Topic starter
09/10/2010 3:35 am
Good evening steamboaters!
Just in from Madison Indiana where the BELLE OF LOUISVILLE is resting along the bank. I decided to drive up there and visit friends who were aboard and met up with a beautiful scene.
The town was all over the banks with cameras and talking about the steamboat coming to town! It was beautiful. Anyone who is thinking about taking a steamboat anywhere there hasn't been one in a long time take note! There were people lined up the bank all the way to the main street and down that quite a bit! If you bring the boat...they WILL come! If you have a boat and want to make money...the small towns are waiting for you!
Fate dealt me quite a gift as I was able to be aboard the boat for the evening moonlight cruise!
Here are a few pictures of this beautiful event tonight!
Travis
Topic starter
09/10/2010 3:37 am
Of course I took more...here are a few more!
Note: The first picture shows a line coming up the hill..this line lead a city block in the distance to the right and all the way to the boat...almost 1000 feet of people and there WERE people turned away as no tickets were available! Yes, if you own a steamboat this could be YOU turning people away! Hint, hint, hint!
09/10/2010 8:07 pm
Thanks for the great photos Travis! My parents and I took a pleasant drive upriver this afternoon to enjoy the autumn colors and some antique shops. The weather today is absolutely glorious and we stopped at Madison just in time to see the BELLE depart on her return trip to Louisville. In that setting, with only the trees as background, the boat looked beautiful in the sunshine as she backed out and rounded to on the sparkling river, her 'scape pipes chuffing their snowy breath. Although I've heard it at least a million times, that authoritative whistle always gives me a thrill. LOTS of people down on the landing to enjoy the sights and sounds of a real steamboat and I had a pleasant visit with Keith Baylor and his family, who planned to do some "boat chasing" at various points.
VIVA BELLE OF LOUISVILLE!
10/10/2010 12:08 am
Travis,
That night shot fairly jumps out and pulls you into the scene! I can feel the slight chill in the Fall air, catch the odor of hot cylinder oil, that glorious aroma of steam, the faint smell of excursion boat popcorn, and maybe the final strains of the band as they finish for the night. Pretty as a picture! Thanks for posting our beautiful BELLE in all her night-time splendor!
12/10/2010 1:13 am
Ever wonder what 700 people lined up to get on an excursion boat looks like? Yes, this photo was taken in the year 2010, Oct. 8, at about 6:30 PM at Madison. I took a couple of night shots too, one a near duplicate of the one Travis posted. The other was from the parking lot after the trip. Made me think of Cap Wagner describing his first look at the Isalnd Queen all lit up. I hope there were some youthful persons present who had the sme feelings.
12/10/2010 1:14 am
Well, the photos didn't post. Don't know why.
12/10/2010 1:32 am
Trying again with only two of the pics.
12/10/2010 5:48 am
Great pix Travis & John.. Just so SORRY I was unable to meet you in person John.. I was on and had rode the BELLE from Louisville to Madison and was working on the CaLLiope and playing it while in Madison.. We were kinda restricted on playing it while in Madison.. So sorry for that everone... :/
12/10/2010 3:11 pm
Dave, I didn't know you were there, but I did notice that the calliope sounded better than usual. Guess you were the reason why. We will cross paths one of these days.