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John Schlueter
10/9/2002
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The river bank by the Merc looks as good as it did 30 years ago. Thanks to the Burdas for cleaning it up. I used to park my boat there all the time.Editor's Note: And where did you park your boat after that?
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Sharon
10/9/2002
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I learned (years after the fact) that my son and his friends used to dive for coins from the bridge back in the 60's and 70's. What parents don't know!!!!
Editor's Note: And I bet you didn't know they used to walk across the dam behind the falls too.
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SaraBeth
10/9/2002
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Wouldn't the Merc be on the Right Bank? In Paris the Left Bank of the Seine is on the south side of the river.Editor's Note: If this were Paris the Merc would be on the Right Bank. Here in Leland the criteria is what direction you're faceing, which is East when you take the picture. Thus the Merc is on the Left Bank. It's simple once you understand the criteria.
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Kristen from St. Louis!
10/9/2002
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I swear, every day when I check my e-mail, I am so envious!!! Leland is the best, and I hope someday when I get older I can move there, because life would not be right if Leland was only a once a year deal...Ahhhhhhh......... The weather is never right in st. louis... either too hot or too cold... We have one 70 degree day between summer and winter, and between spring and summer! It is so sad..... Only 10 MONTHS until leland!!!
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Shari
10/9/2002
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I think the jumping off of the Leland Bridge is a tradition amongst all generations, initiation of sorts. A "good" thing for the list of what parents don't know as far as growing up in Leland.Tee hee hee
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E from Leland
10/9/2002
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What a beautiful day we had today! John, I agree with you the Burda's did a great job with the Merc parking lot.
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Bill
10/9/2002
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You mean to say that there was money we were suppose to be diving for? I just thought we were washing off the smoked fish from Carlson's that was all over our faces.
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Jim Burnham
10/9/2002
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I never went into town knowing I was going to jump off the bridge. It just calls out to you. Jump! What was more fun was swimming at the bottom of the dam and swimming under the cascade. Once I disturbed a few tourists at Rick's Cafe who thought I had drowned. That was only a few years ago. We would also dive off the Joy and Janice Sue. Those decks gets mighty hot on a sunny day.
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Cynthia Church
10/9/2002
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Actually I have a parent who grew up in Leland! As all of the Cordes'!!
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Laura in Northport
10/9/2002
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Shari, After reading your post, I asked my hubby if he ever jumped of the Leland Bridge. He said that he hadn't. But then he isn't from Leland. However, I think you know him ;-) He mentioned something about the Northport breakwall.
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Judy
10/9/2002
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As a kid growing up in Leland, I used to dive off the bridge regularly. The trick was to arch your back just right to curve back up before you hit the yucky bottom. The bridge is lots higher above the river now than when I was a kid - at least it seems so.
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davidb
10/9/2002
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I've been to Frankfort, Madrid, Athens, Rome, Istanbul, Tehran, Assmara, Aman, and several other capitols. There is no place on Earth like Leelanau Co.
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Ace Dutton
10/10/2002
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Coming up under the little cascade at the end of the spillway was the best! Jim, you beat me to that memory. Next time I'm in Leland I'm going to have to get my kids under there. It's one of the things you can't miss in life.
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deuce
10/10/2002
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whaddaya mean," when we were kids "..it wasn't too long ago, at 2am, I bet a tourist 20 bucks that I coud dive off that bridge ( fully clothed ) w/ martini in hand ( which I smuggled from the Bird )and not lose either of my olives. I executed what felt like a perfect swan, and while I was under water I fished two other olives out of my pocket, surfaced, displaying the drink still intact, and collected...
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Gayle
10/10/2002
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I have a feeling that the "Judy" who commented earlier about the diving off the bridge could quite possibly be my mom. Therefore, I can verify that we are at least a 3 generation family of Leland Bridge Jumpers. However, as far as I know, its only been my sons that have gotten in trouble by our Local "Finest" for committing such an illegal act. Mom.. Did Boppa ever jump?
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Shari
10/10/2002
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Laura, does your husband have beautiful eyes, a tendency to dye his hair and listen to Punk Rock?
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Shari
10/10/2002
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Leland Bridge, Leland Dam, all this talk about doing crazy stuff... What about the Cove Parties? Who has gone swimming during/after those? After an hour or two of live music and drink... God only knows...
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Retired Bluebird Bartender
10/10/2002
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Your photos of the bridge and the discussion of the different groups of people that have jumped prompted me to relate the event of a hot summer night when the "Men's bridge club" was called to order and assembled in the buff on the new bridge. One of the patrons of the bar decided to steal the clothing forcing a few members to scurry about and back into the bar naked.
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Marilyn
10/10/2002
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I'm new to the Leland Report & have been enjoying each segment. Couldn't let the Carp River bridge jumping go. I guess our son wins the prize as we found out he was riding his bike off the bridge & causing quite a stir among tourists about 20 years ago. Boys will be boys.
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Laura in Northport
10/10/2002
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Well, Shari, I can attest to his eyes . As far as his hair and musical taste, I have heard rumors from his past. Believe it or not, even young punkers grow up.
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Stephen F. Knapp
10/10/2002
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Its amazing to me how a picture of a bridge can elicit such an outpuring of confessions. I never jumped off the bridge, but now I wish I had.
Editor's Note: What's even more interesting is the "Sheriff Mike" is a subscriber. His motto is: "Come to the Leelanau on Vacation, Don't go home on Probation"
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Shari
10/10/2002
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Hi Laura, don't tell me he listens to country? Tell Chris Hi!
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Laura in Northport
10/10/2002
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Thankfully, no country!! Drop him a line. I know it will amuse him.... cirivine@cgihomeloans.com He only gets boring emails.
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Laura in Northport
10/10/2002
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oops, too many i's in irvine, but I think you'll figure that out...sorry
Editor's Note: Laura, find a chatroom
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JJ
10/10/2002
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My first bridgejump occurred late in the afternoon of the Bar-B-Cruise, and coincided with the first time I had truly felt the effects of malt beverages. I believe, in the interest of safety, that I wore four lifejackets, and when I hit the water, I don't think I got my hair wet. Encouraged by the fact that I was unharmed by the first jump, I progressed to flips, much to the amusement of the observers.
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The Mar
10/10/2002
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Hey-any of you bridge jumpers ever find the pair of glasses I lost in the river oh-so-many years ago? I'm sure there's one fish down there that can see really well, or really badly now...
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Robert Wellborn
10/10/2002
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My brother was involved in a few of the "Cove Parties" when he worked there one summer. Quite a few of them ended up in the water after a long night. Also, in addition to Cove Parties and Bridge Jumping, we must salute those hearty souls of the past who water skiied down the River to Lake Leelanau. Keith might remember some of those people---or at least so I am told.
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Jimmy from Speedway
10/10/2002
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I believe bridge jumping is even immortalized on film. Does any one remember the "Goldfinger" spoof in 1964? It was shown at the Barbacruise that year. Editor's Note: In 1985 I created a video tape of the 1985 Barbecruise and included a copy of "Goldmotor". You can check it out at the library. I have a professional video copy of "Goldmotor" which Biff Steele had made in New York.
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Taya
10/10/2002
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I know I jumped a few times- I am quite certain that Lee III did as well. (all the other Workum cousins too I suppose). Did Eric ever jump? I don't recall-
Never got caught!
I'm sure there are many tourists who were afraid we drowned under the falls. Great fun to stay behind there for 10 minutes or so and watch their faces!
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Joe S.
10/10/2002
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I've jumped many many times. The one that got us into a lot of truoble though was jumping from the Falling Waters Lodge deck into the river, it is quite a bit higher also. We'd sneak up to the gate on the walkway above the Dam & when we thought the coast was clear, we'd run over to the deck & jump. That got a lot of attention from the patron's at the Cove! Then we would have to hide in my Dad's boat when Officer Kerr showed up.
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Suzie Loe
10/10/2002
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Oh it looks cold up there, we are still in the
90's and 100's down here in Arizona, we could use a slight breeze from up there.
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Sheriff Mike
10/10/2002
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Plenty of confessions! Looks like we need to assign some Undercover Deputies......seems as though the business folks are complaining that
"Jumpers" are driving the tourists out of town!!!
Editor's Note: If not "Undercover" perhaps "Underwater".
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John Jameson (Two Jay)
10/12/2002
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I think some 60 years ago there was a sign on the bridge: "DO NOT DIVE FROM BRIDGE". Of course the "NOT" was crossed out.
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Diane
10/15/2002
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Makes me feel like writing a poem or composing lyrics with alot of metaphors built around things like "Still , silent waters awaiting the winter rest..." but I've never been a poet.
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