Fall Tour - Mighty Mississippi Adventure 

The Fall Tour started out Sunny and a bit brisk as the club members congregated at the DeKalb Oasis. Mike & Laura handed out the packets of information for the tour along with survival kits and water.

We headed west to Fulton, Il. with 8 Baby Birds, 4 Retros and 1 daily driver. We headed out on I88 and then we traveled on the old Lincoln Highway (Rt 30). When we reached the Dutch Windmill in Fulton, we were greeted by Debi Ervin who is the Director of Tourism for Fulton. Debi was dressed in Dutch attire and went to each car to welcome the members to the Windmill. The block was closed for our cars to park in front of the Windmill, which made for great pictures.

After our tours in Fulton, we headed across the Mississippi River to Clinton IA., where we had lunch at the Candlelight Inn overlooking the River. When we were finished with lunch, we then headed back over the River and had a leisurely drive down the Great River Road to Moline, Il.  Our final destination for the day was the hotel (The Radisson on John Deere Commons).

Friday morning brought sprinkles and some heavy rain.  We headed back over the River to LeClaire, IA riding on the Great River Road of Iowa. We caravanned to the Buffalo Bill Museum. There we toured the Museum itself which is focused on not only Buffalo Bill but the life along the Mississippi River and local history of LeClarie. After our tour we headed up the hill to the Crane & Pelican for lunch. Our lunch was held in an old River Boat Captains home over-looking the River. Luckily the rain departed, and it just was cloudy as the afternoon was open for members to visit LeClaire and its shops, Antique Archeology (the American Pickers), Mississippi Distillery and or Wide River Winery. That evening we headed down the street to the Celebration Belle Paddlewheel Boat for the Captains Dinner Dance. We had two large tables with a buffet dinner and entertainment. The sun ended up peeking out as we set sail which made for a beautiful sunset.

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Saturday morning, we headed up the street to the Deere-Wiman House & Butterworth Center. For lunch we headed back to the River House Bar & Grill and then headed back over the River to Davenport IA., to the German American Heritage Museum where we learned about the German Immigrants that came over to the area. That evening we walked across the street to Johnny’s Italian Restaurant for dinner.

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Sunday, Our Homeward Bound Day was gloomy, but spirits were high since Members were happy, they “Survived the Mighty Mississippi Adventure”. We headed out mid-morning and stopped for Lunch in Rochelle, Il. Our lunch spot was the Flight Deck Bar & Grill at the Rochelle Airport.

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The Mighty Mississippi Survivors were: Tom & Judy Bruin, Mike & Laura Cielenski, Gordon Gluff & Mary Ziemba, Len & Mary Keil, Larry & Karen Kelly, Pete & Marylu Kramer, Dean & Beth Molburg, Jerry & Pat Peterson, Lloyd & Joan Schellin, Ken & Kathy Smizinski, Len & Irene Vinyard, Bob & Sue Wenderski, Liz Werth, Jim & Jane Wilson, Madeline Zambon & Judith Mitchell.

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By Laura Cielenski