L&D 15 and the Government Bridge, etc.

Took my first bike ride of the summer over to Davenport and I got 'stuck' on the Government Bridge as the swing span opened for lock traffic. It was a longer than usual tieup, as there was a tow heading up into the main chamber, recreational boats came down out of the auxiliary, and a huge yacht came into the auxiliary upbound. This yacht was flying the flag of the Marshall Islands, something I've never seen around here, just in the NOLA harbor. This vessel was certainly large enough to have traversed the Mississippi from NOLA, and it certainly doesn't belong to anyone around here. Unfortunately I couldn't go over to the L&D to check it out, as the Arsenal has the rule that bikes cannot be ridden ONTO the island, they must come in on motor vehicles. Never could figure that regulation out. Seems if someone wanted to do harm on the Island while bikeriding, it would be easier to smuggle the weapons inside a motor vehicle. Oh, well, it was a pleasant diversion on this holiday weekend to be 'on' the river while waiting for the swing span. The MetLife blimp cruised overhead too, getting shots of the river to use in CBS' telecast of our PGA tournament the John Deere Classic this week. The golf course is along the Rock River, but they always manage to show the Big One too. Now if only I was at the lock with cookies for a steamboat!