This Years Ramble on the River

Here, here Jim. I'll drink to that!!!! WE ALL did have a wonderful time. As exhausted as I was from getting ready the day before to a full day of activities earlier in the day, I hate to get off JIM'S DREAM and end the magic! WE ALWAYS have a WONDERFUL time! THANK YOU SO MUCH for hosting our River Ramble.

Photos of send-off

Jim, I would say that your boat kept up with the Delta Queen very well

Ummmmm Yesiree, this year's ramble WAS a good-un, but MISSIE is not speakin' to me cause we left her home! And, not if, but WHEN we do this next year she sez she's a-goin too if she's gotta come down from Rabbit Hash! And, just mebbe she will be in Ragtown to welcome the DQ to Cincy on tomorrow!
Cap'n Walnut

Jerry...could you please send me those two pictures via email...I want to make copies of them; [email protected]. Wish you had stopped by after we got in because Keith Baylor wanted to talk with you. Tried to call you several times on the radio, but we missed each other. Nice meeting you and your wife.

bad email address

Jim Reising;12413 wrote: Jerry...could you please send me those two pictures via email...I want to make copies of them; [email protected]. Wish you had stopped by after we got in because Keith Baylor wanted to talk with you. Tried to call you several times on the radio, but we missed each other. Nice meeting you and your wife.

I tried to send you the photos but got this message:
The following message to was undeliverable.
The reason for the problem:
5.1.0 - Unknown address error 550-'MAILBOX NOT FOUND'

Try [email protected]. I think he left off the s.

WOW,,What a wonderful time ,,,and so GREAT to meet everyone,,and TOM ,sorry we didn't get to meet MISSIE, looking forward to it someday...
SO COOL , the DQ blowing a salute back to us ,, NO sound in the world like that big LUNKENHEIMER when it talks to ya,,always makes my hair stand up!!!
Thanks JERRY for sharing your photos...
and THANK YOU JIM ,,,for the good time !!,and keep your port engine cool,,,
GOOD LUCK TO ALL''''

Yes this was indeed a great time, no better way to end a day visiting on the DQ than to chase her upstream! Thanks so much to Jim for taking us out. It was couple hours of some of the greatest conversation all in front of the most beautiful backdrop, the DQ herself. I managed to get a few good shots too I'll try to post. Like Dave said, hearing the Queen's whistle always makes the hair on back of your neck stand, and to know that particular pull of the chain was just for you and your fellow boat mates makes it all the much more special. If everyone else had half the fun I had that day, then they all had a blast! Thanks to everyone that made that day special!

Phillip <-- now in a rainy Panama City, wishing he was still on the river.

THE VEIW from JIM'S DREAM ,,,
and thanks again JIM

MISSIE would like to meet the DELTA QUEEN. Anybody know when the DQ will arrive/leave Cincinnati? Cap'n Walnut.

Cap'n Walnut, the DELTA QUEEN should be in Cincinnati right now. Today is turn over day and they start loading buses about 8:00 to head the airport. I don't have her actual time schedule with me, but she'll probably be leaving at 6:30 or 7:30 this evening. Hope MISSIE gets to meet the DELTA QUEEN.

Thanks Jo Ann...Cap'n Walnut

The DQ is scheduled to leave Ragtown tonight, 26 August 2008, at 6, but we all know how MAL sticks to their schedules. Two citizens from down the boatyard's way will be onboard the Old Gal when she leaves tonight along with some other of their friends.

The DQ made a really fast "getaway" from Louisville on Sunday evening! There was no ringing of the roof bell, no warning whistle and I heard no "all ashore" announcement, etc. Suddenly, the stage was hoisted, lines were all gone, the bow thruster revved up and, in a matter of moments, AWAY she went, leaving a cloud of blue diesel haze! As she hastily backed out into the river the whistle was blown and the calliope played a few tunes, but I don't recall ever having seen the old gal make such a rapid departure!

Oh I have, Owensboro on Saturday was just like that! Not even a calliope send off or anything, she wasn't no more than 100 yds from shore when I heard the engineroom bells and saw the giant wheel speed up to "full ahead."

More Photos

This is another shot of the group on Jim's Dream and a photo of my wife Debbie from my boat watching the DQ. I could call the second picture "Two beauties on the river"

Give a Hoot

Would have loved to been on the Ramble, but things were hoppin' down at the Decatur yard, and we couldn't get away.

Speaking of the DQ silent treatment, Pegan and I made it back to R' Sun just as the DQ went by. She exchanged whistle salutes with the GV2, but when P. and I went up river to the Dam View ferry road, several folks from down below also arrived and I overheard numerous comments that the townspeople gathered down at their city front didn't even get a wave or a "honk", as one wag put it.

After the QUEEN passed, we hurried up to Aurora where the well-wishers gathered along the shore also got the same treatment as the DELTA QUEEN silently plowed a deep furrow in the river totally oblivious of the many steamboat fans who would have been delighted with just a tiny bit of recognition that they would have talked about with everyone who'd listen, and would have retold the tale a hundred fold and kept alive the excitement for sometime, yet, to come.

Back when were working hard to SAVE THE DELTA QUEEN, the first time around, Captain Wagner understood the goodwill that a wave from the bridge, or a little honk, would do generate newfound friends and supporters among any knot of on-lookers gathered on the shore to watch "their" DELTA QUEEN pass.

Although they have little chance of ever actually riding the boat, anyone who comes down to the riverbank to view the beloved steamboat pass by, propbably feels that they have a deep-rooted tie to the QUEEN.... and they expect some, even small, response to their shouts and waves.

So what does it take for someone on the boat to step out onto the wing bridge and give a friendly river wave, or perhaps blow a tiny toot on the whistle?

Sam, sorry nobody whistled at the right time...frankly, this cruise, I thought the whistle was blown a lot more than what I've heard on previous cruises. Still raises the hair on my arms when the whistle gets to full tilt.

We were out there... We waved our butts off at Jim's Dream and the Barbara H ...and when we passed Rabbit Hash.

Bruno: Where were you when you passed the DREAM. I thought I could recognize Pat and Barbara, but not you or Deb. There were several people waving on various parts of the QUEEN. Was intending to see the QUEEN with MISSIE but my crew didn't show! Can't put in at Ragtown's Public Landing without crew due to the swift current and concrete walls at the launch ramp. Hope you had a good cruise!
Cap'n Walnut.

The last time I commented on the absence of whistle and calliope (over a year ago) I struck some nerves, but I must add my two cents once again. On July 15th the DQ was in Cincinnati due to Upper Miss. flooding that kept her from her scheduled destination in St. Louis. The local news media actually promoted the fact that she was in town and thus there were at least 75 to 100 folks on the landing waiting for her departure. It was GREAT to see all the people down there! This was also the day that Fox News filmed their story. We all waited until shortly after 10:00 when the old girl finally backed out with three blasts of the whistle. That was it. No salute, no calliope. I drove home with a bad taste in my mouth realizing that public relations does not seem to be a priority anymore. With all those people standing down there in the dark and Fox News filming the departure, you would think that they would have put on a grand show. I am still a bit "steamed" by it and won't say any more on the issue!

Attached is a photo of the departure that night.

As a crew member, I can tell you that we do appreciate the support we are shown all up and down the rivers.

There are numerous reasons why the whistle might not be blown or the calliope played at certain times of the day/night.
In this particular case, the predominant reason that the calliope was not played at 10 pm is because all of the performers are in the Orleans Room entertaining the guests.

Sadly gone are the days of a navigation crew member (Doc, Gabe, Bob R. Keith N., Dave T.) who could - and would play the calliope for the shore people.

Roger,

I might go one farther with the calliope issue...there are staterooms under it and those passengers find it troublesome if it is played after 9pm.

As Roger said, there aren't any other performers aboard the boat who can play it who aren't in the Orleans Room at that time (and the other Discovery Guides don't play it).

~Travis~

Wonderful picture! Thanks for sharing.