm as I listen. This may come across as abstract, but this is the sound I would conjure up in my head if someone asked me to describe the heartbeat of Lake Michigan. Let me know if you agree!! As always, I love to hear your thoughts and suggestions for areas to record. Have a great week!

Recording Summary:

Date and Time: 8/9/2022 | 9:15 PM
Location: Benzie County, Michigan, USA
Landscape/Feature: Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore | Peterson Road Beach
Conditions: Sunny, Warm, Gentle Wind
Recording Device: Zoom F3
Microphone(s): Lom Geofón
Digital Audio Workstation: Adobe Audition

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Recording Summary:

Date and Time: 8/9/2022 | 9:15 PM
Location: Benzie County, Michigan, USA
Landscape/Feature: Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore | Peterson Road Beach
Conditions: Sunny, Warm, Gentle Wind
Recording Device: Zoom F3
Microphone(s): Lom Geofón
Digital Audio Workstation: Adobe Audition

Support the show

Thanks for listening! ❤️ Your support means the world to me. Follow me on Instagram and Twitter for daily updates.

Previous Episode

Sounds of the Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore - Gentle Waves on the Beach at Sunset

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I would like to thank everyone that has donated or otherwise supported Nature is my Jam by liking, following, sharing and/or subscribing to the podcast. Your support goes directly to creating future episodes and allows this podcast to be ad-free and 100% listener supported. Your kindness means the world to me and I hope you might feel inspired to explore the natural areas where you live.

Welcome to the 10th episode of the Nature is my Jam Podcast! The weather has been a mix of rain and wind for days and life has been hectic, so I welcomed the promise of a beach sunset to reset my soul. The Peterson Road Beach at Sleeping Bear Dunes in one of my favorite beaches, so without hesitation, I loaded up my gear and made the 45 minute drive to my secret parking spot. I love beaches but hate walking on sand with a backpack, so found a spur trail that avoids most of the sand and gets me to a spot that is usually void of people.

Except for a family gathering about a half mile away, I had the entire stretch of beach to myself. I brought the Zoom F6 and the Audio Technica BP 4025 to record the waves as they rolled in to the shore. It was a far cry from the week before where I witnessed 4-6’ waves crashing the beach and sand stinging my exposed skin. I also brought the Zoom F3 and the Lom Geofón microphone to experiment with recording the seismic activity of the wave motion. I stayed at the beach until midnight and loved every minute. As the sun went down, the waves also settled down and fell into a gentle rhythm.

I know I say this every week, but I think this is one of my favorite recordings. The full recording is 3 hours, but this episode captures the character of the evening spent on the beach in just 30 minutes. This is great for headphones, as you can hear the subtle differences between the left and right channels and the individual sounds as the water hits the sand. It’s mesmerizing and, if I dare say, a perfect way to fall asleep. Let me know your thoughts and if you’d like me to upload the entire recording.

Recording Summary:

Date and Time: 8/9/2022 | 9:15 PM
Location: Benzie County, Michigan, USA
Landscape/Feature: Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore | Peterson Road Beach
Conditions: Sunny, Warm, Gentle Wind
Recording Device: Zoom F6 Field Recorder
Microphone(s): Audio Technica BP 4025
Digital Audio Workstation: Adobe Audition

Support the show

Thanks for listening! ❤️ Your support means the world to me. Follow me on Instagram and Twitter for daily updates.

Next Episode

Sounds of Old Mission Peninsula: Coyotes and Owls at the Old Mission Lighthouse Park

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Welcome to the 12th episode of the Nature is my Jam Podcast! This week we are taking in the hiking trails and beautiful geography of the Old Mission Point Park, on Old Mission Peninsula. The major attraction in this area, aside from the many wineries, is the Old Mission Point Lighthouse, which began service in 1870. My mantra for this area is, ‘come for the lighthouse, stay for the trails’. The hiking really is perfect, approachable for all fitness levels, and never crowded.

My goal for this recording was to capture the nocturnal calls of the Barred Owl. I was successful in recording their distinctive sound, but my microphone placement could have been better. Next time! This recording is very reminiscent of a typical Northern Michigan evening. Imagine sitting in front of a campfire, watching the stars and hearing owls in the distance. A bonus in this recording is a pack of coyotes howling and hunting.

This post is light on photos this week because of a corrupt SD card but I took a few with my phone. If you are in the area, then you should definitely treat yourself to a few hours on these trails. The terrain varies and the trail meanders through beautiful meadows, climax forests, deep ravines, and sandy Lake Michigan beaches. The wildlife is plentiful and vocal!

As always, thank you for listening and I appreciate your support.

Recording Summary: