Day 9, Prairie Du Chien, Wisconsin to Rock Island KOA, Illinois

Early start today at 7:05 under clear skies, but only 4.6C. It wasn't long before it became foggy.
At 7:20 we crossed the Mississippi into Iowa.
Just ahead of us, a truck had hit a deer which held us up for a few minutes. We followed the Great River Road which was foggy.

At 9:10 we arrived at Dubuque, home of the National Mississippi River Museum and Aquarium. (www.rivermuseum.com)The National Mississippi River Museum & Aquarium is home to museum exhibits on the culture and history of America's rivers. The campus also includes over a dozen aquariums featuring wildlife representative of that found in the Mississippi River and the Gulf of Mexico and other river systems and deltas, including giant catfish, sturgeon, ducks, frogs, turtles, rays, octopus, river otters, and more. There are also outdoor exhibits, featuring river otters, a marsh, and large artifacts, such as boats, a blacksmith shop, a stream, and raptor aviaries including bald eagles and a red tailed hawk

The William M. Black was a dredge built in 1934 to dredge the Mississippi and Missouri Rivers and is one of the last side-wheeled steamboats ever built. It was a 34 inch pipeline dredge used to deepen the river. It was open for touring.

After spending an hour and a half, we were back on the road, heading to the campground.

 At 2:30, we crossed the Mississippi into Illinois and arrived at the Rock Island KOA . 
Once everyone arrived and got settled, we "ride shared" to the Port of Moline and boarded the "Celebration Belle" at 5:30 for a dinner cruise on the Mississippi. 

Joan & Sharon enjoying their cocktail before dinner

The buffet dinner was wonderful aboard this 750 passenger paddle-wheel boat. The entertainment was "spot-on" by a husband and wife who got everyone up dancing! Unfortunately, it was raining so we didn't venture outside. It was a beautiful evening.