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August, 2009 E News

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Submitted by admin on Sat, 2009-08-01 00:00
In the past you may have golfed or bowled to help our organization but here's your chance to Jump for Trails.  On Sunday, September 6 from 8:30 am until 5 pm you can jump ten thousand feet from a small plane onto a field near Harbor Springs.  Then, from 5 pm until 8 pm you can join fellow sky divers and trail enthusiasts for dogs, burgers and the blue grass music of Scott Boss and the Horton Bay Band. The production will be orchestrated by Luther Kurtz and associates at Skydive Harbor Springs.   To view their website go to www.skydiveharborsprings.com. More information later on this exciting way to help trails.IMAGE1

Who says we’re not having good weather in northern Michigan?  Not the six persons who performed the Trails Council’s Adopt-a-Highway duties on Saturday, July 18.  With a temperature of 60 degrees with cloudy skies and just a hint of bluster, the day was, as they say, well-nigh perfect for the task at hand.  The day was quite in contrast to the July pickup a year or two ago when the temp and humidity were near 90 and the sun was blistering.  Thanks to Stan and Lee Katlein, Max and Mary Putters,Tom Stanley and Janet Vuillemot for their efforts.  And for those who did not participate this time…….you missed a great day.

There’s something about Alpena. I love the town and the trail but every time we (Top of Michigan Trails Council) sponsor a group bicycle ride there no one shows up. Or almost no one. Only me, the ostensible leader, my assistant Margo, and Ben and Jerry, two residents of Alpena that volunteered to describe the sites along the Bi-Path, peddled the 19 miles in two hours. The day was gorgeous, the trail scenic and varied, the commentary expert, and the post-ride lunch conversation at JJ’s Steakhouse friendly and interesting. Heartiest thanks to Margo Hodder, Ben Grandlund and Jerry Krantz.  From Tom Stanley's blog on My North.com. http://community.mynorth.com/profiles/blog/show?id=2345865%3ABlogPost%3A32087

On the other hand, the ride to the Agnes Andreae Preserve from Topinabee on July 25 had 26 riders despite threatening weather.  Photo shows some of the riders on the bridge over the Pigeon River taken by Doug Fuller of the Little Traverse Conservancy who expertly led the interpreted hike part of the program.IMAGE2

Speaking of trail rides, don't miss our upcoming August events, the Gaylord to Vanderbilt loop ride on the 8th http://www.trailscouncil.org/inside/events_3/?month=8&year=2009&eventid=132 and the Topinabee to Brutus Ride on the 22nd http://www.trailscouncil.org/inside/events_3/?month=8&year=2009&eventid=154.  The latter ride is entirely on local roads and will follow the route of the proposed trail around the north end of Burt Lake.

How are we doing?  Here at TOMTC we generally measure our success in the number of new miles and the number of “improved” miles added to our network. Currently we have about 288 miles in eight counties. Of these 106 are considered improved (either asphalt or high quality crushed limestone and about 38 are acquired right of way on which no trail currently exists. That leaves 144 “unimproved” miles but three will be improved in the fall of 2009 and at least 70 more in 2010 or 2011.  We're making progress.

Would you like to become a member and help us to build more trails?
You can do so by clicking on http://www.trailscouncil.org/inside/contact-us_11/