ALTON CONTINUED

This first night, we dined at Gentelin's on Broadway owned and operated by Sarah and Ryan Gentelin (the chef). This restaurant is a fine dining genre with a beautiful view of the Clark Bridge, which is lit up at night to define the multitude of cables.

So what did we sample from their eclectic menu? An appetizer described the Toasted Wild Mushroom Ravioli as, "House made ravioli stuffed with wild mushrooms, wilted spinach and boursin cheese. Served crisp with a drizzle of white truffle oil, parmesan cheese and fresh herbs." Had to taste this one! I love wild mushrooms and didn't expect two large ravioli's...I guess you have to make them bigger than the usual to put that amount of "stuff".

The soup of the day was one with smoked pork and veggies. You won't find soup listed on their online menu as they make two soups each day; one meat and one vegetable.

I would have had a regular salad until I saw this one. "Goat Cheese – Panko breadcrumb and herb encrusted goat cheese tokens served with mixed greens tossed with spiced walnuts, poached pears, and dried cranberries in white balsamic vinaigrette. Garnished with cracked pepper and sea-salt crackers" on the bill of fare. What a great combo and quite tasty, too.

Entree choice was the half roasted duck, slightly smoked with a savoy cabbage and bacon potato puree in a light natural jus with fresh asparagus. Umm Umm good!

One of my group had the Black Bean Cakes served over a southwestern cilantro and roasted red pepper sauce with house made guacamole, fire roasted corn relish, drizzled with chipoltle sour cream and garnished with tempura fried avocados and crisp tortilla strips. I tasted. Pretty good for no meat.

We left room for dessert. It's off the present menu but...give me chocolate. Chocolate and Chambord mousse in a chocolate cup and a brownie topped with vanilla bean ice cream.

The next morning we were out for a Segway Tour for a view of the river starting at the National Great Rivers Research and Education Center. This particular operation comes out of St. Louis' Science Center where an equipped truck is hauled to the segway site. It's mostly bicycle path. I would have taken the entire tour but it is difficult for me to stand for such a long period of time. I'm getting out of shape the more I age. Besides, the tour also goes into downtown Alton and I had already took in the area.

Having experienced the Lewis & Clark Trial tour a few years ago, it was the Lewis & Clark Confluence Tower that hadn't been built. The structure allows you to see the confluence of the Mississippi and Missouri Rivers from platforms at 50, 100 and 150 feet. Between a tour guide and signs you can learn about the history of nearby Hartford, the Industrial Revolution, Lewis & Clark and the scenic byway. Yes, they have an elevator.

ALTON, ILLINOIS IN TWO DAYS

It was September 27, 2011 when I landed at the St. Louis airport. The first part of my trip was spending two days in Alton, Illinois, about 25 miles away from St. Louis, Missouri.

I first checked into my hotel, a Holiday Inn (Lewis & Clark Trail Site), noticing that the lobby was one big atrium. It was nice to see that it differed from other Holiday Inns. I always like to find out as to whether a hotel has laundry facilities as the trip would continue on to St. Louis. No coins....free! And just happened to be located around the bend from my room...how convenient.

Off to lunch at My Just Desserts in Downtown Alton. They are famous for their homemade pies and 1/2 pound chicken salad sandwiches. Owner Ann Badasch had was not there when we ate, but left me a cook book, which did not divulge the secret to the chicken salad. I had the chicken salad sandwich and a slice of the cherry/almond pie. As it turned out, Esther and Eunice showed up.

Just across the Clark Bridge is an escape to nature; the Riverlands Migratory Bird SanctuAuduary, the only Audubon Center in the Midwest and located right on the Mississippi River.They were just completing the Audubon Center at the Riverlands, where you can sit and watch the birds and find loads of information. I would love to see the trumpeter swans. They have trails but I'm not up for hiking.

We then made a stop on Small Pox Island, the site of the Lincoln-Shields Duel and the final resting place for soldiers and citizens who succumbed to small pox during the Civil War Era.

Alton is known for hauntings, so I got my first taste at the notorious Alton Prison, where I met Len Adams, who conducts these tours. What you get to see is what was left of the prison.

We later went to the Enos Apartments, to see the tunnels that were part of the Underground Railroad. The tunnel was actually located just below the sidewalk. This way the sounds of walking about would cover up the sounds below.

QUAD CITIES EVEN MORE!

Next day's itinerary began with a visit to the Country Corner Farm Market and Pumpkin Patch in Alpha, Illinois. Aside from their market of fresh corn and pumpkins, they also sell locally made or grown products as well. Take a horse drawn hayrack ride, pick pumpkins and stop at the petting zoo. Alpacas, chickens, pigs, goats, and miniature cattle. Ask owner Bruce Curry about the various types of corn like the kind you eat, ones fed to the animals, one that pops right on the cob and ones just for fall decoration. Country Corner is open from May to October, so I'm happy that I got there in September.



They sell the popping corn as a package in a brown paper bag with instructions for use in you microwave oven. Option is to pick off kernels and pop in a pot.

Exotic Thai was our lunch spot. I ordered an iced Thai coffee not just for the taste but also if the need to cool my mouth came into play. With too many starters to choose from I opted for the Siam Sampler: Marinated chicken skewers wit peanut sauce and cucumber dip; Seasoned shrimp wrapped in fine noodles and crisp fried served with a dipping sauce; Crispy Thai rolls stuffed with glass noodles and veggies served with a tangy plum sauce; Fried chicken wing stuffed with a mix of ground chicken, glass noodles, Thai spices, served with a sweet and sour sauce.

In spite of my not being drawn to the spicy side, I ordered the classic Tom Yom soup. Once I got used to the chili hitting the back of my throat, rather than my whole mouth, the lemongrass soup with chicken and straw mushrooms was Tom Yum.

I'm one to stick to Pad Thai, but decided on a different noodle dish, Pad See U. Stir fried flat rice noodles with broccoli and egg in a sweet black bean sauce.

Esther had the Asparagus Salad of asparagus, chicken breast, shrimp, roasted shredded coconut served with a Thai-style dressing.

Dessert was a banana crepe with coconut ice cream plated with raisins and cashew nuts and drizzled with chocolate sauce.

QUAD CITIES CONTINUED

We sort of walked off the lunch with a very quick tour of downtown LeClaire and visiting the Buffalo Bill Museum where they collect, preserve, interpret and exhibit historical, cultural and educational artifacts depicting the heritage of this region, particularly life along the Mississippi River in eastern Iowa and western Illinois and its early pioneers like Buffalo Bill (William F. Cody). Buffalo Bill was born in a log cabin two miles west of Main St., LeClaire on what is today Territorial Road. Then two years later, Isaac Cody (Buffalo Bill’s father) built the home overlooking the Mississippi River.

Abutting the museum, founded by the LeClaire Women's Club in 1957, is the Lone Star Steamboat which was used to transport cargo and tow other boats along the Mississippi River. You can go aboard the steamboat on your own or take a tour of both.

The evening was spent having dinner at Farradday's Restaurant, the more upscale dining of the Isle Casino and Hotel in Bettendorf that sits along the Mississippi River. Its casino area is located on an old riverboat. We were there for the entertainment as Vickie Lawrence was performing. She talked about her career, Carol Burnett and transformed herself to "Mama", the character that she portrayed on tv. She sang, danced and was extremely funny.