Can you believe it's August already?...

Locks & Dam #15
Rock Island, IL

As I understand it, Phoenix has been a bit warm these last few days...I mean warmer than normal.  A few records were broken, or set, depending on how you look at it.  On Friday, Aug. 14th the high was117 degrees, on Saturday, Aug. 15th the high was 115 degrees and today is only supposed to 111 degrees. Friday and Saturday tied or broke the records for August.  I am certainly glad to be in the midwest where the temperatures are a chilly 85 - 90 degrees.  Might be time to think of the long sleeve shirts or a sweater.

This weekend was the 6th Annual Floatzilla event on the Mississippi River, perfect for this weather.

photo by Louis Brems, Quad City Times, Aug 15, 2015

Floatzilla was a gathering at Lake Potter, near Sunset Park and Marina in Rock Island, for an attempt at a new Guinness World Record of the number of paddled boats rafted up in one location.  Alas, I don't believe  they beat the previous record of 3,150 boats achieved by One Square Mile of Hope (USA) in Inlet, New York, USA, on September 13, 2014.

But it was apparent that the attempt to set the new Guinness World Record was incidental to the party on the water...

photo by Louis Brems, Quad City Times, Aug 15, 2015

photo by Louis Brems, Quad City Times, Aug 15, 2015

 

 

photo by Louis Brems, Quad City Times, Aug 15, 2015

 

 

photo by Louis Brems, Quad City Times, Aug 15, 2015

According to estimates the 6th Annual Floatzilla in the Quad Cities gathered approximately 1200 paddlers for the event.  It appeared that a good time was had by all.  Many of the boaters came through Lock #15 on their way to the party.  According to the ranger on duty (Ranger Mike) there were about 500 canoes and kayaks that locked through the Main Chamber of Lock 15.

I have not been able to find any new leads for the Pork Tenderloin Trail.  I have not heard specifically, of any other restaurants that serve Pork Tenderloin Sandwiches that received recommendations.  I am still on the search.  I am told, by a friend in Phoenix, that the Texaz Grill, at 16th Street and Bethany Home Road, serves the best Pork Tenderloin Sandwich anywhere.  I have not, as yet, been able to test that claim.  I intend to give it a try when I return to Phoenix in September. 

This weekend also had the Tugfest event.  This year's Tugfest was the 29th Annual event.  It is a tug-of-war between Le Claire, IA on one side of the Mississippi River and Port Byron, IL on the other side.  Port Byron won the event last year, Le Claire won the event in 2013.  This event is a three day party, on both sides of the Mississippi River.  Each community has their carnival rides, food booths, bouncy houses and other attractions.  This is Bragging Rights we are talking about.  The trophy for the winner is an Alabaster Eagle.  The trophy travels to the winning community until the next Tugfest battle.

Alabaster Trophy, Tugfest

Prior to this year's event, the score was Illinois 17, Iowa 11.  The Tugfest consists of 11 tugs-of-war, 10 tugs of men or co-ed teams and 1 all female team.  Each male or co-ed team has 20 members and the all female team has 25 members.  The rope is 2700 feet long and weighs 640 pounds. The rope is fed through a pulley at the head of the tug pit (where the tuggers do their pulling) and then through a pulley at the back of the tug pit and attached to a reel.  At the start of each individual contest, the teams are given 11 tugs and then 3 minutes of pulling to win or lose the pull.  This year was a shutout for Iowa.  The Port Byron, IL, teams won all 11 contests.  It is the first shutout in the 29 year history of the event.  These pictures are from the Iowa side of the Mississippi River.

photo by Jeff Cook, Quad City Times, Aug. 15, 2015

photo by Jeff Cook, Quad City Times, Aug. 15, 2015

photo by Jeff Cook, Quad City Times, Aug. 15, 2015

photo by Jeff Cook, Quad City Times, Aug. 15, 2015

 

 And the crowd sounds were deafening!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 All the news that is in the news from the beautiful, sunny, warm, gorgeous Quad Cities in Iowa and Illinois.

Stop in next time for an update on the search for the Ultimate Pork Tenderloin Sandwich along the Pork Tenderloin Trail.  I am in my last few weeks working for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers at the Mississippi River Visitor Center at Locks & Dam #15 in Rock Island, Illinois.  I plan to continue this blog until the last Pork Tenderloin Sandwich review is complete.  Stay tuned.  Stop in and see me at the Visitor Center.

Until then...