![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdE6dWkZtrRmlrIO7byzBLxDzw99eSaepf-1opra4dAlhZ6zN6bqelMaBIZSaQN4cyzFaMB7HtMoiDMX_nPWnZStEw6WVEGw06HUefNPTGR1JaZxll2HiU5DedQBgRggJqWcA_Zw/s400/IMG_0461.JPG)
We spent our first night in a hotel in Dubuque, Iowa and took a paddleboat on the Mississippi the next day. We rode on the
Spirit of Dubuque.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiH4ftOKSFVlwC_N5wVbOCMJm2XyDyz3Qo3G307dSfbnc0yyIs9_5n6qfsRzqxHPjGkth48Pv1xsV1dvM6xO5AC0r5Sxdf7l5psuNVBEdyVbEWgY5wpO1g-KSsQ6lRNP1ts-dSPSw/s400/IMG_2035.JPG)
I don't think I'd ever seen a bridge "open" like this - here in the Houston area, we see some drawbridges, but not a turn style bridge.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOs7AFVNFvwTSPTDY7pB9tliDG7o3oYhY2t1VABlLlmocYb4CiFJgQIJAEStJtlFKVHjMqelEaleJUxOLuKMDufawHVnV7grk1wD_wx7FouUqnwuT81jbI3dG3fUwENiPGGytYpw/s400/IMG_2071.JPG)
Here's an incredible house on one of the bluffs. By this point, we'd driven through a lot of the "flat" part of Iowa - these bluffs were beautiful.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTj8aPEQg6ojdiX9WZJEHmaWGprpgIQQknOrfFO4q0k8xqzMTim7Q7uxhy0LhyphenhyphenitrKQdvRO0hiwnZA6x6_JXhk1g11lwIHblKmU8W_Az-wBZMGeNNqUSwRBIm_2u-Fnr8BCZ69hQ/s400/IMG_0480.JPG)
Details on one of the bridges we went under.
A tugboat pushing a barge.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1iEtvOz4NxoZQQHjnnuART3m4eTDf2spPTYL0H7rx1yZwN-URF38ZicNdcFKVQMHxap5oZTE4NMjC_ctEbpXl1xKMyaS2B2kqsnnOHNb5_t_YygroNj9cw8rzVkoELiFiEIHswg/s400/IMG_0471.JPG)
The paddlewheel making splashes. You might see a small rainbow in the upper left of the photo.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3mnQ3bRyxDrEwokljZ8h28yrBHkJy_V1TqsJfFYQrK9F9IhVjZLPQI_mGWIAr5zouefCDJ4f5_hZV3N4eOu1eY7qLSdBseR8GUCT_EftflyGUYVfgVQthJgXkQBM978hPou1tsg/s400/IMG_0472.JPG)
I loved the waves that were created by the 2 red paddles.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjtiznGz6CkklMOae0dS_EGUEaMNmgsC5EDUgn3xovvAzDf41-PSnUXRW1j7nKQvNMjvVOFm5fHnYs5aLdnJBkKb6aRO8x7zHJrl9PM_a_q2RmCqzNTlJqkPisonvwlamjN91oxQ/s400/IMG_2093.JPG)
Yes, it was COLD out on the water! Alex and I enjoyed a hot chocolate while my mil and sil had coffee.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBrpGW5-MZXxi-XHFigtCyLQ73bcDlWgJ1Y5h1l7u2LoOZEG_Lf6JewDSOK5AlHFbLrBVtPRTF-8x2tARhIwSRtUxehIYRLRwzlwYF0VkI8luY0J4utZLjSN4_UsKMvpyQT5tblg/s400/IMG_2094.JPG)
We were by the stairs to the pilot house when the captain announced that a few people at a time could come up for a visit. So, Alex and I were the first ones inside! It was neat to have the captain explaining some of his instruments and just seeing the river from his point of view. Unfortunately, I didn't have my regular camera - just my "big" camera - so I could only get a photo of the captain's face.
6 comments:
I love Paddle boats! We were on one about 3 summers ago and it is something that I really enjoyed. That photo of the house on on the bluff is gorgeous!
How cool! You always seem to be doing exciting excursions! :D
In response to your scrapbook ??s - I use Photoshop Elements. I save the finished page as a JPG and then I upload it to Costco to print. They can do 8x8, 12x12, 11x14, and 12x18. Sometimes I fit a 12x12 page on the 12x18 plus a couple of 6x6 pages. I then put the printed pages in standard page protectors and albums.
You have so many amazing adventures!!
That is something I have always wanted to do. When I was a teenager, and deeply engrossed in soap operas, one of the main characters took her honeymoon on a Mississippi river boat. And I thought that sounded SO cool. I know yours was a short trip, but don't you think a long, slow trip down the Miss sounds fun?
Your pictures are great as usual!
Oh, that brings back so many memories. I have ridden on that also! The bluffs in Easter/northeastern Iowa are absolutely beautiful. I have often told Cool that I want him to build me a log cabin in the bluffs up in the Lansing area. But, I want the bluffs to remain the same so I can't build...lol. Glad you enjoyed Iowa.
You need to take me along on your trips. Oh, I know, that isn't very practical but this is really something that I would love to do with the boys.
I loved your account of the storyteller at the museum. I love a good storyteller. We saw a man during our trip to Yosemite that performs as John Muir and he is fantastic. Gotta love a great storyteller.
Anyway, I enjoyed catching up on your blog.
Barb-Harmony Art Mom
Post a Comment