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.