DQ/BH Howdy Do

From what I heard on board this was a magical moment.

Aaron, you're very welcome! It was great to eventually meeting you in person after so many e-mails and postings over the time 🙂

The pictures are showing: The Delta Queen leaving Madison, IN, arriving at Markland Lock and a group of fellow steamboaters waving at us when watching the Delta Queen locking through at Markland Dam today.

Franz

WOW!! The BARBARA H looks great. So good to see her back out on the river with the paddlewheel turnin'!

Thanks. There is so much more painting yet to do. In fact, we had planned on showing the DQ our port side, which has the most new paint, but they were so far ahead of schedule that we weren't able to get across to the Kentucky side before they got here.
Also the port side of the Barbara H is a nicer view of the paddlewheel, with the chain guard out of the way.

ABSOLUTELY THRILLING!. Two paddlewheels jammin' up the river? Really I mean that, goosebumps thrilling...I was the first one on board the Delta Queen's Texas deck to notice both the puff of blue diesel smoke and that the BH was a bit away from your wharfboat. She's moving! She's moving!!! NO FRIGGIN' WAY! Talk about all of us scrambling, tripping over each other, running up the Texas to Sun deck steps to get our cameras in time!!!

Thanks Steve...someday I hope to meet you and Barbara. Dam_, I so appreciate older machinery, unique one-of-a-kind machinery lovingly maintained and still working! As an old car mechanic, I see the BH as sorta the '67 Olds 442 that floats, a little slower but that's not the point...And you know what I love about this forum? You said your chain drive is only one side? It makes sense, it's just that I always envisioned the chain guard on your boat as being on both sides. Duhhh...

Thanks again, such a unique treat...We all smiled and were warmed with your whistle return salute. As soon as I get my analog film (yes film, I'm sorry) developed, I took about 15 pictures, I'll post here.

Thanks Bruno! I guess the Barbara H does have the same appeal that draws people to antique tractor shows. We had to leave the dock in a hurry when we saw the DQ 'round the bend a bit early. That probably produced the extra diesel smoke, which sometimes makes us look like a steamboat.

Some diesel sternwheelers have chain drives on both sides of the paddlewheel, while others like the Barbara H, only have the chain drive on one side.

I didn't catch the name of the NOLA pilot that I spoke with on the radio, but he did a fine job with the DQ's Pittsburgh harbor whistle salute. Looking forward to your photos!

I'll post pics soon! It was a very special event, we onboard were very surprised. Wowziers!!
We got home late last night--A travel hint: When parking in long term parking, write down your space number and keep it where you can find it when you get back--and I'm not admitting anything else!!!! And I'm at work now, and will have late work tonite, so it might not be until Sat. before I post the pics.
Steve, I know I feel VERY privilaged to have seen her underway!!
S'
David D.

Well, since you asked... Here are a few pictures that Karen took.

Patrick Engle (englepj) : photos : Barbara H- powered by SmugMug

Pat

Pat,

Thanks so much for posting those. We have far too few pictures of the boat while underway. Wonder if anyone took any video? Crew credits for Monday's cruise include Captain Steve Huffman at the wheel, chief engineer Dennis Huffman at the 1940's Fairbanks Morse and yours truly as mate (white shirt and tan shorts). Thanks again for posting these. Hope there are more pictures to come.

Aaron

Hmm...video? Well, that's MY department but FORTUNATELY we're still on vacation so I won't be able to post it until next week.

Woohoo for us!

Rabbit Hash Doin's

Yesterday was a big day in Rabbit Hash...a couple or more of bands, food and drink booths, a display of Model A Fords in various stages of restoration and repair. There was the usual grist mill powered by the old hit-n-miss engine likely lifted from the boat works, a Board of Health agent lurking in the weeds to keep us all safe from colic. MISSIE was there but Shipyard Sam was an impressed seaman on the Gamlin Boat acrost the river...the GRAN VIC II. MISSIE exchanged river salutes with the GRAN VIC and a short conversation held with Sam before the Homeland Security boys and girls descended upon us. The river is in FINE shape, the water being clear and green in color with a light but persistent breeze afoot. It is the start of the election season in Rabbit Hash to replace the much missed Mayor, Junior Cochran a black Labrador, who passed to his reward in March of this year...victim of cancer. Junior is the one who set his paw to a SAVE the DELTA QUEEN proclamation last December. Most if not all of the candidates were arrayed for your inspection. Many of the usual suspects were in town and there were several who ventured to ride in MISSIE. MISSIE was forced to go to Rising Sun to launch as the local "ramp" was declared too hazardous for MISSIE to negotiate, but the local dock was put at MISSIE's disposal and I and my brother, John had a grand time. MISSIE is contemplating a trip up the Licking River to the head of navigation starting mebbe in Ragtown from the Public Landing. It would be an all-day affair, but is fraught with several constraints regarding time. We are looking to get Sam Shipman as an alternate master due to the extended time required for the trip is a bit much for one pilot. We could use a mate and an engineer and another boat or two to help with the surge of PAX.
Cap'n Walnut

Cap'n Walnut,

What a great adventure! The headwaters of the Licking River? Would love to come along in some capacity or another. Just let me know where and when and I will do my best to more sun, planets and stars to attend!

~Travis~

Vote On Line

The MISSIE cut quite a figure on the Ohio, yesterday. T'was fun seeing you two together on the river again-- it's been awhile since I last saw you.

It is the start of election season in Rabbit Hash... Cap'n Walnut

We've been stuffing the ballot box, ourselves, over on the Indian side of the river And you don't have to go over to the R. H. General Store to vote. You can do it on line and even pay the $1 poll tax for each vote cast with PayPal.

Go to:
Vote For The Next Mayor of Rabbit Hash