Gut feeling

Today was a just under four hour drive day, so I was not totally destination driven. The plan was to take US 61 to US 52 with a short jog on US20. This is the heartland of the Midwest where those giant tractors I saw at the John Deere Pavillion show what they are made of on massive farms.

The wind was again ever present. I pulled over for a rest, gas, and coffee after less than two hours. My daughter Amy had called me from France for help navigating her summer job plans when she gets back to Minnesota. I’m thankful for anything that makes the drive go faster.

I forgot to check the brake and light controller so as I was making a turn in Dyersville “if you build it they will come”, Iowa, I found a place to pull over. Damn if that thing hadn’t disconnected and been dragging on the road. It was now partially flat on one side of the round connector, but thankfully still snapped back in.

I was back on the back roads for a bit where I passed a New Mellary monastery and Trappist casket makers. It began to get a bit hillier and rockier as I moved into the Driftless Area.

This area offers up topography you would never expect in Iowa, Minnesota, Wisconsin, or Illinois. It is quite hilly with limestone and sandstone outcroppings and lots of very old volcanic cones. During the Wisconsin glacial drift 70,000 years ago this are was missed so it was not leveled like most of the rest of the four states. And lots of sediment accumulated here creating the rock out croppings and cliffs. No, I don’t know this off the top of my head. I consult my ever present Roadside Geology book series. The book for each state explains the topography you see on major roads, thus for me at least, making the drive more interesting.

The multiple dams and lock systems for shipping navaigation have also forever altered this area by creating large wet lands and or “lakes” on the Mississippi River. I followed a gut feeling that I needed another break after passing through New Vienna and Luxembourg as I approached Guttenberg.

I didn’t know it when I pulled over and found my way to the river bank, that I was at Lock 10. The quad cities were Lock 14. I asked some of the workers at the lock if any boats were coming. He said I just missed one but another was coming around the bend. Like the tug I saw in Rock Island, this one was also pushing 12 barges.

As I watched it come into the lock, I could see it was a game of inches. The barge had very little room for error on either side. I’m sure much of it is computerized, but I still wouldn’t want to be the tug driver.

After they pulled into the lock, they disconnected the first six barges, the tug backed out partially with the other barges, and they closed the lock. I asked what they were doing. I was told they have to disconnect the first six and raise them In the lock because all 12 don’t fit. When the lock system was designed originally, ships weren’t as large. I didn’t understand exactly how they pull them forward and raise the remainder and reconnect them. And I needed some lunch, so I didn’t wait to see the whole procedure.

I tried to have lunch at a place on the river, but the door was locked and no one would come to the door when I tapped on the window. They were engrossed in their phones. I found another place where I chatted up the shop keeper and found out they pronounce it Gut-tinberg not goot-inberg. I got some locally roasted coffee and wine from a nearby vineyard before grabbing a quick lunch of homemade french onion soup.

By the time I got back outside, they had reconnected the barges and the tug was pressing onwards upriver.

I made it to Money Creek Haven campsite before 4 pm. It is, of course, on the side of a hill, so I took my time adjusting the trailer back and forth to get the most level position possible. I got all set up except for my sewer line. I could not get the cap off; it was sort of screwed into the earth. I figured I’ll get someone to help me with it tomorrow, because I don’t leave my grey line open as some do. I just empty black and grey water when I leave.

Instead of pressing to go do something else, I just got the camper windows opened up so the cats could enjoy the fresh air. And I got out my camp chair, one of the beers from the Quad cities, and put my feet up with a book!