The rain continued into the early morning and has now finally stopped. Never have I been so wet! I would love to send this weather home and relieve my drought stricken country. However, memories of a momentous time in the quad cities keep us warm.

Four times the fun in the quad cities:
Our first stop was Port Byron where the head quarters of the Quad Cities Waterkeeper program is situated.

One morning, Tank and Magnus headed out with the Living Lands and Waters environmental action group to help with a program of volunteers pick up rubbish by the river. Chad Pregracke, the leader of this organisation showed us the ropes of river clean up and then showed us some pretty sweet moves on his skateboard down at the skate park.

Art Norris, waterkeeper and action man of water integrity in the area, took us under his wing, gave us an insight into the waterkeepr program in the Quad cities and jumped aboard ship. We were a band of merry men as we travelled further south. Wade, local hog farmer, Dave, the owner of “G’s”, the funkiest bar in Port Byron and his in house guitar man, Jeff were armed with acoustic guitar and many tunes to keep us rowing in time down to Sunset marina in Rock Island.

That night Marilyn and Sherri, two fine ladies leading the environmental action group NAGs (National Area Guardians), took the crew down to Nahant marshland where we slept with the turtles and learned about the marshland and what it means to the Mississippi. We also enjoyed a few scoops of “Whitey’s” ice-cream which is a local favourite and the crew agreed.

The fun continued with Marilyn hosting us at her farm house property on a bluff over looking the river. A good old fashioned farm party was had and even the horses and donkeys got involved so they made us smell right at home. We were then shown around her property which contains beautiful prairie lands and a traditional Indian burial ground.

We’ve now had one wet night back on the river. But it’s the days of cold rain which make the days of sunshine all the sweeter.

Special mention must also go to Tracy, our new found buddy who has followed us down through the Quad cities and greeted us today with cheeseburgers for lunch. Couldn’t have come at a better time.

In particular it has been great to have been able to connect with these different environmental action groups within the Quad cities but even better to see them connect and have us introduce them to each other. We hope that this can only help bring these causes together and strengthen their common interest in the health of the river.

Stay dry my friends. And if not, make sure you’re wearing wool.

Max is very much missed as the crew is getting used to being one man down. But alas, it is not goodbye my friend because we will see you, and hopefully many more friendly faces, down river,
Magnus

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