Live from the New Orleans Levee

More Sunday evening shots

1) Capts. Troy Delaney and Don Houghton checking the traffic. One sign its been many years since I've been riding the NATCHEZ - both of these young guys were deckhands/watchmen back in 1983, now they are both Captains and wear glasses!
2,3) at the Toulouse St. wharf after the dinner cruise

Monday morning 2 blocks from the levee

Here are some shots from my second floor corner room with a balcony at LeRichelieu, which is just 2 blocks up Barracks from the Gov. Nicholls wharf. Too bad its too cold to sit out on the balcony this morning.
1) Looking down Barracks toward the river.
2) Looking up Barracks toward Doc's house, which is the 2 story brick on the right side of the street past the single storied homes.
3) Looking up Chartres toward Jackson Square and Canal Street. The cathedral is 6 blocks away and visible in person, but not in this shot unfortunately.

Neat - O!

Thank you for the post n' pics.

Monday on board

I missed the first trip in order to get settled in my room at LeRichelieu - they were able to juggle things so that I could keep the same room for the duration. The winds were still strong but not the 40+mph from yesterday, but they kept it very cool out on the water. And of course, just when Troy and Don had calculated the landing for the winds, a big gust came up as we arrived at the wharf. Luckily the swing line was already out, so the offshore wind didn't set us back much. It was cool and breezy enough for the dinner cruise so that the Dukes of Dixieland played inside the entire evening. It is so nice when they are out under the Texas awning so we can hear them in the pilothouse. Even though I am still hacking away with bronchitis, I figured I'd give the evening narration a shot - it was a miracle! With microphone in hand I talked for 30 minutes with nary a cough in the 50 degree weather!
1) the stern from Woldenberg Park (old Lower Bienville wharf)
2) a nice shot, except for that food/beverage green shack blocking the view
3) lunch between trips: CJ Lardner, Rob E Mitchell, Doc Hawley (came to pick up his calliope check and happened to stay for lunch)

More Monday

1,2) shadows from the pilothouse
3) evening sunshine at the dock

Evening shadows.

The first one has a ghostly quality and is worth 1000 words.

Tuesday

The winds were supposed to die down - they aren't 40 mph anymore, but they are still strong enough to make the 49 degrees feel a lot cooler - at least we've had bright sunshine. But I feel like I'm down here for New Years with the way we're all bundled up...
1, 2) The Magnolia Suite spiffied up with some Michael Blaser prints and a new paint job
3) The tiller midship prior to departure. It can go 40 degrees to either side. The NATCHEZ has 3 rudders, off the CLAIRTON but reshaped to fit the NATCHEZ' rake.

Meanwhile back at LeRichelieu

1)the 2nd floor hallway
2) looking up Chartres toward Jackson Square. Notice the guests sitting out enjoying the late afternoon sun on our balcony!

Tuesday evening

Always looking for an angle I haven't taken before - which is pretty hard to do.
1) from boarding gangplank
2) remember? This is the MQ's capstan. The second one is in storage.
3) the AIS chart, radar and other electronics at the pilot's disposal

Moonlight on the river

1) downbound at Chalmette
2) upbound
3) Remember the deal about turning the bridge lights off? Well, surprise, they are back on tonight!

A warmer Wednesday

Finally the glow on my face is sunburn, not windburn! After 18 holes of golf out at Audubon Park with Troy C. Delaney, I arrived at the Toulouse St. wharf in time for the 1:45 calliope concert by CCH. He obliged my request for a Happy Birthday for a friend up in Clinton Iowa, so that is what he is playing in these pictures. After riding the 2:30 in glorious warm sunshine on the roof, I was able to sit out on my balcony and dine on lasagna and broccoli from the Verde Marte - a deli on Royal and Gov. Nicholls. Then it was back for the 7:00 dinner trip full of teen groups. Now an ibuprofen for all the walking today....

Wednesday evening

Today's pilothouse team was Capt. Steve Nicoulin Master and Capt. Steven Nicoulin Pilot. Other combinations this week have been Capt. Don Houghton Master, Capt. Troy C. Delaney Pilot; Capt. Don and Capt. Steven; and tomorrow brings Capt. Steven and Capt. Troy. The NATCHEZ is surely in good hands with these dedicated men. I mentioned the passage of time in the picture of Don and Troy both wearing glasses - even worse, Capt. Steven was only a month old when I started working on the NATCHEZ! Make that another ibuprofen for the old joints...
1,2) from the Moonwalk as I approached for the dinner cruise
3)Moonlight over the lighted Crescent City Connection

Judy: Thanks for the pix and the report. Been cold but, finally, sunny here on Gunpowder Road. I will refrain from asking about golf scores if you don't ask about my progress cleaning the basement! Cap'n Walnut.

You should really come try out the Mt. Massive golf course someday. Come early in the season, like about now, when the skiing gets crummy, and bring orange balls so you can see them in the snow. Some people think you can hit the ball farther at 9,000 ft. but I think it's psychological. Anyway, the scenery is nice. Except for some of us getting older, it seems like the Natchez is stuck in a time warp. Get on board and it's deja vu all over again. By now, the Natchez should be the haunt of several ghosts. Nice time to be in NOLA, even if it is windy.

Last day

These pix are being posted near a levee over 900 river miles north on NOLA - Cape Girardeau. I headed out this Friday morning in order to get to a hotel to watch the Oregon/Louisville basketball game and will have only 380 miles to drive on Saturday. The last 2 days in NOLA were comfortable at least , if not really springlike. The NATCHEZ carried good crowds all week and even though it had been 7 months since I had been down there, everything seems the same. I will not let the next trip be 7 months away!
1) Capt. Steven Nicoulin Master
2) stacks are about 63' high in this shortened version
3) dining room looking aft

Sheer and camber

1) both sheer and camber obvious here
2) ditto on the bow of the Hurricane Deck
3) looking aft on the starboard Hurricane Deck

The End

literally...Big Wheel keeps on turning! Long Live the Steamer NATCHEZ!

Well Judy, they'll let you just run a muck down there.
Jammin' on the calliope then close enough to get hit in the nose with a paddle bucket!

Truly, places I'll not likely be anytime soon,

Thank for all.

All over the NATCHEZ

Well, I was by the calliope while it was being played - I probably hold the record for most calliope concerts heard but never having played a note.... you probably don't know my NATCHEZ background: I worked on her for 11 summers and 2 years. I was in the dining room, gift shop, and was sub narrator. I still get to do the evening narrations when I show up on vacations..

Well, I was by the calliope while it was being played - I probably hold the record for most calliope concerts heard but never having played a note.... you probably don't know my NATCHEZ background: I worked on her for 11 summers and 2 years. I was in the dining room, gift shop, and was sub narrator. I still get to do the evening narrations when I show up on vacations..

Ron, if you can ever possibly get to New Orleans some day, do check out the Natchez, first and foremost.