The 2008 Priority Health Tour de Leelanau bicycle race will be held next Saturday (May 25). This race is sanctioned by the International Cycling Union, UCI, and USA Cycling and is a heck of a lot of fun! It had been held in September but is moving to Memorial Day Weekend this year. Race director Steve Brown explains "We have moved the event forward on the racing calendar in order to capitalize on the teams' enthusiasm for racing in early summer compared to the end of the season." While they are hoping to draw more racers and crowds this year:
One key element of the 2008 Priority Health Tour de Leelanau that has not been tweaked is the course. Leelanau's reputation as a "hardman's race" continues to grow throughout the US. Tower Rd is still located at mile 60 (97 kilometers) and promises to whip up a frenzied crowd cheering on racers from every team as they hammer their way up the steep (21% gradient) climb.
The race features $20,000 in prize money and all kinds of climbs & sprints set against the beautiful Leelanau landscape. You can get all the details and maps for the men's race (11 AM start in Leland, 109.5 miles, 3:30 PM finish at Peshawbestown) and women's race (approximate 12:40 PM start in Glen Arbor, 69.5 miles, 3:30 PM finish at Peshawbestown), course tour & maps, the race expo and all the rest of the events surrounding the race at the Tour de Leelanau web site
Here's our report on the 2007 Tour de Leelanau. You can also check out the tour de leelanau tag on Flickr (slideshow) and more photos in the Tour de Leelanau group on Flickr.
Photo credit: Tour de Lelanau. Men's sprint line in Glen Arbor, Michigan by cyoas55
Speaking of photos:
Priority Health is sponsoring a Tour de Leelanau photo contest where you could get your photo on the cover of next year's Tour Trumpet & receive a check for $500. To enter:
- Take a picture at this year's event.
- Upload it to the Priority Health Cycling Flickr pool at: http://www.flickr.com/groups/phcycling/
Note: You will need a Flickr/Yahoo account - signing up for one is FREE.
- Add the tag to your image: "Tour de Leelanau"
Got something to say? Click over to the May 2008 Page. For today's weather, weather links, this week's events, a new weekly photo and comments, click the "more" link.
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Leland Public School and St. Mary's School once again join forces under the direction of Jeremy John Evans to bring you a fabulous musical production with a cast and crew of over 70 students.
Based on the popular comic strip that was first published in 1923, ANNIE tells the story of how a young, optimistic orphan and a hard-hearted billionaire came to meet!
7:00 pm performances: May 16, 17, 18, 23, 24, 25
2:00 pm matinees: May 24
Tickets may be purchased at the door or reserved in advance by calling Leland Public School at 256-9857.
The 5th Annual Empire Asparagus Festival will be held this weekend (May 16-18, 2008) and features a slew of asparagus-themed events including the premier of Asparagus: The Movie, a poetry reading/reception, fun run (or walk), Asparagus Eats (soup & more), Asparagus recipe contest, a 3 PM Asparagus Parade, local wine tasting and much more.
Much more Asparagus Festival info from the Empire Chamber.
The Traverse City Record-Eagle has a nice story on the 2006 Empire Asparagus Festival. (40 gallons of asparagus soup served!)
(yes, we know it's the 3rd annual poster ... no 5th annual one available!)
Here's a link to an article on asparagus from Taste the Local Difference.
Every Saturday in May the Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore will hold a ranger-led, educational walk in the Lakeshore. Meet at the Visitor Center in Empire on Saturdays at 1 PM. Here are the topics:
May 10 - The World of Frogs - What would spring be without the sound of frogs? Why are they singing and why are they disappearing all around the world? What might they be trying to tell us? Learn to identify several local varieties by sight and sound. This is a great outdoor adventure for the whole family.
May 17 - Hike to a Beaver Lodge - Look for one of the few animals that dramatically engineers their environment and has played a major role in this region’s history. See a dam, lodge, canals, and tunnels while learning more about beavers and their logging operations.
May 24 - A Flurry of Wild Flowers - Few places on earth have an abundance of wildflowers as the hardwood forest of Northwest Michigan in the spring. Join a ranger to marvel at this annual display of native plants as you hike through one of the best wildflower habitats in the region.
May 31 - Returning Birds - Celebrate International Migratory Bird Day by joining a ranger to welcome back several species of migratory birds. Learn about their winter adventures in far off lands and the distances they travel in between. This is a great opportunity for beginning birders. Binoculars provided.
Photo: Spring Beauties by Jim Sorbie (click over to get it desktop background size!)
Over on our Absolute Michigan web site, we're featuring Leelanau's own National Lakeshore in Dig Michigan: Sleeping Bear Dunes. It begins:
The October 21, 1970 Act of Congress that established the Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore declared that "...the Congress finds that certain outstanding natural features, including forests, beaches, dune formations, and ancient glacial phenomena, exist along the mainland shore of Lake Michigan and on certain nearby islands in Benzie and Leelanau Counties, Michigan, and that such features ought to be preserved in their natural setting and protected from developments and uses which would destroy the scenic beauty and natural character of the area."
Before it's all over, you will have hopefully enjoyed the photos, maps and links and checked out 5 "must-do" ways to experience the Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore. (I'm hoping folks who know and love the Dunes can add many more tips for visitors!)
Check it out - I'm really happy with how it came out!
Photo: canyon of trees by metrolens
Last update: May 13 Sweets are in full blossom and tart cherry trees are beginning to bloom. We should have very good blossom coverage through this weekend - make your reservations now!
Dr. Nikki Rothwell, director of the Northwest Michigan Horticultural Research Station, reports that she's seeing a few sweets now. She that although sweets typically blossom first with tarts coming 3-5 days after, there have been years when they've come at the same time. She noted that cherries are only receptive to be fertilized for a week or so, no matter how long the blossoms are out. Years when we do have an enduring blossom can even be detrimental to fertilization as bees don't like to fly when it's cold.
Keep an eye on at least one tree with the Hort station's Cherry Orchard webcam.
The photo is Leelanau by Jeff Lamb, and you can view it large right here and see more of Jeff's great pics from the Leelanau Peninsula on his photography web site.
For a whole lot more about cherry blossoms, check out Cherry Blossom Time in Michigan on Michigan in Pictures and be sure to think about attending the Leelanau County Cherry Blossom Tour on May 10, 2008!
Sleeping Bear Dunes 0822 by SNiedzwiecki
News from the Week
In addition to some upcoming events, we posted the Leelanau Cherry Blossom Report (which we're updating as the blossoms update!)
The Week's Weather
The weather was what you want from spring, some sun, some rain and not too hot allowing blossoms and buds to develop slowly.
May 1, 2008: Light rain (a dusting of early snow) & low 60s (66/30)
May 2, 2008: Heavy rain, thunderstorms and 50s (62/42)
May 3, 2008: Mostly sunny and 50s with bit of afternoon showers (62/37)
May 4, 2008: Sunny & 60 (62/32)
May 5, 2008: Mostly sunny & low 50s (55/39)
May 6, 2008: Light rain & 60s (66/37)
May 7, 2008: Mostly cloudy, breezy & occasional showers (63/42)
Click for the Leelanau news archive from May 2007 and the May 2008 page!
Dan took this photo of The Bufka Farm last weekend. He has several more photos from around the county and area on Saturday.
The Leelanau School in Glen Arbor is hosting a Mother's Day Brunch this Sunday (May 11) from 10 AM to 2 PM to benefit Leelanau County Habitat for Humanity. This is a terrific brunch for the whole family and funds raised will help pay for a habitat house that is currently under construction in Maple City.
Grand Traverse Habitat for Humanity says:
Habitat for Humanity works in partnership with people in need to build and renovate decent, affordable housing. The houses then are sold to those in need at no profit and with no interest charged. Volunteers provide most of the labor, and individual and corporate donors provide money and materials to build Habitat houses.
Partner families themselves invest hundreds of hours of labor—sweat equity—into building their homes and the homes of others. Their mortgage payments go into a revolving Fund for Humanity that is used to build more houses.
Photo credit: Habitat for Humanity - 6 by tukanuk
