Iowa Redux

     Davenport, IA., is a holdout. While other cities on the banks of the Mississippi through flat lands have built levees to control flooding, Davenport has not. The primary argument against levees is that the river is "lost" behind a huge earthen wall. Levees also speed the water to the detriment of communities downstream.
     Given the heavy snow pack and extensive spring rains Davenport was flooded for several weeks in May and June. None of that is visible now. Ed and Mary Jane took six of us for dinner at a riverside restaurant in Davenport which was flooded but shows no effects of it.
   They reserved a table with a great view of the river. However, when we arrived the paddle-boat, The Queen Of The Mississippi, was tied up  next to the restaurant. It is five decks high and totally blocked our view of the water. The waitress informed us that it had been there all day. No river view?  Fifteen minutes after we were seated it departed. 😃 The river is 30-40 feet deep and almost a half mile wide, flowing east to west. (Look it up in your Rand McNally Atlas.)
    It was a 'fruitful' evening of good conversation and good food...the best blue cheese potatoes I've ever had!

    Tomorrow I return to Noble Academy for my 9th year of volunteering. Some students I've had before and I'll also meet some who are new to me.

Takk for alt,

Al

Dinner by the river.

Queen of the Mississippi.

Old Man River.

Students last year.