Dubuque

I did not sleep well last night. I'm not sure what the issue was, but I gave up trying to sleep around 5:30 and got up. After taking a shower, I relaxed on the couch until Kurt woke up. We decided to go out for breakfast and walked to the Sunshine Family Restaurant. Once we returned, I felt tired, so I took a nap on the couch while Kurt watched a show. An hour later, I felt much better and was ready to head out for the day.

The first destination was The Mines of Spain Recreation Area, where we embarked on the Horseshoe Bluff Trail. This one to two-mile loop meanders through the woods and leads you through an ancient quarry, flanked by towering limestone bluffs. The walk was beautiful, albeit hot, muggy and buggy. We spotted a few bald eagles, though I couldn't snap a photo in time.

We also did the short walk out to the Julian Dubuque Memorial. Nice views of Dubuque and the river. 

From the Mines we headed for the Riverwalk. They have an old Shot Tower. They used to drop molten lead down this tower to make lead shot for muskets. The process of dropping made per a perfect spherical shape. They would also cool on the fall and drop into water to finish the cooling process. Was interesting.

Walked along the river for just a bit. Was full sun and still warm out. Right on the river is the old Star Brewery. It was a beautiful building. It now houses some different business, a winery, and the Star Brewery. The brewery has closed a few times since it's heyday but started brewing again in 2022. So, of course we stopped in for a sample. 

 Left the brewery to head back to the house to leave the car and have a bite to eat. Relaxed just a bit and had some cheese, crackers, summer sausage, and grapes. 

Headed back out in the heat for Fenelon Place Elevator hitting a couple store along the way. Got to the elevator and it was closed due to a power outage. I was so sad I made Kurt buy me some ice cream at the little shop at the base of the elevator. 

Did some more wandering and ended up at Dimensional Brewing. Had a flight, once again some pretty good beers!

We had some time to spare before Vinny Vanucchi's opened (our dinner destination), so we stopped by Paul's Tavern. It was clearly a local dive bar. It was enjoyable to simply sit and absorb the chatter. Dinner tonight was at Vinny Vanucchi's, an Italian restaurant. We arrived right at the opening time of 4:00 PM and were the first people there. I ordered lasagna and Kurt chose fettuccine. The meal was tasty, but the highlight was undoubtedly their exceptional garlic bread!

We decided to take a leisurely stroll back to our place, feeling uncomfortably full. As we walked, I noticed the elevator was operational again. I convinced Kurt to join me for a detour. It turned out to be a charming ride with lovely views from the top. We learned that some rich guy had it constructed to shorten his lunchtime commute up the hill due to the absence of a direct road. After exploring a bit, we stumbled upon a staircase leading down. Naturally, I couldn't resist the temptation of stairs, so we descended on foot rather than by elevator.

On our way back, we took a leisurely walk. I adore the charm of the old houses, even though some are slightly run-down. I'm uncertain if I would wander through the neighborhood after dark. Just a block away, there were grand, beautiful homes. It's astonishing how rapidly the character of neighborhoods can shift. Many of the large homes appear to have been converted into event spaces or divided into apartments.

Back early to our home for the night. Watched a dumb movie and sat on the balcony while Kurt enjoyed a small cigar. The evening has really cooled off although still just a big muggy. No hot tub tonight - maybe tomorrow as it is supposed to be much cooler.

Low key today but still a great day!