Topic starter
19/10/2008 12:49 am
Unless I am mistaken, we have all overlooked one fact with the end of MAL:
it appears that there will be no steam on the western rivers in 2009. Even if MAL gets buyers for the boats, time is extremely short to be up and running for next season.
Topic starter
19/10/2008 1:05 am
OOPS! Forgot abot Natchez and BOL.
19/10/2008 1:32 am
Theres also the Julia Belle Swain
19/10/2008 1:33 am
Well, there's lots of us folks that are plenty STEAMED about this whole mess! Oh wait, we're not usually floating down the river though. . .
Which reminds me of a cruise joke.
Sven walks into a hole-in-the-wall travel agency in the seedy side of town, waving a newspaper; "It says here ya got a cruise for $39.95!"
"Yes, we do, do you have the cash?"
Sven,"Ya, sure!" and slaps it on the counter.
"ONE CRUISE" hollers the guy, and a side door opens, two thugs come out, bop Sven on the head, stuff him into an old barrel, and roll the barrel out the back into the river, SPLOOSH!
A little later Oly walks into the same place--to save typing, same scenario.
The two barrels are bobbing down the river, and Sven and Oly come around.
"Who boy! I don' suppose dey serve lunch on this cruise!" says Sven.
Oly replies, "No, No, at least dey didn't last year!"
S'
David D.
19/10/2008 3:21 pm
Steam on the river '09
Thanks to Matt for pointing out the JBS too. What one needs to realize is that all 3 remaining running steamboats are excursion boats. MAL is killing the overnight steamboat in America. I would hope that those who would have spent vacation money onboard one of the QUEENS might reappropriate some of that to include a trip to LaCrosse Wisconsin on the beautiful Upper Mississippi, or to Louisville Kentucky on the beautiful Ohio, or to New Orleans on the Lower Mississippi, and help to keep the last vestiges of steamboating alive. While the BELLE is owned by public entities:the city of Louisville and Jefferson County, both the JBS and the NATCHEZ are owned by individuals, and running a steamboat isn't cheap. The sound of the bucketboards slapping the water is as soothing on these 3 as on the QUEENS, and the smell of steam is even more apparent...keep those paddlewheels turning - their owners are not mal- -icious, -evolent, or -informed!
29/10/2008 2:00 pm
Earlier this month the Str. CHAUTAUQUA BELLE was running on the headwaters of the Mississippi River System. Although with nearly 200 inches of snow during the average winter, she's probably hauled up on her very own marine railway by now.
29/10/2008 3:02 pm
Mayville, New York, homeport of the Str. Chautaugua Belle had 4" of snow on the ground this morning with an additional 2" expected. Hard to believe after the MOR chapter of S & D excursion just two weeks ago where we had fantastic weather and a great time riding the boat. Our group owes Frank a big thanks for planning that weekend.