The weather is turning warm and soon skiing will be through until after Thanksgiving. This is "Ski Mardi Gras" time in Northern Michigan. People dress up in crazy costumes, consume mass quantities of beer and try to ski across a 40 feet (best guess) rectangular pool of green water. Bright and sunny, nearly 50 degrees, and with snow soft and slushy, Derek and I headed north to get in one last trip before it's all over in Michigan and to test out our skis and polish up our technique before a planned trip to Utah on Easter Break (spring break for those of you who prefer to be politically correct).
Luigi and Mario of "Super Mario Bros." skiied across the water without wiping out. Not one drop of water! most others were not so fortunate...
The party animals in the lift behind us were having a great time! Note the case of beer on the lap of L'il Abner. Just police up your empty cans guys.
Spectators for the Submarine Races. Derek and I mostly watched from the lift. Better vantage point.
I think the Ol' Man wore him out!
On the way home we made a quick detour to Frankenmuth, a German themed town near Bay City.
This is the "Silent Night Church", an exact replica of the one near Salsburg, Austria, where "Stille Nacht, Hieliga Nacht" was first performed. One of the conditions for getting permission from the original was that this never be used for an actual service. As you walk up to it you are greeted with the hymn gently wafting through the air...
As you leave, you walk away very moved and in a peaceful state.
This is the covered bridge (Zwiebrucken) on the grounds of the Bavarian Inn. It spans the Cass River.
This is the Bavarian Inn. They are world famous the their German Cuisine and the famous "Frankenmuth Chicken" dinners. I must say that they are excellent! The Glockenspiel in the bell tower has dozens of bells and plays the "Pied Piper of Hamilen". It is quite impressive.
This is Zehnder's. They have equally good chicken dinners and are friendly rivals with the Bavarian Inn across the street.
