Saturday October 11, 2025 Home and Observations

Bus took us to the airport for our flight to Chicago, then on to Boise. We got home about 9:00PM. The second leg of our flight was quite bumpy. In fact, it was first time I had ever heard a pilot say "buckle up for severe turbulance"! It was white knuckles for awhile!

Everything's good at home. Kim next door had mowed our front lawn! Pepper didn't seem to know who we were, at first!

Some observations about the trip:

• The gang from DL Evans Premier Club is fun to be with. The core group of "ol' ladies" is Frieda, Donna, Doris and Annie are a hoot!
• The food was generally good, nothing spectacular. Deserts were always good! Most of our meals were in the main dining room. On several occasions we ate with a guy named Dennis, who ran his own travel group from his assisted living place. Interesting guy!
• We had excursions at six stops. I would say four out of the six were great! The cities we visited were interesting. We were intrigued by St. Paul, La Crosse, Dubuque and Hannibal. Davenport and Alton, not so much!
• Actually cruising on the river is not very exciting. On this northern section, there's nothing to see. Mile after mile of forest! The river is, indeed, muddy! I understand that on the southern section, below St. Louis, its very industrial and you can't see over the levee.
• This northern section featured 23 "locks and dams". Interesting at first, to learn the technology involved, but they're all the same. All built over a seven year period in the 1930s to improve navigation.  (not nearly interesting as the Douro River!)
• Staff was great! They were all American (!) so you could have a conversation
• The ship was just about at capacity with 168 passengers. It never felt crowed. No lines at the elevator!
• This was the most expensive cruise we've ever done. Maybe because it was through DL Evans. We'll price another one of ACL trips to see how it prices out.
• So, it was a fun week, but wouldn't give it the enthusiastic thumbs up that others have. Not interested in doing the lower half of the Mississippi. 
• The stupid Government Shutdown is still going on. In our travels coming home, passing through two major airports, there was NO, I repeat NO, evidence of distruptions, contrary to what the news on TV would have you believe. All the flights were on time, no delays, all the TSA folks were working (for no pay, they say). Maybe its "fake news".