Quad Cities almost to St. Louis

Hello again…after um, 3 weeks, not two…

Grandson Paul’s Eagle Scout Court of Honor was a very memorable event.  One of the best things was hearing Paul’s dad and his scout leaders recall that at an early age Paul had said “Someday I’m gonna be an Eagle Scout”. And now, at 17 and in his senior year of high school, he has accomplished that goal!  

For a project, he combined the community service aspect with his involvement in the Arlington High School Band, which he currently serves as Drum Major. Hanging and storing the band’s uniforms was a problem for the band members, so Paul designed and built 5 stacking racks that take up little space when empty and serve the purpose when the uniforms are not being worn.   A job well done.  Grandpa Carl Siebert, parents Holly and Alan, and Paul’s sisters Laurel and Hazel all participated in the presentation of the wearable parts of the designation.   A reception at the local fire house was enjoyed by all.

I made a quick trip to NYC to meet up with high school classmate, Paula and some of her friends from Sumter, SC and New Hampshire.  They were in the city for the long Columbus Day weekend, and it is oh so easy to cross the Hudson River from Newburgh to Beacon, and then hop a train from for the 1-1/2 hour ride to Grand Central Terminal. Yummy lunch at Junior’s and my first trip to the NYC USO Club at Times Square.  Fun time.

Fred got to catch up with his DOF buddies, the weekly breakfast club that has met for 12 years or so; I spent some time with UU friends.  On our last day in town, we had a mini graduation party for granddaughter Devyn.

She completed the Capri Cosmotology School program a few days after we returned to the boat, so we celebrated early, while together---dressed her in the homemade cap and gown from my BSN degree marina party in 2007, and toasted her new career!  Yay for Dev!

Tarryn, Devyn, John and Kris

Back on the boat, we spent a day with brother Gene, his daughter Sandi, her daughter, Sarah, and Sarah’s children, Parker and Emma.  Parker, now 5, didn’t recall his 2010 visit to YOUNG AMERICA, but he and Emma, 3, may be old enough now to someday remember that great-uncle Fred took them and great-grandpa Gene for a dinghy ride on the Mississippi River.

On Monday, we enjoyed dinner in Davenport with Scott and Laurie Wolff, our dockmates at the  Moline Marina, and on Tuesday big bro Gene returned for lunch and to wave his ‘tear soaked handkerchief’ (Not) as we pulled away from Moline at 12:30---not such an early start.

First stop south of the Quad Cities was Muscatine, IA and this time the Pearl Button Museum was open, so tour I did.  In the group (actually we were the group) were 2 sisters who grew up in South Dakota---not far from my grandparents home where I spent childhood summers.   

The pearl button industry, like so many American history stories, grew from a one man operation to billions of buttons exported all around the world.  The population of Muscatine doubled and doubled again in the early 1900’s. 

At the heyday there were 7 factories (like this one) with automated machinery, extremely unsafe working conditions and using up mussels at an astonishing rate.. The mussels  have a very complicated and environment-sensitive life cycle. They live up to 40 years, require an external host when young, and were simply unable to reproduce at a rate that could keep up with the demand.  Eventually the local beds at the river's bend were all used up, and orders for buttons were filled by mussels that had to be trucked in, hurting profits.  Then zippers were invented, and someone found that plastic could work for most buttons. End of an era.  

 Fortunately, the city of Muscatine has several other industries that have grown over the past 100 years and kept people working.  Among them are Musco Lighting,

this bridge just beyond the marina is illuminated by Musco Lighting

Monsanto, Stanley Engineering Consultants and HNI, manufacturers of high-end office furniture..A lovely indoor ‘mall’ boasts gift shops, and in a bit of a twist, a ‘bring your own food’ wine bar that opened 4 years ago.  With beautiful hardwood throughout the stores, it is a most unusual spot.

The next two days were a hoot!  Our ‘plans’ to go to Bluff Harbor Marina in Burlington, IA were interrupted by 2 tow boats that took priority at Lock #18.  The first, pushing 15 barges (3 across and 5 deep---common on the Ohio, not as

anchored and tied to the wee docks...

 much on the MS) needed to be split to fit in the lock---at least a 2 hour event, and then another was ahead of us and in line.  A few miles above the lock, and just above Oquaka, IL (pop. 1390) Fred spotted a Culligan Man taking our picture.  As we moseyed along, so did he, and at the south end of Oquaka I went out on the bow to chat with him as Fred pointed the boat toward shore.  Doug, the Culligan Man, pointed to a tiny marina (we’d missed the wee channel while watching him), said he knew the owner and was sure it’d be ok.  We nosed in and did a 180 in 3-1/2 feet of water, dropped Knute to hold us still, and then tied the side of YOUNG AMERICA to the ends of 3 narrow slips.

Rhonda returned in the morning with a basket of home canned goodies!

  Doug, along with Rhonda & Paul, the marina owners, and teenagers Paulie and Peyton came aboard for happy hour.  A good time was had by all!

Underway the next day, we needed to have our 100+ gallon holding tank (sewage) pumped out, as it was ‘dangerously full!’  Bluff Harbor Marina offered the service, but had very low water in the marina.  Our bow stopped and sat solidly on the bottom ½ way into the dock, but the pumpout hose reached and the deed was done.  We were surprised that we floated free as we backed out, until the light dawned!  We weighed about 500# less than when we came in!

By 4:30 p.m. we were at Keokuk Yacht Club, sad that it was Thursday, as we remembered that Friday is party day at Keokuk.  Lo and Behold, the local Hy-Vee Grocery Store was showing the town what they can make available for the holidays!  So we dined on complementary wine tastings, cheese samples, fresh fruit and veggies, salt & sugar cured salmon, prime rib with 3 sauces, quinoa salad, beef jerky, Swedish meatballs, Vienna sausages, bar-b-q dip and sandwich rolls, not to mention a lovely dessert table.  No ice cream, though.

Friday we returned to the Quincy, IL boat club dock, and walked to the Pier Restaurant.  It was packed with antique car buffs who were having a weekend show.  The walleye dinner was delicious!

On Saturday we tucked into Hannibal, MO, and lo, it was festival time!  The city streets were clogged with crafters, weavers, dancers, musicians, rope makers, blacksmiths, kettle corn poppers, and Mark Twain, himself, who strolled about with his puppy before giving a 1 hour lecture at the MT Museum about Missouri’s involvement (or not) in the Civil War.  At 5 pm the Jaycees hosted a 5K run with Zombies stationed all along the route attempting to stop the hearts of the runners.

They say that in Hannibal, ½ the buildings are named for Mark Twain.  The other half are named for Tom Sawyer, Huck Finn or Becky Thatcher.  This year’s 7^th grade winners of the annual Tom and Becky contest were on hand to greet the public.  On Sunday, the MISSISSIPPI QUEEN brought about 400 more tourists to the festivities, and the Antique cars were expected to make a showing as well.   We got outta Dodge.

We will pause here for a brief commercial message about our dear Great Harbour trawler and its captain.  On Saturday at Hannibal, the night policeman walked out to the boat to let us know he was patrolling the area.   Very nice.  He said he was amazed that a boat our size could get into the marina, where the slips were sized for 8’x 20’ or smaller crafts.  Two things make it possible.  We need only 3 feet or more (or less) of water to maneuver, and Fred does some pretty masterly maneuvers!  It’s really fun to see some of the surprising places we can dock.  That’s all.

Louisiana, MO was also having a fall festival this weekend, and we passed on it, instead spending the afternoon at Two Rivers Marina properly hanging the four Hudson River prints that eschewed tape on the wall of our dinette/office.  Neighbors at the Two Rivers Marina told us about the festival’s Duck race, where 3 large black garbage bags of little numbered yellow duckies were dumped into the River at an arbitrary starting line.  ‘Catchers’ at the arbitrary finish line grabbed the first ten as winners (of cash-- numbered ducks sell for $3.00 each or 2/$5.00---the Lions Club makes a bundle!) and then scurried around the water to collect all the rest of the ducks.  T’was a windy day, so that was no small feat!   Fun.

Tomorrow,  Tuesday, we expect to again have the boat hauled at Port  Charles Marina.  Once again a prop is shuddering and needs to be looked at.  After that, we’ll head to St. Louis and the ‘goofy 200’, after which it’ll be decision time at Cairo.

See you then…Be well and remember to breathe!