Heading north tomorrow

     Tomorrow we head north up into Michigan.  We are sure looking forward to cooler temperatures.  Today the heat index hit 112 again.  We have been staying inside much the same way that steady rain keeps us inside...not fun.  Fortunately the two A/Cs have performed well as has the refrigerator.  The first picture today shows the agricultural nature of this area.  However, a picture in the other direction would show a huge Bridgestone Tire warehouse.

     We took advantage of our delay here by going down to the Rock Island Arsenal, a landmark since1865.  It was a hassle of detours, one-way streets and closed ramps to get there; but once we got onto the post, we discovered a quiet little island (literally) of tranquility.  It's a piece of history sitting in the middle of the Mississippi River in Moline, IL.  We took advantage of the PX and commissary.  We also enjoyed the old architecture of the post.  As we left, Durelle snapped a number of pictures out the window of the Jeep.  With the help of a bit of photo-editing her pictures are pretty good.

     Many of the office buildings on the post date from over a century ago and reflect favorably on an earlier time.  It has quite a different flavor than a modern, sprawling Air Force Base.  I think I would have enjoyed an assignment here. 

     As an arsenal, you would expect that there would be displays of some of their products.  There are.  Durelle did a good job of capturing some of them.  In addition there is a large confederate cemetery as well as a VA National Cemetery.

     Getting off the post and back on to the interstate 74 north to I 80 was more difficult than getting on, but we figured it out.  The last picture was another window shot as we crossed the Mississippi northbound back to the campground.,

     The picture shows a sternwheeler casino boat berthed on the west side of the river.  The quad cities have been fun, but we are sure anxious to be heading north.