Wow, like we have had so much rain in January, but I have not had the chance to paddle any of the high water. So if you can't paddle what do you do? Ski and drink beer!
I did get up to Caberfae near Cadillac MI twice this year, once the weekend of Jan. 7th and again the next weekend. (Sun/Mon Jan. 15/16) Skiing was good both weekends, but now back to the WATER! The field and woods out back are really swamped! Friends were up at Caberfae and Schuss/Shanty Creek this past weekend and all had great snow, but down here it is just WET! The river has been holding at some good levels all around the 2 foot mark, went up to 2.75 on Monday the 23rd. The temperatures have been very mild for this time of the year, but soon they say the temperatures will start to drop and the snow will be back.
Thought we might try and make a run the last weekend of January, but we didn't. Should have, it got nice later in the day with the sun out and relatively mild temperatures. Joined Rob to help Dale dig out his basement to put in the weep pipes for drainage in the basement of the 'project house'. Sunday the 29th brought a couple inches of snow to make it look like Winter again, but now they say it will hit 40 degrees this week and it will all melt! (and run into the river!)
(Caberfae from January weekend trip)
Checking out the overlook with Caberfae Peaks in the background with Bill T and Dale G
I don't often drink Mexican beer, but when I do I drink it with this guy!
Off (Blog) Topic: Just wanted to put a few notes here about the Motor City Brew Tour I went on with my friend John Z on January 14th. The trip left from Royal Oak and headed up to Frankenmuth, MI. First stop was Frankenmuth Brewery where we enjoyed a tour of the entire facility and operation, including the "Beer Cellar" which was part of the original brewry circa 1862. There was a slight SNAFU with the cooling and dispensing system, so we enjoyed water with our pizza until they opened up some of the bottled beer for us to sample, it was very good! I was able to get a growler filled with dunkel for Jim E just before the problems began and then got myself a growler of "Batch 69" IPA just as we were leaving when the system came back online!
From there we stopped across town at Sullivan's Black Forest Brewery where I got a growler of their Pirate Porter, very good. Sullivan's brewer 'was sleeping' (or was it "sleeping off" something? LOL!) so we only had samples there. On the way back to Royal Oak we stopped at The Redwood Lodge (off Hill Road and M-23 exit where it splits off I-75). We enjoyed a sample pint and others at special 'happy hour' prices. I skipped the tour here and opted to drink a few beer's with some new friends who John introduced me to and who are also avid MCR Paddlers! We'll definitely be hooking up with this fun group for some paddling and beer drinking! Back in Royal Oak we finished up the night at the Royal Oak Brewery and ended a great day!
John Z at the "Beer Cellar"
At the Redwood Lodge with John, Curt, Lori, Chris and Jack
On tap at the Frankenmuth Brewery
A "Beer Angel" spotted on the brew tour at Frankenmuth. (use your imagination, see the halo and white wings?! )
(notice the "EASY" button, that is the last step in the process!)
Samples at Sullivan's Black Forest Brewery
Me enjoying a beer at the Redwood Lodge
Our tour guides Steve and his lovely wife!
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