Minnesota Pilgrimage 2012 - Day 12

Birch Run, MI - August 12, 2012  One of the reasons we chose our return route  through Michigan was the attractiveness of the "Pure Michigan" television spots.  For the most part, the State has lived up to its hype.  We have found the people to be friendly, the waters clean, and the highways easy to navigate.  We've even had strangers give a friendly wave as we passed.

Today is Sunday, so we decided to attend church.  Google provided us with a list of Episcopal churches within the Birch Run area, and a look at the parish web sites helped us decide to attend St. John's Church in Saginaw, MI.  It was a good choice -- the service was straight out of the Book of Common Prayer, Rite II, the music accompanied by a pipe organ and a good "summer pick-up" choir.  We felt very much at home.

After lunch we returned to Frankenmuth, MI, a German/Bavarian themed town which is also the home of the world's largest Christmas decorations store.  It is huge, with more ornaments and lawn decorations and Christmas lights and creche sets than the eye can see.  The grounds around the store are permanently decorated for Christmas, and there is a "Silent Night" meditation garden featuring a large outdoor creche.

Following the Christmas store, we wandered through a wooden covered bridge back to the downtown main street accompanied by a polka band. We made our way to the Kaffee Haus for a cappuccino, wandered some more and sat by the bandstand this time to listen to a band dressed in Sergeant Pepper uniforms playing the Beatles favorites. Then it was off to the Kandy Haus for some chocolate.  We stopped at Rapunzel's for some yarn and a pair of earrings.  Having well supported the local economy we made our way back to the hotel.

Tomorrow we begin the trip home.