Belle Isle, Belial

11/29
Today's plan is to check out Belle Isle, an island that lies on the US/Canada border in the middle of the Detroit river. I was doing some research last night on urban exploring in Detroit and it was mentioned that there is an abandoned zoo on Belle Isle.
Well, that is only part of the attraction, it's also pretty bike friendly and there's some good stuff to look at.

Here's some history


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Canada on left, Destroit on right

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Nancy Brown Peace Carillon Clock

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The Conservatory wasn't open that day but it looks to be interesting.

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A frozen fountain

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Nor was the Aquarium open...

So. More biking and exploring.
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Broken stuff

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Venturing down a disappearing paved path with the occasional tree crossing

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hmmm, some stuff found nearby

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Former Tiger cage

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Other parts of the zoo
There's a raised walkway around the whole thing that would be interesting to check out

After a bit of biking through the woods on the main road we eventually came across the 'Nature Center' and took a look inside.

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Gar

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Snapping Turtle

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Bees

Alright, moving onward a bit...

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There's a golf course here too. So a bit of investigating found a weird chair...

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A water slide that operates during nicer weather

Went over to the pier. Found some crab claws!

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Detroit kills

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James dancing on the pier

Whew! Lots of biking and exploring, so we went to find some decent groceries.
Honey Bee had been recommended as a better place to find food so we searched around for awhile and eventually found it. It's right by the Michigan Central Station, an old abandoned train station that is frequently featured as a symbol of the decay of Detroit although it is not a casualty of the recent recession.

A Vice article on it that is slightly amusing

And some more accurate history

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Later there was a spelling bee at Cass Cafe and somehow I screwed up on 'appalled'
what.the.hell.

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