An assortment for Monday.

After this, I really have to go start dinner.  :)

This is the view of the Mississippi River looking toward Rock Island Arsenal.  John and I walked (on a GORGEOUS day) down the road and across the bridge on the left to Iowa where I took these pics.  NOTE:  I forgot to check my camera's battery status.  It was dead.  I was able to get these pics by turning on the camera really fast and then taking the picture before it died on me.  Therefore:  no zoom capability.

Yes, I know.  I'm a budding professional. 

SO.  What you are looking at is 

The Government bridge on the left.  From Davenport (where we are standing) to Rock Island Arsenal.  The road then forks off to actually enter the post, or go "around" it (meaning, you don't have to have your ID) and head on to the Rock Island bridge to get to Rock Island.  This bridge carries cars, trains, pedestrians and cyclists.  (Although you're not supposed to ride your bike on the bridge.  You're supposed to dismount.  No one ever does.)  And, it frickin' spins.  The section of the bridge that looks a little bit different than the rest way at the end (toward RIA) is the lock and allows for passage of barges.  So it spins to open.  And then to close.  Sometimes after a long time.  Backing up the rest of the car/train/pedestrian traffic.  Everyone knows what it means "to catch a barge" or "to hit a barge" if you are late coming on the island or trying to leave it.  Especially since the Moline bridge is closed right now, limiting our options.

ANYWAY.  To the right, is the Dam.

This is the back end (downstream) of the dam.

And this is looking even further downstream to the Centennial Bridge.  It looks cool lit up at night.  :)

And THIS.  Well this is proof that big bad army soldiers need comfy woolly blankets too.  He was snuggly.