Just Got Back: 40th Anniversary-- Part 2: (August 27th) Dubuque and Galena

We had an excellent hot continental breakfast at the Best Western and sat out by the pool for awhile. Went looking for the Julien Dubuque Monument south of Dubuque off US-52, but couldn't find it, probably because of the road construction.

Then went to the Old Jail Museum and had a Coney dog at the Grand Tap, acriss from the court house, in an old gas station. Crossed the Mississippi on the bridge and went to Van's in East Dubuque. Checked into the Ramada Inn-Galena, on the site of the old mom and pop Palace Motel where we stayed on our honeymoon 40 years ago.

Then we went to downtown Galena, "The Town That History Forgot" as it is straight out of the 1840s. Went to the places east of te Log Cabin today, two that we'd never been to before.

First stop was at the Gold Room, then Durty Gurts and the Galena Brewing Company where we found that Red Stripe Beer, so closely associated with Jamaica, was originally made in Galena for a hundred years before being sold to some British investors in 1937 and taken to that island.

Back to the Ramada and enjoyed yesterday's lunch, the in-room gas fireplace and sat out on the patio and drank a bottle of Blue Nun wine, a tradition started by Liz's father back on August 25, 1973.

Doing That Memory Thing. --RoadDog

Just Got Back: 40th Anniversary-- Part 1: (August 26th) To Dubuque

We just arrived back home after four days on the road, celebrating our 40th wedding anniversary. As friends told us, that's a l-o-n-g time.

AUGUST 26TH, MONDAY: Out to Dekalb, Illinois, where we were married August 25, 1973. Lunch at Fanatico's, a new Italian restaurant with our scholarship person, Terri. We have a scholarship at Northern Illinois in education that we are building.

Then, drove by the Newman Center, where we were married and the Best Western on Lincoln Highway where we had our wedding reception.

Took that scenic US-20 from Rockford to Galena, then stopped for cocktails at the VFW, Paradise Bar and Grill and the Log Cabin. Forty years ago on this date, we ate our first meal after the wedding here, but not today as we were too full from lunch and had too much left over.

Swiss Inn in East Dubuque had no vacancy, so ended up at the Best Western in Dubuque. Met some friendly people at Champps and went to bed.

A Real L-o-n-g Time Ago, In a Galaxy Far Away.... --RoadDog

Off to See The Eagles: Grant's Road, Galena, 'Buque

February 27th, it was off on our annual Mississippi River trip to see those magnificent bald eagles. Due to this being February (we usually go during January and it being such a warm winter, we weren't expecting much. Drove to Marengo, Illinois and picked up US-20, U.S. Grant Memorial Highway and took it to Galena. This is one of the prettier drives anywhere in the US, especially after you get to Stockton. Anybody thinking Illinois is flat needs to drive this road.

On the way, we stopped at the Freeport/Stevenson County Visitors Center, one of the best we've ever been to.

Galena was Grant's hometown before the Civil War and for a short time before he became president. The main street is lined with 1840s buildings, truly "A Town That History Forgot."

Went into some stores and had a coupla brews at the VFW before having dinner at The Log Cabin. We ate there on our honeymoon 38 years ago and the place hasn't changed a bit, other than the prices.

Then, we went to Dubuque and checked out the Grand Tap by the court house (used to be a gas station) and Paul's Bar near the bridge. This place has been in business since 1948. Rumored to have the best burgers in town and lots of big game trophies along the walls.

Last stop back at the Swiss Inn Motel and bar where we watched the end of that Daytona 500, which we really thought would never end.

A Busy Day. --RoadDog

You Know What They Say About Payback

This story in Yahoo out of Dubuque, Iowa, a favorite place to visit anytime of the year, but especially when the bald eagles are there in January.

Rick and Marilyn Jones are very fond of pranking their neighbors, the Tschudis, when they go away on vacation. They have strung beer cans around the house like Christmas lights, put up yellow crime scene tape complete with chalk body outlines on the sidewalks.

Well... the Jones went away for a wedding this past weekend and, on Sunday, the Tschudas, their two kids, and another neighbor got out on the Jones' lawn an carefully places 3000 plastic white forks on it.

Picnics Should be Interesting at the Jones' This Summer. --RoadDog