Friday-Saturday July 02-03, 2004

Geneseo IL to Moline, Rock Island, Davenport IA and beyond.

Crossed the Mississipi at day's end Friday. Visited the John Deere tractor musuem, the brand new River Music Museum, talked with a couple of magicians, gambled on a river boat did lots of radio, tv and newspaper interviews and met Brett Farve.

But enough with the small stuff. I had a hot fudge sunday at Lagomarcinos in Davenport, a mint milkshake at Whiteys in Moline, a chocolate malt at Country Style right next to Whiteys. Then I went back to Whiteys for more ice cream.

Whiteys does, indeed, have very good ice cream. I prefer simple ice cream (When it's done right, vanilla doesn't need any help) but Whitey's "moose tracks" with the the peanut butter cups inside was very good. Almost as good as Mocha. Their flavors remind me very much of the Brighams ice creams in the Boston area.

But Lagomarcino's hot fudge is really, really good. They serve it in a little pitcher alongside the ice cream, although frankly I'd rather have it already on. I mean, where do you put the sauce, once the whipped cream is already on top?

Country Style (recommended by locals) was the big surprise. What a great shake. I'd like to spend an entire day hanging out at Whiteys and Country Style. Vanilla ice cream for breakfast, Country shake for lunch. (Whitey's shake for dessert. Then a shake with a couple of scoops of ice cream in it for supper.

Does that fit into the Atkins Diet?