So, what's new today you ask? Well... Trains, rivers, cities, humidity and even more corn.
The day started cool, but not as cool as the recent mornings. About 60 in Palo, Iowa as the sun rose. Compared to the spectacular sunrise photo opportunities from Colorado through Nebraska, our locale at Pleasant Creek State Park was not inspiring enough to get me out of bed with the chickens. In fact, I have not taken a single pic all day. It'll be all text tonight.
We headed for the big city... Cedar Rapids! Remember the movie "Cedar Rapids" with Ed Helms? Well, I think they exaggerated the excitement one might find there. However, it was the biggest city we had seen in a while. A noticeable difference from the western end of the trip. It was not the last of the day.
We continued on and crossed the Mississippi at the quad cities. What quad cities, you ask? Of course Davenport Iowa, Moline Illinois and I don't know the other two. Quite the industrial hub it is. The Rock Island Arsenal sits on an island in between Davenport to the north and west and Moline to the south and east. Moline is also home to John Deere... It's all green and yellow!
We paralleled the Rock River for a while (impressive in its own right) and later crossed the Illinois River which is also a biggie. I'm thinking it rains in this part of the country. Hence the rivers. Nt so much where we've been the past weeks.
We lunched, showed and let the dogs stretch their legs in Galesburg, Illinois which is proud to declare itself the birthplace of Carl Sandburg. I'm guessing that fact was more impressive and relevant in the days when America was younger and her citizens more literate... but Galesburg has not forgotten. It also hasn't forgotten its railroading heritage and boasts a railroad museum which includes a 1930 steam locomotive weighing over 200 tons.
We pressed on to Dewitt, Illinois where we are camped for the night at Clinton Lake State Park. En route we went through Peoria, Illinois, home of Caterpillar. If you ever come here, don't trust your GPS. It'll take you to a public boat launch on the other side of the lake and you'll lose 15 minutes each way getting there and back. Trust me. I know that to be true.
Tomorrow it's on to Terre Haute, Indiana where Mrs. C's parents grew up, met and married. Through ancestry.com we have met a distant relative (or perhaps an insurance saleswoman with a really clever way to find new prospects) who is interested in swapping family stories. Read tomorrow night to see if that happens and what the outcome is.
Ok... That's it for tonight. I still have camera ready, but after the inspiring western scenes I'm looking around here and saying "meh".
SC
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