Quad Cities

“The Quad Cities” refers to four closely connected Midwestern river cities – Davenport and Bettendorf, Iowa and Rock Island and Moline, Illinois. While each has a distinct personality, they are most of all, Mississippi River cities.

What drew me here this time was the music – specifically The Blues. The Mississippi River has always nurtured music and there is something about the earthy, sensuous, feel-it-in-your-soul sounds of The Blues that seems to have the rhythm of the river running through it. So I came for the 23rd annual Mississippi Valley Blues Festival in Davenport. It was 3 days of good folks having a good time with really good music.

Music is a part of the fabric of life here. Young musicians were performing for friends and family at the end of their week of Rock Camp USA at the River Music Experience in downtown Davenport. Their earnestness and budding talent was a delight!

Then, heading north on the Illinois Great River Road on a sunny Sunday afternoon I found myself sharing the road with hundreds of people cruising along in convertibles or on big motorcycles. When I saw a woman ease her huge bike into the traffic ahead of me, looking exactly like a woman on a huge bike should look, I had to follow. So it was that I met Kat, a funny, warm-hearted, no-nonsense woman who has been all over the country on her bike. Don’t miss seeing her!

Last stops on this too-short river trip included a quick pass through the Iowa Amana Colonies and a glorious morning marveling at the lush and flowing patterns of cornfields and just-mown hayfields.

Come along on this rich and rhythmic piece of the Mississippi Great River Road! Click here for a slide show or click on the individual thumbnails. Please remember – this is just a sample of images of the Mississippi River and the life it nurtures available in my stock files. Just email me at gayle@gayleharper.com and I am happy to pull a selection for you to review.

Enjoy!

Click here to begin your journey >>