A Pause for a Visit to Seattle...

Seattle, WA
June 29 - July 4
I drove to Chicago on Sunday, June 28th, spent the night and climbed on an airplane at Midway Airport on the Monday the 29th.  Four hours, and a bit later, I walked off the plane in Seattle.  Now I just had to wait some for Deborah to arrive.  I arranged for the rental car, found something to eat and met Deborah when she came off the plane.  And off we went to the city.  We were staying with friends at their home near Lake Washington.  Except for all the trees, it is a beautiful view of the lake.

We were in Seattle to spend some time with our son Sean who is working as a chef for the Brave Horse Tavern in Seattle.  Brave Horse Tavern is one of several restaurants in the Seattle area owned and operated by Tom Douglas Restaurants.  The food was great and the location was just north of downtown, about 4 blocks south of Lake Union.  In the middle of Amazon country.  Amazon occupies much of the office space surrounding the Brave Horse Tavern.  Good food and a great location for dinner on a summer evening.

 This is Sean and his fiance Karli.

During our stay we managed to visit the Pike Place Market, (Unfortunately we took no pictures of the Market, but have borrowed a couple from Photo.net)

photo by Kirby Cole 8/26/2007

took a food tour of the market area, (including sampling food at multiple locations during the tour)

photo by Andrew Riegel 5/11/2003

rode a Washington State Ferry to Bainbridge Island,  (and back)

Deborah - my wife

 toured the Seattle Center, home of the Space Needle and site of the 1962 World's Fair,

and the Dale Chihuly Exhibit/Garden/Gallery,  

where the glass structures and exhibits were just remarkable.

We also spent some time at the Hiram M. Chittenden Locks in Ballard, a community north of Seattle.  This is the main lock, 80' wide by 760' long, used primarily for ship traffic transiting the ship canal from Lake Union or Lake Washington out to or in from Elliot Bay and Puget Sound.

And this is the auxiliary lock, primarily used by recreational boats to transit to or from Elliot Bay/Puget Sound via the Ship Canal to Lake Union or Lake Washington

A bit of a snug fit in the auxiliary lock...1 sailboat, 3 cruisers and 5 small boats in one lock thru.  And the Chittenden Locks also contain a Salmon Ladder, to aid the salmon to go from the Puget Sound to their breeding grounds up past Lake Washington.

These particular salmon are Steel Head, working mightily to make it above the locks and into the ship canal.

But enough about Seattle...how about that Pork Tenderloin Trail?  What has been going on with the search for the ultimate Pork Tenderloin sandwich?

Our first selection is from the Bluebird Cafe in North Liberty, Iowa, near Iowa City.  I went to lunch with my sister Anne and her husband Al on Thursday, July 9th.

 It was a significantly sized tenderloin on a Kaiser Bun with a side of cole slaw.  It was a generous portion of meat.  Unfortunately, the tenderloin was a little too well done.  It was a bit of task to chew and a quite dry.  However, the flavor was good.  The cole slaw was tasty also.  I would not consider going back for another tenderloin sandwich as it wasn't high enough on the rating scale to qualify.  The other food in the restaurant is quite good.

The next selection is from the Mid-Town Marina in East Dubuque, IL.  This marina is owned by a friend of mine, Arnie McDowell, with whom I spent three years of my life blowing stuff up in the Army.  He was originally from Cedar Rapids, Iowa, and has owned the Mid-Town Marina for about 28 years.  I had gone up to Dubuque (East Dubuque) to visit Arnie and his wife Sandy on Wednesday, July 15th.   Arnie & I played a little golf and then headed back to the marina for a bite to eat. 

In the scheme of things on the Pork Tenderloin Trail, this Pork Tenderloin Sandwich was close to the top of the list.  It was thick and tender, juicy and flavorful.  It was an absolute pleasure to eat.  This one is pushing for top honors on the Pork Tenderloin Trail.  Morg's Diner in Waterloo or Mid-Town Marina...Tough choice for the the best.

And next week, we will talk about another splendid option.  Unfortunately, that story is going to have to wait for the next episode of the Summer Along the Mississippi River blog.  Right now, it is a dead heat between Mid-Town Marina and Morg's Diner.  One of the selections for the next episode is also in the running. 

Enough words and pictures for this time.  Leave me a comment, tell me what you think of the blog.  Come visit me at the Mississippi River Visitor Center.  Take a tour of the Locks and Dam #15.  I'll even guide you through the tour.


Until next episode....

It seems to be a wetter than normal summer...

Rock Island, IL


At least that is what the locals are talking about.  The storms seem to just keep on coming.  We are supposed to be looking at possible thunderstorms all this week.  Fortunately, I am leaving town this evening.  I am driving to Chicago, spending the night and flying out of Midway Airport at 10:55 a.m. tomorrow to go visit my son in Seattle.  So, let it rain, let it rain, let it rain

There is lots of wildlife around the campground.  

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It has been many years since I had seen any swans in the wild.  These are really beautiful.  And, of course, a momma duck and her 14 chicks is fun to see also.

And the wildlife isn't exclusive to the water.  This red fox seems to be looking for something.  And then there is bigger wildlife...

When I first saw this deer and seven others, standing in a field along side the highway, I thought, what a great picture they would make.  As soon as I stopped they all began moving away.  This one paused, relatively close to the car.  A couple of the others paused a little farther away.

Look closely, there are two deer, near the fence row, in the center of the photo.  Apparently camera shy.  They just wouldn't hold still for the camera.

And of course there is wildlife in and around the Locks at the Mississippi River Visitor Center.

A couple of Blue Herons and a Pelican or two.

And there was a mink running around outside the Visitor Center last Monday, but I couldn't get a picture of him.

So, let me know what you think about the tour of the wildlife.  Send me a comment.  Come visit the Mississippi River Visitor Center.  Come take the tour.

Until next time...

Rock Island, IL

It is a Sunday morning in Rock Island and the Visitor Center just welcomed the first visitors of the day.  The River traffic appears to be sparse today with only one Towboat and barges expected.  Sundays seem to be fairly slow recently, with some days experiencing no barge traffic at all.  Each day is different with the River traffic.  Yesterday we watched a steady flow of Towboats (6) with barges from the time we opened at 9:00 a.m. until we closed at 5:00 p.m.  There were over a half dozen recreational boats through the locks as well. And to accompany this traffic we welcomed over 140 visitors for the day.

Last Monday was a slow day, 19 total visitors.  I believe the weather was at fault for that one.

Just a wee bit of rain.  Couldn't see the end of the bridge and Davenport didn't exist. The downpour lasted about 20 minutes.  It was rather gloomy in the Visitor Center with all those dark clouds around.

Each week, during my days off, I drive the 5 or so miles upriver to Port Byron, IL.  Port Byron is a community of about 1650 folks, along the banks of the Mississippi River.  There is a laundromat which I use for my weekly laundry.  And while the wash is washing, I take a walk from the laundromat down to the Mississippi River.  While on the walk, I would walk the couple of blocks to the river front area and then walk along the river.  During one of my walks I found a memorial for the residents of Port Byron to honor those folks from Port Byron who died in service to their country.

The row of crosses closest to me is for the veterans of World War I.  The next row is for the veterans of World War II.  And the back row honors the veterans of Vietnam.  It is an exceptional memorial, neatly manicured, with an unrestricted view of the Mississippi River.

And of course we can't skip the Pork Tenderloin Trail discussion.  This episode's fare includes treats from the Iowa 80 Truck Stop, billed as the World's Largest Truck Stop and a re-visit to the Iowa Machine Shed for a different version of their Pork Tenderloin sandwich.

Our first selection is from the Iowa 80 Truck Stop.

For a pre-breaded, frozen Pork Tenderloin sandwich, this sandwich was quite edible.  Thick and juicy, it was a tasty treat.  I was pleasantly surprised.  The french fries, however, were atrocious.  I had asked for them to be extra crispy, but the kitchen apparently couldn't do two things correctly at the same time.  The cole slaw was tasty but not top of the list. I would call it a draw, not great, not bad.

Next, we sampled the Grilled Pork Tenderloin sandwich from the Iowa Machine Shed in Davenport, Iowa with my sister Anne and her husband, Al.  I had previously eaten a breaded Pork Tenderloin sandwich at the Machine Shed.  It was splendidly wonderful and easily in the running for the #2 or #3 spot behind Morg's Diner in Waterloo, IA.  But this version of the Pork Tenderloin sandwich was seriously lacking in appeal. 

While the chunky applesauce and the cole slaw were as tasty as the first visit, the grilled Pork Tenderloin was tough and gristly.  It was not a pleasant experience.  The sweet potato fries were splendid and extra crispy.

And so it goes, the continuous search for the perfect Pork Tenderloin sandwich goes on.  The Pork Tenderloin Trail moves ever onward.  I keep hearing about new places to try, new places to sample the fare, new places to be surprised or disappointed.  Have you heard of a new place to try?  Send me a note, make a comment, let me know where to search.

Until next time...a photo taken during a flight from Dallas-Fort Worth to the Quad Cities.

It Has been more than a month....

Rock Island, IL
Mississippi River Visitor Center

I am into my 7th week of working at the Mississippi River Visitor Center at Locks and Dam #15.  The last couple of weeks have been busy.  I have worked 40 hours each week.  Seems like a real job.  I enjoy the work though.  I get to talk with lots of folks during my shifts and, when tours are given, I am often the tour guide, expounding the unique attributes of the Mississippi River, its commercial traffic (barge traffic) and the operations of the Locks and Dams, the bridges across the river, and the interactions of the lock operators, the bridge operators and the boats, commercial and recreational, that ply the river for fun and profit.

The Towboat and barges in these pictures are typically the largest group of barges (tow) on the the Upper Mississippi River (Upper Mississippi River is the section of the river between St. Louis and above St. Paul, MN), 15 barges and the towboat.  The physical dimensions of the lock are 110' wide by 600' long.  Most of the 29 locks on the Upper Mississippi are 110' X 600' but there are 3 locks among those 29 which are 1200' long by 110' wide.  The significance of these dimensions is that in those three 1200' X 110' locks, this 15 barge tow and its towboat can fit entirely into the lock for the locking operation.  All of the rest of the locks on the Upper Mississippi require two locking operations to get the 15 barge tow and its towboat through the locks.  The is also a second set of locks primarily used by recreational boaters.  The smaller lock is 110' X 360'. 

 Locks and Dam #15

The Mississippi River Visitor Center is in the center of the picture, the two story building next to the longer lock.

During off shift hours, I am continuing the search for that elusive Ultimate Pork Tenderloin sandwich.  The Pork Tenderloin Trail is quite convoluted.  I have visited Le Claire, IA, for a taste at "Big Dave & Holly's" for their tenderloin which is dredged through seasoned flour, then through an egg wash and a second dredging of seasoned flour before a tour of the deep fryer.  The sandwich and cole slaw were excellent.  I would rate this sandwich right up there near the top.

Tender, moist, tasty & delicious.  I'd return for another is a flash.  Big Dave & Holly's also prepares them as a grilled sandwich.  Have to try that one also.

Last Saturday evening (5/30), I had dinner with my sister Anne and her husband, Al,at the 11th Street Precinct restaurant in the Village of East Davenport.  The Precinct doesn't bread or batter their Tenderloins but grills them.  While this is a departure from the norm, I don't have a problem examining both versions, Breaded/Battered or Grilled.  The sandwich I selected was a Pork Tenderloin Melt; grilled pork tenderloin with grilled onions and Swiss cheese on grilled marble rye.  It was fabulous.

This one might be the #1 so far, although I am still hankering for one from Morg's Diner in Waterloo, IA.  So many opportunities for Pork Tenderloin sandwiches, so little time.  More next episode.

Comment when you can. Keep in touch.  If you are in the area of the Quad Cities, come visit.  Do the tour of the Lock and Dam.  We give tours to the public every Saturday and Sunday at 10:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m.  About half the time, I am the tour guide.  Sure would love to see you.

  

Memorial Day Weekend

Rock Island, IL
Mississippi River Visitor Center
May 25, 2015

This reminds me of the song by Otis Redding, "Sitting on the dock of the bay..."!  The rain was coming at the boat and the little bit of sun was shining on the rain.  Rainbow, actually two rainbows for a minute or two.  The rain was heavy enough that the I-74 bridge, about a mile upstream, was hidden by the rain. This photo was taken from the back deck of a boat in the Lindsay Park Marina in Davenport, IA.

Today is the end of my first month at the Mississippi River Visitor Center.  It has been a busy month, learning the information about the river, the locks, the bridges, the river traffic, and always the surrounding area.  As a former Iowan, it is interesting to come back for more than a few days at a time.  I get to reacquaint myself with the folks I knew growing up in Muscatine.  I get to revisit those neighborhoods I haunted as a lad.  Some have changed big time, some not so much.

I am working on Monday (Memorial Day) so on Sunday, my sister Anne and I drove to Muscatine to meet with our Wheeler Cousins, Bill, Sue and Kathy.  We met them at the graveside for their parents, Raymond and Emma, at Memorial Park Cemetery.  Afterwards, we drove to St Mary's Cemetery to visit our parents, Bernard and Elizabeth, and our brother Patrick.  It was very nice to reconnect with the cousins, as I had not seen them in about 30 - 40 years.  After our memorial visits we adjourned to Boonie's Restaurant in downtown Muscatine for lunch and conversation.  We had a great time and it was good to reconnect after so long a time.

Whenever I come to Iowa, for a week or a day or a summer, I like to seek out the tastiest Breaded Pork Tenderloin sandwich I can find.  Last year, we (wife and I) stopped at Morg's Diner in Waterloo, IA.

It was a taste sensation.  Hand breaded and cooked just for me.  I would return to Morg's for another in a flash.  The recent tastings have been less meaningful.  The Machine Shed, in Davenport has come the closest to Morg's taste treat so far.  I ate there about three weeks ago and the sandwich was splendid and the coleslaw and chunky applesauce were a perfect accompaniment.

And the crispy sweet potato fries were just right.

Of course this Pork Tenderloin Sandwich search is an ongoing effort.  Consequently, on Friday evening, I enjoyed dinner with my sister Anne and her husband Al, at the Lindsay Park Marina clubhouse.  While the sandwich was good eating, it did not match up well against the Morg's Diner selection or the Tenderloin from the Machine Shed.

The Tenderloin was thin and crispy, but the flavor was just not there.  While I would return to Morg's or the Machine Shed for another round, probably not to Lindsay Park for the sandwich.  It wasn't a bad sandwich, just not great.

Yesterday, for lunch with the Cousins, I gave Boonie's a shot at greatness on the Pork Tenderloin trail. 

Again, theTenderloin was thin and crispy.  And, as you can see from the picture, much larger than the bun.  The flavor was better than the Lindsay Park sandwich, but the texture was similar...thin and crispy.  The cole slaw was a fine complement to the sandwich and the hand made potato chips, still warm from the fryer, were absolutely splendid.

The search goes on!

Let's talk about the Mississippi River a bit.  The Mississippi is a very powerful river.  The current can be very dangerous.  Current, or the movement of water is typically measured by checking the movement of the water past a point or gauge.  That current is measured in cubic feet per second or 'cfs'  The volume of those cubic feet per second can be huge.  For example:

And the weight of the water depicted above would have been '146,643 X 62.5 =9,165,187.5 lbs.

Enough for this episode.  Stop in and check on the blog, you never know what you'll find.  Comment on the blog, let me know what you think.  Until next episode, good eating.