Steve&StephSmith: Belle Isle

Spring has come early to Detroit or at least last week was beautiful. (Today was a different story--windy, cold, and rainy) We took advantage of the nice weather to head to Belle Isle, an island in the Detroit river between Detroit and Canada. The shores of both are equal distance and really quite close. I wonder if people try to swim it because it isn't very far. I think if I was in trouble from the law, I would make the attempt. Here are some pictures from our outing.

One of the highlights was getting to feed the albino deer. I must admit our tour guide was a little perturbed when I called the deer a goat and when I was skeptical that they were in the wild. I told him that I was pretty sure the white deer wouldn't last long in the woods unless they were in the arctic. So then I called them the polar deer. Very cool no matter what their origins.

I have no idea how this ice sculpture came to be around this tree, but it was fun to walk around on. I wonder if some snowplow got a little bored and pushed all the snow on this one tree. It was cool.

I also thought this long hay was cool although my friend Lisa thought it was ridiculous I would stop the car to get a picture. If only I had a nice camera and a photographer's eye. I'm sure my friend Jane could have taken some cool shots here.

On the pier, overlooking the Detroit River and the Canada side. Doesn't it seem close? I'm pretty sure I could swim it if I needed to get out of the country for some reason.

Also, for all of you moms out there. Please notice the large space in between the railings. It was a death trap. I was sure I was going to have to jump in the freezing cold water to save one of the boys when they fell in. I remember my Mom being paranoid about these kind of situations and scoffing at how ridiculous she was. Now, that I am older though, these things give me nightmares.