MICHIGAN TRAVEL TIPS
FROM
THE HOLOGLOBE PRESS
(The 5th Edition)

by

Victor Edward Swanson,
Publisher

www.hologlobepress.com
 

RULES OF USE

    The material contained within this page is derived from my "fabulous files" of places that vacationers can see in Michigan and Wisconsin, and, in fact, my fabulous files contain information about hundreds of things to see.  The material is provided as a public service of Victor Swanson and The Hologlobe Press.  Almost all persons and entities, such as radio stations, may freely use the material; neither AAA Michigan nor any employee of AAA Michigan may use, distribute, download, transmit, copy, or duplicate any of the material presented on this page in any way or through any means.
 

- - - Travel Thoughts for Everyone - - -

    A few weeks ago, Lance Armstrong won the Tour De France in France--for the sixth time--and, of course, the event he won is an annual bicycle race through parts of France, and his win will be remembered as one of the big sports victories of the summer of 2004.  Now on the minds of many people are the events of the Summer Olympics of Athens, Greece, and the victories of the Summer Olympics of August 2004 that will be most remembered have yet to be determined.  Since big summer sporting events are in the news, I know no one or almost no one is thinking about a winter sporting event that is a big event in Michigan.  Every February, the Pine Mountain Ski Jump at Iron Mountain of the Upper Peninsula of Michigan is where the "Pine Mountain Ski Jumping Tournament" (also called the "Continental Cup" Ski Jumping Tournament) usually takes place.  The event attracts Winter Olympics-type jumpers each year.  In the past, skiers from such places as the U.S., Canada, and Europe have taken part; for example, the winner for the 2002 event was Kalle Ketturi of Finland, who made a jump of 140 meters.  During the last few years, the event has taken place over a couple days around the third week of February, and around 4,000 spectators have watched the event.  As a rule, the competition has been a weekend event.  Usually, on the Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday before official competition takes place, skiers are given the opportunity to practice, and spectators can watch the skiers practice for free on the practice days.  On the competition days, spectators are charged admission fees.  The official dates for the forthcoming event are scheduled to be February 25, 26, and 27, 2005.  Whether or not skiers are able to jump on the days scheduled for competition depends on the weather.  On windy days, skiers do no jumping.  By the way, no competition took place on the Saturday and Sunday for the 2003 event, but spectators had seen some ski jumping on practice days.  Truly, spectators have to plan ahead if they wish to see the Pine Mountain Ski Jumping Tournament each year, especially if they wish to see the event with children who are normally in school in February.  (Parents who want to take a special winter vacation, which will allow them to be in the Iron Mountain area for a week, have to make special arrangements to have children excused from school.)  Since the ski-jumping event at Iron Mountain is a once-a-year event and since the weather can block jumpers from jumping, people who wish to see at least some Olympic-quality ski jumping should try to be near Iron Mountain for about a week.  Of course, when no ski jumping is taking place, spectators have to find other things to do.  The U.S. National Ski Hall of Fame is at Ishpeming, and it will be open in February; it is open most days of the year, usually from ten to five.  In addition, the Negaunee Luge Run, which is at Negaunee and the site of big-time competitions in the winter, should be open, and nonprofessionals can make runs down the course (which is at Lucy Hill), when, for instance, competitions are not taking place.  It is not as if people hoping to see ski jumping at the Pine Mountain Ski Jump will have nothing to do, if the weather blocks skiers from jumping.  To get more information about the 2005 event, you can contact someone at the Kiwanis Ski Club, which is at  Iron Mountain, and the telephone number is 1-906-779-1110.  The Web site for the Kiwanis Ski Club is: www.kiwanisskiclub.com/.
 

    Your travel tips for today are:

    The Pine Mountain Ski Jumping Tournament (a.k.a. the Continental Cup Ski Jumping Tournament) at the Pine Mountain Ski Jump of Iron Mountain (of Dickinson County) in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan.

    Negaunee Luge Run at Negaunee of Marquette County in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan.

    The U.S. National Ski Hall of Fame and Museum at Ishpeming in Marquette County of the Upper Peninsula of Michigan.
 

- - - Public Service Copy for Broadcasters (four pieces) - - -

Number One:

    In February 2005, the Pine Mountain Ski Jump at Iron Mountain

of Dickinson County in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan will be

the site for another of the annual Pine Mountain Ski Jumping

Tournaments, which attract professional ski jumpers from such

places as the U.S., Canada, and Europe.  The 2005 event is set

for February 25, 26, and 27, but during the weekdays before the

event, skiers will practice.  Generally speaking, spectators could

see ski jumping on six days.  However, since windy weather can

block skiers from jumping on at least some days, people who want

to see at least some jumping--like that which could be seen

during a Winter Olympics--should be in the Iron Mountain area

for about a week.  One way to get information about the 2005

event is to contact the Kiwanis Ski Club at Iron Mountain, and

another way is to see the Web site for The Hologlobe Press, which

is at www.hologlobepress.com.  And enjoy your safe traveling!

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Number Two:

    It's time for another reminder about some of the traffic laws

in Michigan, which you should know to help make traveling safer.

On March 21, 2001, a new traffic law went into effect, and,

maybe, you are not aware of it.  Generally speaking, you are not

allowed to have a person younger than 18 years of age riding in

the open bed of a pickup truck while you drive faster than 15 miles

an hour.  However, the law has exceptions; for instance, the law

does not apply to a vehicle used on a farm.  Also, on March 21,

2001, a new law took effect that was designed to protect patrol

officers on the roads.  For example, when a patrol car is parked

along a road to the right and the flashers are flashing, you are

required to either slow down or slow down and move over to the

left.  Of course, the law was and is designed to protect EMS-type

workers, too.  And The Hologlobe Press hopes you to enjoy your

safe traveling in Michigan all the time!

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Number Three:

    Scattered about the state are people who enjoy wood carving,

and people who are wood carvers carve such things as ducks and

other birds, busts of children, and relief scenes.  A wood carver

may or may not be associated with a club.  In Michigan, 35 clubs

are associated with the Michigan Wood Carvers Association,

and some of those clubs are the River Raisin Wood Carvers of

Monroe and the Leaning Tree Wood Carvers of Delton.  On

September 26, the Tri-City Carvers Wood Carving Show is

scheduled for the Horizon Center at Saginaw, and on October 9

and 10, the Premier Center at Iron Mountain will the site for the

Woodbee Carvers 9th "Wonders in Wood" Show.  For more

information, see the Web site for the Michigan Wood

Carvers Association.  Its main address is

"www.geocities.com/miwoodcarvers."  And The Hologlobe Press

hopes you watch for "red-light runners," and enjoy your safe

traveling.

                                                    ###

Number Four:

    And now here is a safety message from (this station)

and The Hologlobe Press.  The publisher of The Hologlobe

Press is Victor Swanson, who was a traffic reporter on radio

stations in Michigan for nearly three decades.  Victor does a lot

of bicycling along streets, and he reports that fewer and fewer

drivers seem to be watching out for bicyclists at intersections.

For instance, motorists often make turns before looking for

bicyclists who might want to cross.  Bicyclists have the right of

way at intersections, but if you're a bicyclist, ride defensively

and always expect drivers aren't aware of you. When you're

stopped at any intersection, look at the vehicles that might turn

in your direction, and look at the drivers' eyes to see whether or

not the drivers are aware of you.  Then, do not start to cross till

you are sure the way is safe.  Remember: Drivers might make

turns even though they are not using turn signals.  And enjoy your

safe traveling in Michigan.

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- - - Contact Information - - -

The Hologlobe Press
Box 5455
Dearborn, Michigan 48128-0455
The United States of America

copyright c. 2004
File date: 10 August 2004
 

To see the next edition of Michigan Travel Tips,
    click on: Travel #6
To see the previous edition of Michigan Travel Tips,
    click on: Travel #4
To see the catalog page for Michigan Travel Tips,
    click on: Travel
To go to the main page of The Hologlobe Press,
    click on: www.hologlobepress.com
 

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