The holiday weekend's muggy weather is offering plenty of incentive to residents to seek relief in whatever source of water they choose. Local swimming pools and lakes are busy, and the Huron River, which is running high with a heavy flow thanks to all the recent rain, is also a draw.
"It was deeper than I expected and quite cold but it felt nice," said Clarissa Skye who was canoeing with her dad near Mill Creek Park in Dexter
"We never flipped over but had to portage in several spots and got quite wet," said Eric Skye.
After a long bike ride, Doug Terrikowski waded through an offshoot of the river.
"It's a little chilly, and the rocks hurt my feet," he said. "But it feels good."
Mindy Janes and Sandy Sobocinski were preparing to go tubing in the Huron River just west of Dexter-Huron Metropark.
"I love the water and it's relaxing," said Janes.
"It's a great way to hang out with friends," said Sobocinski.
Lindsay Struve and Courtney Burk were walking dogs and a baby along Mill Creek in Dexter. Murphy and Riggins, a Wheaton terrier and a silky terrier, enjoyed a quick romp in the water. Burk and 15-month-old Lucas elected to go to a swimming pool instead.
Artist Tom Rosenbaum enjoys the Huron River from a painter's perspective.
Lisa Carolin | AnnArbor.com
"There were at least six of us out here," said Rosenbaum, who describes himself as a plein air painter, meaning in the open air. "It's beautiful being out in nature."
Fans of plein air painting can attend the first Paint Dexter Plein Air Festival Aug. 13-17, when artists will scatter across the area to paint everything from wetlands to wildlife.