Excursion Journals: Saturday June 26^th, 2004

Saturday morning found us at the Camelot Campground KOA in Rock Island. After breakfast, we set out to find out what was happening around town. Our first stop was at the John Deere Pavilion in Moline to satisfy Dick’s intense interest in tractors and farm implements. A small crowd was milling about, so we had some hope that we would be able to make contact with stakeholders. Although we did have a good conversation about tractors and the Grand Excursion with a visitor assistant named Elizabeth, the John Deere Pavilion did not provide us with the outreach opportunity that we were looking for. We heeded the advice of our friend Elizabeth and headed for Hospitality Landing in Bettendorf where the flotilla was scheduled to make an appearance. Despite all of the anticipation surrounding the Grand Excursion, it seemed that several other events throughout the Quad Cities had spread the crowds too thin. The atmosphere at Hospitality Landing was one of idle curiosity and unsatisfied expectation. The event planners had obviously anticipated a large crowd, but only a trickle of people came out to see the one riverboat that did go past while we were in Bettendorf.

Hospitality Landing: Dick Hegle surveying the thin crowd at Hospitality Landing in Bettendorf.

Hospitality Landing: A few kids played on the blow-up slide. Not very many people were around.

Lemonade Stand: David poses for a photo op with the people from the lemonade stand at the Tourist Information booth at Hospitality Landing. We were assured that the lemonade was made with clean water...and it tasted good!

At 3:00pm we headed north for Savanna, IL where we would rendezvous with the Lilly Belle for an open house before heading to Dubuque for the Captain’s Ball. Along the way, we stopped in Le Claire, IA to look at the Buffalo Bill Museum and tour the Lone Star riverboat on permanent dry dock display there. The Twilight, a local riverboat, was also docked behind the museum in Le Claire. While we were there, the old 261 steam locomotive went past on a run up to Sebula. Unfortunately, the shutter of the camera did not operate properly so we missed the excellent photo op by about 20 seconds. After checking in with the crew of the Lilly Belle and contacting Brian Aldrich of the Fish and Wildlife service to plan for Sunday’s events in Savanna, we departed for Dubuque where Dick would hobnob with riverboat captains and big donors at the Captain’s Ball ($100 per plate).

Lone Star: the Steamer Lone Star rests in dry dock at the Buffalo Bill Museum in Le Claire.

The Captain’s Ball: The crew of the Lilly Belle (The Audubon Ark) pose for a picture at the Captain’s Ball. From left to right: Captain Ike Hastings, Victoria (the Lilly Belle), Dan McGuiness (Director of the Audubon Society Upper Mississippi River Campaign, John “Hawk” Stravers (Research and Field Trip Coordinator for the Audubon Ark)

The Twilight: The Twilight docked next to the City of Baton Rouge in Le Claire.