Cleaning

I find it puzzling, but I'm not complaining.  A huge benefit of living on a sailboat is that Bob cleans the floors, scrubs the outside down, etc. on the sailboat but when we were in the townhouse, not so much.  What is up with that? I guess I don't really care to know what the difference is.  I can just enjoy it.

While he was cleaning off all the bug marks (no chad flies, yet, these little annoying bugs we call "moth flies") We have asked locals all along the river since Dubuque what they are and no one seems to have a name for them.  They come in mostly in the evening in droves and land all over our boat and cars parked near the river, etc. 
Oh yeah, while he cleaned, I started giving Wicket a haircut.  She only tolerates it for so long and then I have to give her a break.  So in four days or so, she should be sporting her short hairdo.  Photo to come later.
There was, also, a leak around the inspection cap for the diesel tank, so Bob took that all apart and put sealant around it.  So far it looks like it is sealed up tight.  Didn't do much today other than hang around the boat and repair & do maintenance.  Nice sunny & warm, just the way we like it.  More fishing is in store for tonight.

Fishing 'til midnight - Stink Bait

Did the stink bait work?  Well, I caught a 12" channel cat.  Too small so we threw it back, but Bob caught a 30" channel cat so he's on the menu for supper tonight along with some really yummy little gold potatos that we bought yesterday at the farmer's market downtown.  They are just like "new potatos" only gold color instead of red.  Sealed them in foil with butter and a little water steamed right up.  They were really smooth & creamy tasting.

Above are the potatos and asparagus after we steamed them in the foil.  Excellent!

Downtown Davenport

We finally ventured out at 11:45 this morning and headed for the Citibus hub in Bettendorf.  What the heck is going on?  There were unmarked cop cars parked all along State Street & the fire truck with ladder & US flag on it, a band playing, people sitting along the street as though they were waiting for a parade.  What a nice welcome for us.  Oh wait! President Obama is heading up to the Alcoa factory only 3 miles from where we are docked and is scheduled to be driving by within 15 minutes.  Our bus showed up so we didn't stick around.  We headed for downtown Davenport.  Our main goal was to buy our weekend tickets for the Mississippi Valley Blues Festival which starts this Friday.

The band was back here practicing & the fire truck with flag is to the far left.

This was one of the most interesting places. There are about 3 different buildings here in a row which all house "The Riverbend Antiques" shop. The buildings themselves are so interesting but the antiques are laid out fairly organized & neatly, too.

While shopping inside you can see the livery stable & carriage works areas.  We read up in the town of Le Claire all about rich Antoine Le Claire & how he owned lots of property in Davenport & Le Claire.  Now we have stumbled onto some of his Davenport property.

The photo below is in the newly renovated chapel.  Antique items are just beginning to find their way up here.

http://riverbendantiques.wordpress.com/about-riverbend-antiques/

This is a small 10" or so doll trunk.  I only love it because when I was little, my sister & I each had one just like this. Ahhhhhh! Ours were pink instead of blue but they had that same white with silver star wallpaper lining. Too bad they were damaged when the basement flooded & mom threw them out.  This one is selling for $145.00. 

Wedding Cake

Okay this is for my kids.  I have a feeling they would both think this is really cool.  Well, that includes the kid that I'm married to, also.  Right, Bob?

Referring to Bix Beiderbecke, of course. Born in 1903 and one of the most influential soloist if the 1920's.

He was a native of Davenport, IA.  The Beiderbecke Jazz Festival is in July in Davenport.

http://www.bixsociety.org/

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bix_Beiderbecke

Bob is the first fisherman to catch a trout in the Mississippi River. 

Oh, is that a price tag on that fish.  Oh, that's right.  He carried this to the chapel as we went upstairs to look around.

One of the most interesting things in the shop is "Jazzy".  This big poodle was featured in the magazine "Radish" as the Pet of the Year 2010. See magazine cover below.  She was very laid back.

These 3 WWII planes flew over 3 times this evening.



We met this guy downtown fishing for catfish.  He had 3 on his stringer & pulled this one in as we were talking to him.  He gave us fishing tips.  Sonny's Sticky Stink bait!  WOW! Stink - that is an understatement.

We bought a supply & Bob is trying it out as I type. Check back tomorrow to see if he was successful.

And then there were these 8 cute little ducklings trying to keep up with their mom.

Jeff & Tammy motored up to check out our boat.  We visited for a while.  Nice couple.

Tammy is dreaming of the day she will be living aboard a sailboat & pulling up anchor whenever she's ready to move on.

Sunday in Moline, IL Jackpot!!!!

Boy, did we ever hit  the jackpot.  We went to Moline on the "Loop" bus at noon today (rode for $1.00 each) and attended the Blossoms at Butterworth Festival.  It was all free except for our food.  John Deere had 9 children.  Only 5 of them lived to adulthood.  His youngest son, Charles built a huge house in Moline overlooking the original John Deere facility. Then Charles, who had 2 daughters built one of those daughters a house across the street when she married William Butterworth.  Yes, it is an even bigger house.  So we got to walk all around both houses, carriage houses, grounds/gardens.  Wow, I was in heaven as touring old mansions is one of my favorite tourist things to do.  http://www.butterworthcenter.com/index.php
But because of the festival going on they also, had an antique car display, a magician, a guy playing the banjo on the lawn, free popcorn, a 20 minute bus tour of the neighborhood, and lots more.

This is only the carriage house of the Butterworth Estate.

Part of the huge garden at the Butterworth Estate.

The front side of the Deere-Wiman House built in 1872 for Charles & Mary Deere. It sits on 7 acres only about 8 blocks from the Mississippi River on a very high hill.  They called it "Overlook".

http://www.bleedinggreen.com/GG2001/gg-09-10-01.html

One end of the huge living room in the Deere-Wiman House.

One corner of the huge bedroom in the Deere-Wiman House.

The house has 5 bedrooms.

John Deere built this house, moved into it in 1885 and 1 year latter died at age 82. The house was sold out of the family, was split up into apts. and is in shambles.  Someone from Chicago currently owns it & is apparently trying to renovate it.

Looking back at Deere-Wiman from the front yard.  We were not even close to being at their property line.

A couple dressed for the festivities.

And of course, what would the 1880's be without "The Cat in the Hat"?

Bob's favorite car at the antique car display.

This was one big old oak tree in the front yard of the C. Deere home. Way out in the distance and down the hill is the Mississippi River & downtown Moline.

The festival also, included a tour of the Rock Island County Historical Society which is housed on the corner across the street from the C. Deere house.

Thanks to all who put this event together.  It was very well done, everything ran so smoothly.  Thanks to all the volunteers, too.

http://www.richs.cc/

Touring the Quad Cities on Sat.

It was just a 10 mile trip to the marina at Bettendorf from Le Claire.  It was cloudy and chilly but we were tied to the dock at the Isle of Capri Casino marina after 2 hours travel time. The marina rates are only $15.00 Sunday - Thursday and $25 on Friday & Sat. so we will stay here until after the Mississippi Valley Blues Festival.  We will head south once again on July 4th. We have access to lots of public transportation options here.  There are several buses, the shuttle to the other casino runs every 30 minutes to downtown Davenport, and the Channel Cat Water Taxi is $6.00 each all day. The Channel Cat stops twice on the Iowa side & twice on the Illinios side.  We rode the whole 4 stop trip Sat. morning.

Our first stop & most interesting was the East Village of Davenport.

One of the old buildings in the East Village.

http://villageofeastdavenport.com/

The "Claim House", the first house west of the Mississippi, was built in 1832 and moved to its current location at 1329 College Avenue.  The oldest house on its original site is also the only log frame house.  Built in 1848of 12" and 15" bark covered logs on a limestone foundation, this earliest of split levels was built directly ove a spring at 1919 11th Street and therefore had running water. Bob & I walked around a couple block & saw some of the points of interest.  Nice.

Lynn, at Freddie's Fritters Dog Bakery & Pet Boutique in the East Village was very helpful and offered us yummy homemade cookies.

Wicket squints from the sun & her eyes water.

So we bought a visor from Lynn, at Freddie's in the East Village.  Wicket wasn't too happy to wear it but it does keep her from squinting and she keeps it on. It works!

 The Channel Cat route took us around Arsenal Island and onto the John Deere Commons in Moline, IL.  It started raining so we ducked in for ice cream at Lagomarcino's and then a ride on the Channel Cat to the north end of Moline and back to Isle of Capri in Bettendorf. 

Interstate 80

We were tied to the dock for 3 days at Le Claire, IA and about 1 mile south was Interstate 80. We found it to be quite significant when we finally passed south of the interstate.

The trip through Bob's eyes...

Most of the time, I am the one taking the photos.  These photos were taken when Bob had possession of the camera, except the one with him in it.  He requested, that I take it of him.

Old El Camino in La Crosse

Bar sign at Clinton, IA

Wood carved Elvis in Le Claire, IA.  The glasses are really glasses. 

Bob's Antique shop in Le Claire, IA

American Picker's old VW Van.

I found it interesting the things he finds interesting.  LOL

 

We saw two of these guys peddling down the river all packed as though they were heading to the gulf.  They were too far away to talk to.

Greater little town - Le Claire, IA

Just for the record... this is one of my favorite towns.

Some of the many highlights are
1. the Green Tree

There is a fabulous display telling the story of this tree at the Buffalo Bill Museum in Le Claire.  Part of that display is a huge section of the tree showing all the 220 rings.

2. River Pilot homes - self guided tour. Before the lock and dams were built on the Mississippi River there were very treacherous sections.  One of those sections stretched several miles past Le Claire.  In order for passage, a ship had to hire a river pilot to take them over the treacherous area.  Lots of the river pilots lived in Le Claire.  Making $10 in gold per day, gave those river pilots the fortune to build spectacular homes.  Here are three on the tour.  The first photo is currently home to a fabulous restaurant serving lunch & dinner called "Crane & Pelican".  Obviously, it is open to the public.  The bottom photo is of another pilot home currently open to the public, too.  It houses a gift shop. (FUN).  The owners live with their 3 sons on the top floor.  Like most of the homes on the tour, the middle photo is currently a private home, so no looking inside.  But so much fun to read the history of these home & imagine life from 1850 - 1870 in Le Claire, IA.

http://www.leclaireiowa.gov/Tourism/river_pilots.htm

Private home

Grasshopper's and the Vintage Vine Wine Cellar

3. Lone Star Tugboat- photos & such listed in yesterday's post.

4. Crane & Pelican - Pie -  Bob had key lime and I had warm cherry.  Both were fantastic (yes, I tasted the key lime).  Bob said his key lime was the best key lime pie he had ever tasted.  My cherry was just like grandma always made, but it was a much bigger piece that grandma would give me.

http://www.craneandpelican.com/

5. Kernal Cody's Popcorn Shoppe - we weren't too creative in our choice (caramel corn with peanuts) but it was better than any ordinary caramel corn. 20 different flavors... one interesting flavor I noticed was PB & J.  (peanut butter & jelly)  Hmmmm?, maybe next time. Chocolates, too.  http://kernelcodyspopcorn.com/

6.  Lots of interesting shops... See Bob at Bob's Antiques with his new fishing buddy.

http://www.visitleclaire.com/shopping.html



7.  Tug Fest - we didn't actually experience "Tug Fest" but it would be really fun to watch. In August, the river is closed down to traffic for 1/2 a day.  A huge rope is stretched across the Mississippi from Port Byron, IL to Le Claire, IA and each team pulls for the tug-o-war. That would be something to see. http://www.tugfest.com/iowa3

There are so many fun things in this town, I'm sure I've forgotten a few, so just drive over and see them for yourself. Interstate 80 is only about 1.5 miles south of downtown Le Claire, so it is a very easy drive.

The marina at Le Claire gets very busy on the weekends so we need to move on.  We'll be heading about 7 miles south to Bettendorf in the morning.  What will we find in Bettendorf?  Warmer, sunnier skies, I hope.





Great little town - Le Claire, IA

Mike from TV show American Pickers. He is a sweetie.  Antique Archeology is located in Le Claire.  According to an article in the Nashville Scene, they are expanding to Nashville. See the link below for details.

http://www.nashvillescene.com/nashville/american-pickers-star-and-part-time-local-mike-wolfe-talks-junk-pickin-and-his-favorite-nashville-antique-haunts/Content?oid=1969206

Bob liked this VW van which was in really good condition.

Just a funny sitting around in the store.

Le Claire makes my "must see" travel destination.

A new Mexican restaurant, Blue Iguana on the corner, right smack in the middle of all the shops, museum, etc. area.

Bob's enchilada verde.  He thought it was fantastic.

My chicken taco salad.  It too was very good, but way too much.

Our most favorite thing was this old steamboat.  It was a working ship on the Mississippi from 1869 to 1967

  at which time it didn't pass the Coast Guard inspection and was taken out of service.  The ship is located in a beautiful building with huge glass windows on two sides where she can still look out at the Mississippi.  Visitors are allowed to climb up to the pilot house and walk into the crew cabins.  You can walk all around the engine room and see where the cook fixed meals on the stove which is still intact. 

Bob at the helm.

Susie at the helm.

Above is a photo of some of the displays inside the Buffalo Bill Cody Museum.  They charged us $5.00 each to go into the museum and to climb around the Lone Star.  What a good deal.  It is well worth it.  The museum is well organized and has lots of interesting things to see.

And there is still more to see tomorrow.