Serious discussion

After talking about what we each like and dislike about our new lifestyle, it has been decided that we will travel and/or stay at a marina where we are able to adventure into a town and check out the sites more often.  We found that we both disliked anchoring out at the sandpits. For example, we spent 4 nights in one sandpit and than the next night at a sandpit just a few miles south. We like traveling & will not be spending so much time in one place, unless it is a big city where there will be lots of things to see & do.

So this morning we pulled anchor and left the sandpit north of Cordova, IL and headed for Le Claire, IA.  The trip was about 12 miles, but it took us 3.5 hours.  The wind blew 30 mph or more constantly in our faces. Our average speed was about 3 mph.  Bob found it very stressful as the current pushed us & the wind was trying to push us back.  At times we had to run the engine at full throttle or the wind would turn us around. The wind wasn't nearly that strong when we headed out from the sandpit at 9:45, but it picked up and didn't let up until 6:00 tonight.

We dinghied around the sandpit early evening and Bob pulled in this channel catfish.  Buttered, seasoned, wrapped in aluminum foil and baked on the grill made for a great supper with green beans.

These next three photos are at the marina where we are staying in Le Claire, IA. (Population 3,000)  This is a "dry stak" marina.  That means that most of the boats here are kept on these shelves.  The first photo shows the forklift lifting a black & white boat (in the red circle) up to the third shelf.  It will sit next to the yellow boat.

 Below the forklift operator had turned in to now lift the boat into place.

And finally the forklift reaches into the space where the boat will sit until the owner calls or comes by for another boat ride or perhaps they just want to wash the boat.  It will come down the same way.  So all day  there are 3 huge forklifts that raise & lower boats.  Once the are lowered the forklift takes the boat over to the river and sets it right down into the water next to the dock where the owner gets in & motors way.  Crazy but true.

After getting the boat settled at the marina, we walked into Le Claire.  I could hardly wait to check out Mike, Frank & Daniell from American Pickers.  It's about a mile walk into town and they shop was closed.  We'll be going back tomorrow.

We will, also, check out the Buffalo Bill Museum.  Buffalo Bill was born in Le Claire, IA. We'll check out some of the older houses in town, too. McCaffrey House is currently a gift shop and Dawley house is a cafe on the first floor & gifts on the second.   The Dawley House is a brick Italianate-style house built in 1851 by a riverboat captain and features Victorian-era chandeliers, a curved staircase and a metal fireplace.

So check back tomorrow to share these adventures.