Iron Works #2 - Cranbrook by MikeRyu

Our Michigan February Event Calendar shows that the more the weather tries to keep us holed up, the more ways we find to get out and have fun!! Of course, there's still many, many more and we invite you to fill us in on other February events in the comments.

February Fast Facts - Wikipedia

• Having only 28 days in common years, it is the only month of the year that can pass without a single full moon.
• It has 29 days in leap years, when the year number is divisible by four (except for years that are divisible by 100 and not by 400 in the Gregorian calendar)
• It is the only month of the calendar that once every six years and twice every 11 years, will have only four full 7-day weeks.
• Its birth flower is the Viola (plant) and the Primrose.
• Its birthstone is the amethyst.

February Quotes

"Winter is the time for comfort, for good food and warmth, for the touch of a friendly hand and for a talk beside the fire: it is the time for home." - Edith Sitwell

"Surely as cometh the Winter, I know
There are Spring violets under the snow." - R. H. Newell

"February is merely as long as is needed to pass the time until March." - Dr. J. R. Stockton

"Winter, a lingering season, is a time to gather golden moments, embark upon a sentimental journey, and enjoy every idle hour." - John Boswell

"February makes a bridge and March breaks it." - George Hebert

Notable February Dates from Michigan History Magazine

• February 13, 1855 The Michigan legislature protects escaped slaves.
• February 24, 1863 Michigan supports the Emancipation Proclamation.
• February 17, 1864 The First Michigan Colored Infantry is mustered into federal service.
• February 21, 1905 The National Ski Association is organized in Ishpeming.
• February 20, 1909 The Hudson Motor Car Company is organized.
• February 2, 1936 Ty Cobb becomes one of the first players selected to enter the newly formed Baseball Hall of Fame.
• February 8, 1985 The Stroh Brewery announces it is closing its Detroit plant.

Things to Do, Places to Go

February 2 - 7
International 500 Snowmobile Race Sault - Sault Sainte Marie
2009 marks the 41st running of the International 500 Snowmobile Race and they invite YOU to join them for this outstanding event that is second to none! "All the thrills of NASCAR" All the excitement of I-500 Snowmobile Racing.

February 3 - 6
Winter Carnival - Houghton
Michigan Tech often registers more than 200 inches of snow in a season. Not content to let this abundant natural resource go to waste, students band together in an annual celebrtion of our beautiful, tough, exhilarating, and character-building climate. For complete event detail visit their website.

February 4 - 7
12th Annual Michigan International Auto Show - Grand Rapids
This is the greatest annual opportunity to view your "next new car!" More than 35 car manufacturers from around the world will bring their finest traveling displays with 300 + new vehicles - including sedans, vans, SUV's, trucks, hybrids and sports cars. Not only is the Auto Show the BEST place to shop and compare options for every day vehicles, it is also the first opportunity for West Michigan residents to see many of the most recently released or "soon to be released" models!

February 4 - 7
North American Snow Festival - Cadillac
Opening ceremonies begin at 5:30 p.m. at the Fox Hill Event Center on February 4. Various events take place on Lake Cadillac on February 4 - 7.

February 4 - 7
59th Annual Perchville USA - Tawas
The 59th Annual Tawas Perchville Festival includes a Perchville queen, live entertainment, a Polar Bear Swim, a "Chilly" Cook-off, ice-fishing contest, the Perchville USA Parade, and many more fun winter events.

February 6
White Pine Stampede - Mancelona
The White Pine Stampede is a major Nordic Ski race, part of the Michigan Cup series and the Midwest's premier Nordic event. The White Pine Stampede has a 50 Kilometer Event, a 20 Kilometer Event, and a 10 Kilometer Timed Tour.

February 6 & 7
Taste the Passion - Leelanau
Love is in the air as you celebrate the upcoming Valentine's Day at the "Taste the Passion" weekend February 6 & 7. This special weekend celebrates wine, chocolate and love in anticipation of Valentine's Day! The combination of winter's beauty in Leelanau with the special pleasures of life always makes for wonderful weekend.

The weekend starts on Saturday as participants head to their first winery stop to collect a souvenir glass. Then the fun begins with special pours and tasty chocolate treats offered at wineries between the hours of 11am and 5pm on Saturday, and Noon and 5pm on Sunday. However, because one cannot survive on chocolate alone (tempting as it may sound), savory dishes will be served at a number of tasting rooms.

February 12 - 14
Detroit's Winter Blast - Detroit
Many signature winter activities are returning with free ice-skating in Campus Martius Park, Professional skating demonstrations, unique sculptures in the Ice Garden, the Meijer Kid’s Family Fun Zone and more. Detroit’s music scene will be on display on two stages, with more than 50 entertainment acts performing. Plus- you can always find a place to warm-up with DTE Energy’s Comfort Zones. You’ll find heat every 150 feet on the Winter Blast site, including both heated tents and warming stations in local buildings.

February 12 - 14
West Michigan Youth Wintersportsfest
Three days, 22 Sports competitions and 3,000 athletes. Open to any athletes 18 and under. This will be an awesome event with youth athletes from all over the state and Midwest! There will be 20 sporting events taking place in 3 days with 3,000 athletes in participation. There will be indoor and outdoor activities including events like bowling, target shooting, figure skating, and many more

February 12 - 14
North American VASA - Traverse City
The VASA weekend festival of Races includes both a 27 and 50km special classic skiing race, a 12km Timed Class, and a 6km and 16km challenge. Junior VASA Races are also part of the weekend festival.

February 12 - 15
Cherry Capital Winter WonderFest - Traverse City
The Third Annual Cherry Capital Winter WonderFest is a three-day wintertime celebration chock-full of fun for all ages in the Cherry Capital of the World, President’s Day Weekend, February 13-16, 2009. Whether you enjoy outdoor activities with wintry frost nipping at your nose, or indoor activities that warm the body and soul, we have something sure to please you and your loved ones.

February 13 - 21
Detroit Boat Show - Detroit
The Detroit Boat Show has been staged every year for 51 years, and is known as the premier boating event in the State of Michigan. The Detroit Boat Show is known as one of the top boat shows in the country in regards to size, sales and attendance.

February 14
Winter Wine Wonderland - Traverse City
Join the wineries of Leelanau, Old Mission & Traverse City at the Cherry Capital Winter WonderFest at the Grand Traverse Resort for a celebration of wine, gourmet desserts, art & fun this Valentines Day. The Wine Festival will take place on Sunday February 14th from 3-8 PM (Fireworks at 7 PM) .

February 19 & 20
Frost Bite Winter Festival - Harrison
Event takes place on 5 groomed nine-hole courses, where novice and veteran golfers hit brightly colored tennis balls over the snow. Bring a partner and sign up for the two-person scramble. Prizes awarded for 1st, 2nd, and 3rd places, men's and women's divisions.

February 19 - 21
U.P. Pond Hockey Championship - St. Ignace
The 2010 U.P. Pond Hockey Championship will be played on the Wild Ice of Moran Bay, Lake Huron, downtown St. Ignace, Michigan! We hope to have 160 teams competing for prizes!

February 19 -21
UP 200, Midnight Run Sled-Dog Championships and The Jack Pine 30 - Marquette
Three UP sled dog races provide a variety of challenges for mushers. The UP 200 is actually 240 miles in length and is a qualifying race for the Iditarod. Over 15,000 visitors come to Michigan's Upper Peninsula (U.P.) to see the U.P. 200! It is a favorite winter event for local residents and out of town guests. The U.P. 200 has a dedicated group of over 500 volunteers from the U.P. and the mid-west region that come together to stage this great event each year.

February 26
The Great Wine & Food Symposium
Escape the snow with an evening of indulgence at The Great Wine & Food Symposium, west Michigan’s premier wine tasting event. You'll enjoy gourmet food selections, as well as over 300 wines and beers from around the world. Sample these tastes as classical music drifts through the halls and the snowflakes drift outside.

February 27
The Outhouse 500 - Coopersville
Join in with the hilarious and wacky fun of the 6th Annual Outhouse 500 on Main Street in Historic Downtown Coopersville! Hosted by the Main Street Merchants Association. Teams parade, then race their uniquely decorated outhouses down Main Street!

February 27
Winter Beer Festival - Grand Rapids
The 5th Annual Winter Beer Festival will take place Saturday, February 27th, 2010 at the Fifth Third Ballpark in Comstock Park, just north of Grand Rapids. The Winter Festival is a unique opportunity to sample some of the best beers in the world, all brewed in Michigan. We are expecting more than 35 Michigan microbreweries and brewpubs to participate and there will be more than 200 different beers available to sample. The event is open from Noon to 5:00pm.

February 27
Trenary Outhouse Classic - The Outhouse Races - Trenary
The Outhouse Classic is an annual race in Trenary where outhouses are built and raced down the main street. There are categories: speed, presentation, best use of theme, most humorous, best workmanship, and most miles traveled. Families come to the event to watch and to compete, there are two different age brackets making competitions fair. A few years ago nuns came to compete and built the Vati-Can. Make sure to head on up to Trenary for the annual Outhouse Classic. Read Absolute Michigan's Sports that ARE Silly: Outhouse Racing or watch Outhouse Classic Outhouse Race in Trenary, Michigan.

Beautiful! by Pentax K1000 Gal

The Wineries of Old Mission Peninsula (WOMP) have teamed together with area restaurants for the third annual Old Mission Peninsula Wine & Food Celebration. The event takes place this Saturday (September 12) from 3-8 PM at Bowers Harbor Park on the Old Mission Peninsula.

A ticket includes a souvenir glass, wine tasting tickets and live music from the Northwestern Michigan College Community Concert Band. Menu offerings will range in price from $3-$10.

For further information, call 231.944.1300.
2008 Harvest Stompede051 by lpwines

The Leelanau Peninsula Vintners Association's annual Harvest Stompede Vineyard Run & Walk and Wine Tour over the weekend of September 19 & 20. It's considered one of the most scenic running & wine touring events in the Midwest and is returning to the Leelanau Peninsula for the eighth year.

The race itself is the kickoff of the weekends festivities and will be held on Saturday, September 19 at 9 a.m. Designed for both serious and recreational runners & walkers, it's a great event for spectators as well. Race coordinator Nate Rousse says "This is a one-of-a-kind annual run sponsored by the Traverse City Track Club and hosted by the Leelanau Peninsula winemakers. The course winds through absolutely gorgeous vineyards and is open to the public only on race day."

The Harvest Stompede Wine Tour follows the race and offers a special pour and food celebrating the season at each of the Leelanau Peninsula Vintners Association member wineries.

There are still some tickets available and you can get tickets and more information on the Harvest Stompede page at the LPVA web site. Also check out these slideshows from the 2007 and 2008 Harvest Stompede!

Benzie County Coastal Color by John Clement Howe

The annual Fall Festival offers two weeks of fun in Frankfort, Beulah, Benzonia and the surrounding area. The Benzie County Visitor's Bureau has a page of information on the festival and for more details visit the Frankfort-Elberta Chamber.

Weekend of October 4-5

Fall food takes center stage with the Fall Soup Contest on Saturday (Oct 4) in Beulah Park and the Honor Lions Club Hillbilly Breakfast from 8:00 - 12:30 and Darcy Memorial Library of Beulah Cookie Bake Sale at the Trailhead in Beulah. 10am -2pm on Sunday (Oct 5).

There's also a Sidewalk Art Contest and a Fall Market in Beulah on Saturday and the Crystal Lake Elementary FallFest Fundraiser in Benzonia on Saturday with a full lineup of fun for families including a produce & products market, cider press, carnival with prizes, food, refreshments, petting zoo and fire truck rides.

Crystal Mountain offers scenic chairlift rides to view the fall colors (4-6 PM both Saturday the 5th & 12th) and a haunted forest (6:30-9:30 PM) on Saturday and then hosts the Betsie Valley Run on Sunday with a 10K Run and Half Marathon Walk & Run.

Trick or Treat!!! by John Clement Howe

Weekend of October 11-12

At 11 AM on Saturday, October 11 2008, the Fall Festival Parade and Mutt March will take place in downtown Frankfort (costume judging for the Mutts is at 10 AM). Other events following the parade include a Pumpkin luncheon at the Recreation Center, performances by the internationally acclaimed Scottville Clown Band and a ton of fall fun at the Open Space including:

• Giant Pumpkin weigh-in (guess the weight and win a bike!)
• Mutt Corral with awards and doggy fun
• Giant Pumpkin Carving by Ed Moody and Auction
• A hay wagon ride through Frankfort with a storyteller
• The Pumpkin Regatta
• Activities for kids including games, pumpkin decorating, face painting, balloon man, straw maze, fortune teller, pumpkin bowling and pumpkin hillbilly golf!

On Saturday a really cool feature is the Pumpkin Chuckin' Catapults and the Giant Pumpkin Drop on a Car at 3:00 PM in Frankfort! Check out the video below to see what happens when a 500 lb. pumpkin is dropped on a vehicle from over 100 feet in the air.

A Brief History
Through Discover Kalamazoo we learn that Kalamazoo County began as a small fur-trading post founded by Titus Bronson in the late 1700s. Like many Michigan cities, Kalamazoo's name was adapted from an Indian word, "kikalamazoo," meaning boiling water. Water has long been a vital component in Kalamazoo's major industries including papermaking and agriculture which have helped the area grow and prosper.

Some of the many famous products manufactured in Kalamazoo include Checker Cabs, Gibson guitars, Kalamazoo Stoves, Stryker hospital beds and Shakespeare fishing rods and reels. In the late 1800s, W. E. Upjohn moved to Kalamazoo and created The Upjohn Company, which is now part of Pfizer Corporation, the world ’s largest pharmaceutical company.

Recently Kalamazoo has made national news with the Kalamazoo Promise which provides a scholarship to every Kalamazoo Public School student. It has served as a catalyst and an inspiration throughout Michigan, the United States and even the international community.

Culinary Delights
Once know as 'Celery City', Kalamazoo was once was noted for celery and bedding plants. To this day the surrounding countryside still continues to produce significant quantities of farm crops of which can be found at one of the many area farmers markets and u-pick farms. Like other regions in Michigan the Kalamazoo area has become home to the burgeoning wine industry. The Lake Michigan Shore Wine Trail hugs the southeast shore of Lake Michigan, extending from the Michigan-Indiana border north 70 miles to the Kalamazoo River. The Kalamazoo area also is home to several micro-breweries such as Aradia brewing Co in Battle Creek and the granddaddy of them all Bell's Brewery. Other notable food producers include Tree-Mendus Fruit which is home of the world famous International Cherry Pit Spitting Championship, the A.M. Todd Company which is a leading producer of peppermint oil and their offshoot Kalsec which produces spice, herb, hop, and vegetable extracts. Just a few of the great restaurants in the area include Zazios which features an interactive dining experience, the Epic Bistro, Food Dance, Tello Wine Bar and the historic Schuler's Restaurant & Pub.

Kalamazoo and surrounding areas, in pictures
The photo above is titled july 20 station taken by Kathie Gibson aka noearlybird and is part of the Kalamazoo flickr pool. The location of the photo is the new Kalamazoo Transportation Center. Also check out Kathie's shots of Binder Park Zoo in nearby Battle Creek. In addition to Kalamazoo, some other areas you may want check out include, South Haven, St. Joseph, Battle Creek and Saugatuck.

South Haven Pier by the kcephoto

But what is there to DO in Kalamazoo?
Known as the land of rolling hills and numerous lakes it is the cities that bring rich and diverse community culture to the Kalamazoo region. This area of Michigan is packed with must see attractions, abundant recreation and unique shopping experiences for everyone. In the summer months the beautiful inland lakes and the the Lake Michigan shoreline towns of St. Joseph, South Haven and Saugatuck are popular destinations. Other notable outdoor hotspots include the Kal-Haven Trail State Park, which is a 34.5 mile linear Kal-Haven Trail State Park extends from South Haven, on the shores of Lake Michigan, to the northwest suburbs of the City of Kalamazoo, the Kalamazoo Watershed Heritage Water Trail and Warren Dunes State Park. There is also plenty to do year around such as the Air Zoo, the Gilmore Car Museum, the #1 in the nation rated Kalamazoo Nature Center, the Kalamazoo Valley Museum, the Binder Park Zoo, the American Museum of Magic and the expansive Fort Custer Recreation Area.

Where do I go for more?
You can dig deeper through Absolute Michigan by checking out Absolute Michigan county pages for St. Joseph , Kalamazoo, Cass, Barry, Van Buren, Allegan, Calhoun & Branch and also try the pages for Kalamazoo, Battle Creek, South Haven and many other towns that you can see on the Absolute Michigan Map of Michigan. Of course there are tons of other web sites with useful information. Some of our favorites are the The City of Kalamazoo, South Haven Visitors Bureau, St. Joseph Today and Battle Creek Play for Keeps.

Rudy says he's a sarcastic joke-bomb manufacturer that happens to own a camera.

It also appears that he's a runner who sometimes finds cool things like old firetrucks and old tractors ... and a unique way of framing common scenes. Check out his Top 25 slideshow.

Happy 4th of July folks!

This video by mattmb1 from High Gear Racing features a ride through Detroit with Andy Staub and other riders from Beat the Train and Saturday's Komen Detroit Race for the Cure.

We're linking to the high quality version - if that doesn't work, here's standard quality. The photo is Cannondale Bike Detail by bmg5.

Eben6119 by ETCphoto

The Chicago Sun-Times has a cool feature on ice climbing and the annual Michigan Ice Fest by Felicia Schneiderhan. The Ice Fest is held in Munising (home to over 100 climbable waterfalls) and celebrated its 25th anniversary this year. Schneiderhan says:

Ice festivals are great for beginners since the cost of admission -- $25 for the Michigan Ice Fest -- includes use of the necessary and pricey gear: crampons, boots, pick axes and harness. (Helmets and eye protection are a must for falling ice, and you usually can borrow them at the climbing site.)

Event sponsors often let you try out clothing like snow pants, gloves and belay jackets. Classes are available for an extra fee, or you can try your luck at the "Curtains," a popular site where dozens of climbers can help a newcomer.

Read Upper Peninsula, Mich.: Faster, stronger, better: Climbers brave wall of ice in test of wills at Michigan festival in the Sun-Times, get a bunch of photos of climbing the ice in the Munising area on Michigan in Pictures and learn more about the Michigan Ice Fest from Downwind Sports (the 2009 Ice Fest will take place Jan 31- Feb 2, 2009).

Champion Hill Nordic Trails by Lucky Gus

Cross Country Ski Headquarters - Higgins Lake, MI

Over ten miles of Big Snow Cat groomed trails, from flat to hilly with molded track set and corduroy skating lane. You will also find one the most extensive X-C Ski Stores in the USA with many different models of the latest no-wax and waxable and skating skis.

Champion Hill XC Ski Trail - Beulah, MI

Miles of trails for beginner, intermediate and expert that wind through 370 acres of wooded and open terrain of the highlands of Benzie County with views of Lake Michigan and the Platte Lakes. Also features waxing tables, a heated Nordic Center and food & drinks available.

Forbush Corner, Frederic, MI

Forbush Corner features miles of rolling, wooded trails that are carefully designed for all levels of ability and immaculately groomed by the largest fleet of nordic only grooming equipment in the midwest. The Frederic micro climate of early and frequent snowfalls keeps conditions great and instruction is available from beginner to expert.

Garland Resort - Lewiston, MI

Cross country skiing at Garland will take you through our majestic snow covered pines, streams and forests for an unforgettable adventure. Here on our hundreds of miles of pristine trails you will exercise your body and rejuvenate your mind. Enjoy stress free living as you breathe our crystal-clear air and commune with nature, safe in the knowledge that your cell phone won’t work, even if you want it to!

Also see these general information web sites!

Statewide Cross Country Ski Listings

Enjoy the fun and excitement of cross-country skiing in Michigan. Search the properties for cities, towns and communities with cross-country trails, groomed and ready for skiing. Many trails are mapped and marked according to skills. Trails lead through forests, beside lakes, across meadows, and many with rest stops along the way.

Great Lakes Winter Trails Council

The Cross Country Ski areas of the Great Lakes Winter Trails Council are committed to providing you with the finest and most diversified groomed cross-country skiing trails. The organization also strive to keep you informed about the latest cross country trail conditions.

Tayshaun by radiospike

If you can't afford a hybrid, go PB&J

Via Michigan-based blog Scientific Ink, I learned that A PB&J will slow global warming, reducing your carbon footprint by saving the equivalent of 2.5 pounds of carbon dioxide emissions over an average animal-based lunch like a hamburger, a tuna sandwich, grilled cheese, or chicken nuggets. That's about 40% of what you'd save driving around for the day in a hybrid instead of a standard sedan and it also saves water, land and the fats in PB&J aren't as bad as you might think!

Prince Kicks Down

Sports Illustrated reports in A prince among men that last week Pistons' star Tayshaun Prince and his wife Farah purchased and redecorated a luxury suite at the Palace to donate to Kids Kicking Cancer, a Detroit-based charity that uses martial arts techniques to empower hundreds of children and help them cope with their illness. Great article about a great guy and a program that really looks special (be sure to check out that link - they have an excellent video on their site from TV-4 as well).

Radiospike, Courtside

If you live in Detroit, you might know Spike aka radiospike from Mojo in the Morning. I'm not sure if these awesome courtside seats at the were a perk from that or just from living right, but he sure got some great shots in his Pistons 11-23-07 set like this one of Tayshaun Prince and this one of Chauncey Billups. The cheerleaders seem to have gotten in his way in a lot of the other photos, but I guess that's a hazard of being courtside.

Foreclosure Madness and the Motor City

Easy money, risky loans drive area home losses in the Detroit News is an excellent, in-depth feature probing the causes for the sky-high foreclosure rates of Michigan (particularly Metro Detroit) has as much to do with the mortgage industry as the auto industry in that money remained "incredibly easy to borrow." The result was a very high percentage of subprime loans - 55% in the region and 2 out of 3 in Wayne County. According to the article, the root of the problem (if indeed there is one) is the fact that loans became a Wall Street commodity, and it didn't matter if some loans went bad when the yield was that high. But as Bill Matthews, senior vice president of the Conference of State Bank Supervisors notes: "What the hedge fund manager is missing, is it's destroying communities."

Video from YOUR Town

There's no way that I'm going to feature any Michigan city or town after that story. Instead, I'll call out our new Absolute Michigan group on YouTube. We'd like you to share your videos about all aspects of the Great Lakes State - your hometown, history, fun things to do, good eats, great businesses and places to visit. We'll feature videos from the group here on Absolute Michigan!

tour de two by various artists

Next Saturday (September 15, 2007) Michigan hosts two very different bike tours. The annual tour de troit is billed as a leisurely 40-mile ride through the streets of Detroit that begins at 10 AM explores the city's historic areas and sights. I'm not sure if I'd use "leisurely" and "40-mile ride" in the same sentence, but it looks like a great ride! You can get more information about biking the Motor City from Beat the Train - check your volume before clicking through 'cause Andy likes his music loud!

Also on Saturday is the annual Tour de Leelanau, a point to point open road race in the tradition of a classic European road race for the top male and female racers in the country. This year's Tour de Leelanau is sanctioned by USA Cycling and held under permit by the United States Cycling Federation making it one of the nation's premier road biking races! You can check out their site for all the details and view photos at the tour de leelanau tag on Flickr (view slideshow) and also in the Tour de Leelanau group on Flickr. If you're thinking of heading up to Leelanau, check out our Leelanau.com web site for all the details on things to do, places to stay and where to eat!

Mackinac Bridge Walk by Maggie

The Cheboygan Tribune reports that an estimated 57,000 people walked (or ran, wheeled or swam) the Mackinac Bridge. That's short of the 85,000 that traversed the span in 1992, but still a whole lot of folks! Regarding those swimmers, the Freep says that:

As crowds gathered before dawn near the tollbooths to begin the trek, 54 people in wetsuits plunged into the water nearby. Long-distance swimmer Jim Dreyer organized their participation as a fundraiser for Mentor Michigan, a program led by Granholm and her husband, Dan Mulhern. Fifty made it across, while four climbed aboard boats without finishing.

The LSJ adds a nice photo from John Russell, but on the whole, it seems like Michigan's papers spent the day barbecuing. Thank goodness for Flickr.

This year's walk is the 50th. The Annual Labor Day Mackinac Bridge Walk on Michigan in Pictures notes that the first walk on Labor Day, 1958 drew just 68 walkers - we're guessing there's a few more in the picture to the right from MDOT's Mackinac Bridge Walk gallery.

Can't make the walk? How about the Virtual Mackinac Bridge Walk in South Lyon? It's a 5 mile walk in support of the "Getting Michigan Moving" campaign from MichiganFitness.org. As you may or may not know, Michigan is one of the most inactive (and plumpest) states.

One man who's bucking that trend of inactivity is 88 year-old Clayton Klein , who will walk from Paradise to Hell. According to the Freep, he plans to cross the bridge with the walkers and:

He averages 20 miles a day on his 400-mile trip, taking to the road from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

"I walk 5 or 6 miles, find a place to sit down for four or five minutes and go another 5 or 6 miles," he said. "I find a place to get ice cream, and I just keep going."

He hopes that folks will join him on his walk (if you arrive in Hell in his company you get a free ice cream cone!) and says that "If I were younger, I probably would have a goal. My goal now is to stay healthy and keep walking."

Clayton Klein, you are officially my new hero.

Photo courtesy Michigan DOT.

You can start the day in Flat Rock and pedal or paddle your way to food and fun in Rockwood and Gibraltar. Take a bicycle tour through Lake Erie Metropark where American Lotus will be in bloom (don't miss Lake Erie Metropark's & ice cream cart). You can bring your kayak or rent one from Riverside Kayak Connection for group paddles along the lower Huron River and the canals of Gibraltar, both part of the Detroit Heritage River Water Trail. There's lots more including lessons, bicycle helmet giveaways, live entertainment, food and refreshments.

You can get information on the event and also downloadable brochures, trail maps and more at their web site above, and they also have a cool new Southeast Michigan (and Southwest Ontario) Nature Tourism Event Calendar featuring outdoor recreation activities from all over Southeast Michigan.

Michigander ready by Mike Wendland

From the "Watch This Year, Do It Next Year" files, here's Freep.com video columnist Mike Wendland is taking part in the 16th annual Michigan Trails and Greenways Alliance Michigander Mountain Bike Tour. Check out The Michigander: Day 1 and follow along all week at Mike Wendland's Blog.

The ride begins in Midland along the Pere Marquette Railtrail all the way to Clare. As the tour unfolds, it  winds past Houghton Lake, Michigan's largest lake, on to Grayling and the AuSable River, by Hartwick Pines State Park, to Gaylord's Alpenfest, the crucifix at Indian River and Burt Lake State Park. A stop in Mackinaw City and ferry to Mackinac Island and then ends up at the Legs Inn in Cross Village.

You can get more information and sign up for next year's 2, 6 or 7 day tours the the Michigan Trails & Greenways link above!

The current version of Introduce Your Michigan Business or Organization is right there.

Every Labor Day the Mighty Mac opens to pedestrian traffic for the annual Mackinac Bridge Walk. Below is a slew of information about the walk and the bridge itself.

50th Anniversary Mackinac Bridge Walk of 2007

Check out Get moving, Michigan with the annual Labor Day Mackinac Bridge Walk  on Absolute Michigan, a report on the 2007 Bridge Walk with pictures and also see the Mackinac Bridge Walk on Michigan in Pictures.

Information from Wikipedia:
Mackinac Bridge Walk
Mackinac Bridge information
Mackinac Bridge designer David B. Steinman

Other Sites:
DOT Mackinac Bridge Website
Official Website of the Mackinac Bridge
Straits of Mackinac & Mackinac Bridge
Building the Mackinac Bridge
The breathtaking Mackinac Bridge from the Detroit News
The Mackinac Bridge - Background Reading

Video:
Cool old film footage of a drive across the bridge
Various YouTube videos of the bridge

Have a great Labor Day weekend and be sure to check out an interesting shot of the bridge over at Michigan in Pictures.