Topic starter
03/09/2007 11:31 pm
I am working on a trip to Ohio and Kentucky next summer. I see that the DQ will be in Louisville in late June, which would coincide nicely with our plans.
What time does the DQ normally depart Louisville headed up river to Madison? Is it theoretically possible to ride the Belle on an evening cruise and enjoy the scenes from her decks as both steamers headed up the river?
Wesley
04/09/2007 6:56 am
Wesley,
I assume that the DQ will depart Louisville at 5 pm (unless it´s a turnover day, then it might be between 6 and 7 pm). The Belle usually has dinner cruises on Thursdays and Fridays at 7 pm. Check with
http://www.belleoflouisville.org/schedule/
The DQ should be gone by this time.
Carmen
04/09/2007 1:39 pm
Ah, but don't forget the mystique of a Steamboat race!!! Somehow I think schedules may be modified with all the "last season" hype.
S'
David D.
PS And 5 to 7 pm is enough time to go out and come back to the dock. . . .
04/09/2007 3:27 pm
David,
But the Belle won´t be leaving prior to 7 pm :-). I assume that on a shore stop the boats are leaving by 5 pm and on a turnover day at 6 or 6:30 pm.
Carmen
05/09/2007 12:58 am
Carmen, you missed my hint--The Belle COULD leave prior to 7, and be back by 7 to load for the "usual crowd" It doesn't take long to do a race!! heh heh heh!
What, am I suggesting someone on the Belle would be tempted to do one for "old time's sake" Nah, they're to refined for that!!
And if it's the DQ scheduled for 6 or 6:30, NO ONE there would dare think of something to delay the departure. . . .
S'
David "who me??" D.
05/09/2007 6:37 am
David,
I sure got the hint :-). But I doubt the Belle which is usually starting to board by 6 pm is going out earlier to race the DQ and spend fuel just for fun. The only chance for an impromtu race might be to delay the DQ.
Carmen
05/09/2007 12:41 pm
David,
I'm afraid the days of impromptu races - or anything - are long gone. Everything has to be approved from the top down, in regard to the BELLE, and I imagine would have to be approved by MAL also. I'm sure the Coast Guard, and who knows who else, would all have to be in on permitting too.
A couple of years ago Travis, with permission from Captain Mullin, dreamed up a calliope contest on Race Day between the DQ, the BOL and the BOC - it was really a fun event, and possibly even drew some people down to the Landing. Since it was not pre-approved, it quickly became a non-event!
Pat
05/09/2007 1:38 pm
We're regulating all the fun out of life!
speaking of which, now I have to go to work. . .
S'
David D.
05/09/2007 2:07 pm
I recall those days when the BELLE and DQ often locked through McAlpine together, amid much calliope tootling and whistle blowing as the boats steamed upriver to the wharf. Also, there were numerous "impromptu" races and calliope duels. But, sorry to say, "THAT was THEN and THIS is NOW"!
Due to the high cost of fuel and other circumstances that are a sign of the times, the BELLE now operates on a rather limited schedule for public cruises. Quite a contrast to the "old days" when she ran afternoon public trips every day but Monday (frequently we had charters on that boiler washing day) had charter cruises every evening (in the mornings too), an always sold out teen dance on Tuesday night and a very popular Saturday night dance cruise. In those prosperous times there was actually a waiting list for charter cruises and we very often turned people away (sometimes by the bus load!) on the public cruises when the counter went a bit over 1,000 passengers -- I think it was 1,153. As with many (TOO MANY!) things on the river -- and elsewhere, them days is gone forever!