Belle's Birthday Bash

WOW - $2 million for a party? Heck -I can get a box of cake mix and a tub of icing for about $5 at the local grocery. I bet Shipyard could get the Rabbit Hash Store to be a sponsor. In return for them donating some party hats and a few Refreshing Beverages we could put a Rabbit Hash bumper sticker on the back of the Belle and let the mayor of Rabbit Hash say a few words. Maybe Doc could make some Steamboat Popcorn and Judy can bake some cookies.

Now that would be a party...

Wesley

$2 million vs. 500,000

If you read closely, you'll see the goal is to raise 2 million, with $500,000 going to pay for the 10 or more boats attending... where will the other 1.5 million be spent? And do you think $500,000 would cover the expenses of all those boats? I have no clue how much fuel the NATCHEZ uses for this trip, nor the price thereof, but I can guarantee you if they paid her entire expenses including fuel, there wouldn't be much left for the other boats. Representatives of this celebration visited NOLA several months ago and discussed this with New Orleans Steamboat Co. officials. I believe no official yea or nay was given then, but let me reiterate that October is the busiest month for conventions and charters for the NATCHEZ and is absolutely the worst possible time for her to leave the city, would they be inclined to do so. An August timeline would be much easier to justify in her case. Her participation in Tall Stacks '06 was a fluke due to the fallout from Katrina and the lack of tourist business at that time. The star of the show, the belle of the ball so to speak, will be the BELLE OF LOUISVILLE, regardless of the number of 'guests' she attracts!

Heres an alternate idea for a birthday bash: During the summer of 2015 re-create the Idlewild's maiden voyage from Pittsburgh to Memphis. Take her to Pittsburgh and start the trip from there. Other boats could join in along the way. Bring the Natchez up to Memphis for the "Grand Finale" . $500,000 ought to pay for the Belle's fuel.

Wouldn't it be wise to raise money first to replace those aging boilers and then cross the bridge of having the birthday bash. Don't get me wrong, I am all about getting boats together but would prefer the Belle be cruising instead of being dockside because of boiler issues. Maybe the situation isn't that critical at this point but any funds raised would seem to me to be better spent on those boilers. I will put those dates on the calendar though. Hope they have a historic towing vessel portion of the event.

Aaron

The "Belle Birthday Bash" sounds great till you consider the timing, location, and plans they have for the event.

10 boats tied up downtown in addition to the BELLE, BROADDUS and SPIRIT? Where? This just isn't a safe area for 10 large scaled excursion boats being landed right in the navigation channel (the navigation channel through the three bridges (located in an arcing bend I might mention) is only 150 feet off the Kentucky shore, EXACTLY where they are proposing to put ALL these boats). I can't imagine what the traffic is going to be like down there. 10 Boats trying to navigate around (departing and landing right in the middle of this) there with a 15 barge tow lining up for the harbor bridges and the Louisville and Portland Canal is not gonna be a pretty situation at all!

Not to mention the fact Waterfront Park can't take the revenue from the boats like they do with the BELLE and the SPIRIT, so they aren't gonna let it happen there unless someone else is paying them (Judy, does that answer your question about most of the other $1.5 million?).

If they are serious about this, it needs to happen at Cox's Park (5 miles up river) where people can SEE the boats, the boats are SAFELY out of the navigation channel, people can PARK to ride the boats, and there is plenty of room to set up all the INFRASTRUCTURE necessary to make it happen.

I can't imagine owners of these excursion boats willing to foot the expense to come here and share the profits with a privately operated PUBLIC park, not to mention putting themselves and their passengers into a dangerous situation with 9 other boats (The BELLE and the SPIRIT not included) trying to move about on a fixed schedule in the middle of the navigation channel in the busiest month of the year for commercial cargo traffic. It is ludicrous! Ask anyone who has landed at Waterfront Park in the past how that works out for them in October. Unless the river is closed (which is tantamount to impossible in October), they are at the mercy of the plethora of downbound commercial traffic. In October coal and grain are the King of the Ohio. Look up the past lock reports...10+ tows a day (in addition to the normal traffic). Weather in the middle of October can be very dicey, too. Bad weather could kill the event dead!

They should have this event in September (better weather and less traffic) at Cox's Park. It is the best time of the year to do it and the best bet for a safe, successful, and properly memorable event for the celebration of the BELLE's 100th Birthday.

It would be a shame to have this wonderful celebration of America's Historic Steamboat Heritage sullied by disaster which is entirely preventable with just a little bit of thought, planning, and involvement of knowledgeable river professionals!

Okay...I am stepping down form my soap box now. Sorry for the rant!

Belle Bash

Reading the article I thought it stunk that the Post Office turned down the idea of honoring the Belle on a stamp!

OK now that Travis has stepped off his soap box let me step up. I'm sure Travis's words did not go well with the Louisville powers what be but Travis is 100% on track.

I have just a little experience in putting on such a water show and I'm telling the Louisville crowd it just will not work. I would not touch the idea of 12 boats at the waterfront with a ten foot pole. If those boat owners thought the Cincinnati harbor got a "little dicey" at times wait till they attempt this. Surely the Coast Guard would not condone this. Somebody better get real !! Rant on Travis maybe somebody will listen.

AJ Richardson;28643 wrote: Wouldn't it be wise to raise money first to replace those aging boilers and then cross the bridge of having the birthday bash. Don't get me wrong, I am all about getting boats together but would prefer the Belle be cruising instead of being dockside because of boiler issues. Maybe the situation isn't that critical at this point but any funds raised would seem to me to be better spent on those boilers.
Aaron

I agree 110% here. I think a new set of boilers for the old gal would make a lovely birthday gift for a 100 year old steamboat.

Frank,

I can't think of a better place to put 2 million dollars than in a new set of boilers. Perhaps with the left over $$$'s a new landing up above the bridges where she will be safer for the next 100 years of cruising to keep our American steamboating heritage alive for generations to come.

Capt. Bill, thanks for the comeback about my rant. I was beginning to worry I was out here on a limb by myself!

Travis

Cake vs. boilers

Yes, wouldn't it be a crock if after a humongous birthday bash the BELLE would be laid up due to no money(or desire) to replace her boilers! Anybody remember the year-long 'celebration' of her career that MAL announced for the DQ the VERY DAY that the exemption bill didn't clear the committee?...the old use her, then lose her trick!