Subj : Re: flood stuff was: Vacation To : Barry Martin From : Nancy Backus Date : Tue Oct 08 2019 15:50:04 -=> Quoting Barry Martin to Nancy Backus on 25-Sep-2019 08:57 <=- BM>> Generally not the reason for the interruption here. Some have a BM>> reason of a steep hill or ravine. Most seem to have no reason now but BM>> possibly in the past a small farm or large property. And there are a BM>> handful of streets which jog; almost like the Internet joke picture of BM>> the bridge being constructed and the two halves don't align. NB>> We've got the ravines and such too in places... and the occasional jog NB>> in some streets as well... In Syracuse, there are a few major streets NB>> that the name stays with the street as it makes a right or left turn, NB>> and the straightaway has a new name... probably history behind that, NB>> too... but it can catch a visitor off guard for sure... BM>> That could be a little confusing! Here Kimberly Rd. is generally BM>> east- west from one end of Davenport to the other; gets into Bettendorf BM>> and almost immediately takes a 90ø turn east down to the River. (?!) BM>> No idea why -- like you mentioned there is probably a historic reason. Which is the older municipality, Bettendorf or Davenport...? Maybe it was the safest way to go down to the River, or there was a particular dock there.... BM> ...If one continues straight from Davenport's Kimberly Rd. goes into BM> Bettendorf's Spruce Hills Drive. It is hilly, maybe was a patch of BM> spruce woods originally? I'd guess that Kimberly Rd was the original road, and when they wanted to put in a road up the hill, it got the new name... and might have been plenty of spruces there originally... or at the end of the road... ;) BM>>> As for the 'Venice option', would be interesting as a tourist BM>>> attraction but we don't have the history to make it logical. Well, BM>>> other than flooding. Suppose if they did go through with the concept BM>>> would also include road revisions. I think River Drive was only BM>>> flooded for a few blocks beyond the downtown area, just traffic was BM>>> rerouted miles before because of being able to get to the detour routes BM>>> easily/conveniently. Elevate or otherwise protect a section, then BM>>> reroute around 'Venice- Davenport'. In the downtown area walkways and BM>>> shuttles.... Probably better to stick with the floodwall and keep BM>>> things dry! NB>>> It's an intriging option all the same... ;) The Erie Canal used to NB>>> run right through downtown Rochester... when the Barge Canal was put NB>>> in, the Erie was drained and used first for a subway, and then just as NB>>> streets (part became part of one of the expressways)... Now there are NB>>> people arguing for replacing a portion of the Erie Canal downtown as a NB>>> tourist attraction... ;) BM>> They dig out for the canal then they fill it back in for the subway! BM>> As for the tourist attraction, could see that. People watch the ships, BM>> barges, etc., go through the lock and dam system here. A history of BM>> how the Canal was conceptualized and constructed and used could be BM>> interesting. NB>> I don't think anything that extensive would be put in downtown here... NB>> People can go down to the Barge Canal, still much in use, to see how NB>> the locks and dams work... there are regular river boat cruises here, NB>> in various parts of the system, too... Our high school class did that NB>> twice for a reunion activity... a dinner cruise... :) BM> Was anyone suspicious of the 'fresh fish' dinner option?! ;) I don't recall if we chose that as one of the options to be available.... ;) We did it for our 40th, to be a little different, and then again for our 45th because it had been so much fun... We did the Sam Patch one first, and then a slightly larger one, on a different section of the canal, the second time... :) BM>> ...This week there have been brief news blurbs on flood recovery, etc. BM>> One popular new restaurant is not re-opening; I don't recall details BM>> on why but apparently was popular with the anchor staff at the TV BM>> station the way the conversation went. Some other stores/shops/ BM>> eateries/etc. are not reopening but their sites have been leased and BM>> so replaced. NB>> So recovery is continuing apace... ;) BM> Yes. To me the smart thing to do would be to re-establish out of BM> areas of future potential flooding but then that single requirement BM> isn't always logically possible: moving inland a few additional blocks BM> and one is out of downtown and into residential. About a dozen blocks BM> up the hill one gets into another mostly business section but it's not BM> with a 'downtown feel'. I guess they'll just have to weigh the risk/benefits... Short of moving the whole business section further from the River, I'd guess they'd want to stay where the business is... :) BM>> As for the floodwall, slowly moving and read where consultants BM>> familiar with projects of this size will be called in. NB>> So maybe something will be in place for the next flood season... ;) BM> Unfortunately not. Actually there is minor flooding going on BM> currently: the Mississippi and other local rivers are from close to to BM> just above flood stage -- not enough to make it necessary to wade BM> through Downtown Davenport but some streets have been closed downriver. Just not so spectacular, so doesn't make the news.... Like the ongoing flood risk anytime there's some wind and somewhat strong winds along the Lake Ontario shoreline... BM>>> activity at the nest. ... Post from a week ago: of the four eagles BM>>> they're tracking (I'm guessing the two form this year and two a BM>>> previous year) three are in northern Wisconsin and one was up there and BM>>> returned to the Quad Cities area (here). His tracking map indicated in BM>>> an area downriver from Arsenal Island (I'm upriver and the parents' BM>>> nest is a few miles further upriver). NB>>> So possibly decided that your area was a nice place to settle after NB>>> all... :) BM>> Apparently! Don't know if the one young eagle would eventually take BM>> over his parents' nest - would think build his own and would be nice BM>> if the new site was viewable. Guess just wait and find out! NB>> Guess so... ;) Have to find a mate first, too.... BM> True -- haven't read any comments on that. So, yes, just wait and see.... :) ttyl neb .... The power of accurate observation is often called cynicism --- EzyBlueWave V3.00 01FB001F * Origin: Tiny's BBS - http://www.tinysbbs.com (454:1/452) .