Topic starter
25/09/2006 12:04 am
The NATCHEZ left the Toulouse St. Wharf at 2:15 today, Sunday the 24th, on her way up the lower Miss and the hopefully not-too-high Ohio enroute to Tall Stacks. As I was talking to Capt. Don Houghton this evening, they were passing the Bonne Carre spillway and dining on spaghetti and meatballs. There are 18 crew aboard, almost all navigation/deck/engineering. A few more will meet the boat in Cincy, and the dining room will be staffed by Cincinnati area people. Dan Back and I will also meet the boat in Cincy to volunteer in the gift shop. The tentative schedule is for an 'express' trip, with a probable stop in Louisville and arrival in Cincy on Monday Oct. 2. For those who may have missed it in the early stages of TS talk, the NATCHEZ is not stopping to do tramping trips as she does not have the crew for it. The 18 aboard represent only about half a normal crew compliment for a regular harbor cruise, let alone for big tramping crowds. The tourist industry is hanging on by a thread in NOLA, awaiting the return of the conventions next year and so most of those businesses, including New Orleans Steamboat, have not hired full staffs back yet. More on the NATCHEZ' progress as I get it... let's hope that the 10 inches of rainfall in the Ohio Valley don't raise that creek too much this week!
25/09/2006 1:57 am
Tall Stacks Fever !! I guess this is getting serious. The Natchez has departed NOLA, the Colonel is above Greenville and the Harriet Bishop is below lock #22 on the upper. The venerable J.S. Lewis is down at Meldahl Locks with 12 pieces, consisting of two COE towboats, the COE display barge, the Lady Lois, Laura J, Florence T, whistle barge and about six flats all for Tall Stacks set up. Here we go again !!!
Topic starter
25/09/2006 2:06 am
Yep, now just keep your river low enough for everyone to get under the bridges and high wires! Sounds like the Lewis has quite a conglomeration of vessels - are there going to be others at the working river site, which I presume is still over on the Kentucky side?
25/09/2006 4:41 pm
Judy,
Yes, the working river exhibits will be in the Newport area, just as in '03.
Sorry to say that we will not be there with the BARBARA H this time. We had a dry-dock inspection 1 year ago, and the Coast Guard decided not to renew our Attraction Vessel certificate due to some thin hull plating. We are now trying to qualify for a federal grant to cover the $300K replating job. We should know by late October whether we get the grant or not. Assuming we get the grant, we would then need to raise half of the funds from other donations, as it is a "matching" grant. We will keep y'all posted....
25/09/2006 7:00 pm
Bill Judd;1413 wrote: The venerable J.S. Lewis is down at Meldahl Locks with 12 pieces, consisting of two COE towboats, the COE display barge, the Lady Lois, Laura J, Florence T
I saw some sternwheelers, and I think the Lady Lois and Laura J southbound at our river lot a couple of days ago. I really hope I can make it over to Newport this time. Also, the Florence T is named after my grandmother. 🙂
Topic starter
26/09/2006 9:56 am
Another is on the way
Yesterday morning(Monday), while standing at Oneida St. awaiting the MQ's arrival, I saw our CELEBRATION BELLE in the lock heading downriver. She is now at Burlington, enroute to Tall Stacks. They are taking passengers on daylong segments as they work their way over. She'll be the largest non-steamboat there, with a capacity of 800. She was originally Kehl's MISSISSIPPI BELLE II which was used for day trips between the QuadCities and Dubuque and then was converted to a gambling boat. She was the first gambling boat to be converted back to an excursion when Schadlers purchased her, and she's done quite well here in the dinner/daytrip trade.
26/09/2006 2:43 pm
It's very, very seldom that Judy errors, but on the statement of the Celebration Belle being the largest non-steamboat at Tall Stacks, hometown fever must have taken over. Three boats are bigger in size and passenger capacity. The General Jackson at 1,000, the Belle of Cincinnati at 1,000 and the Majestic at 900. All three are bigger in size also.
Topic starter
26/09/2006 3:55 pm
oops and double oops!!!!!
26/09/2006 4:35 pm
ALL of the boats (just like people with individual personalities) bring "special gifts" and, along with their crews, add to the festive air of TALL STACKS, but just wait 'til you see our BELLE OF LOUISVILLE! Her devoted crew has been toiling long and hard for many weeks preparing for the gala event and she is literally gleaming from stem to stern. You might need sunglasses just to look at the paddlewheel! We depart the Louisville Wharf on Sunday morning at 9:30 and I'll be tootin' the cally-ope! STEAMBOAT A'COMIN!!!!
26/09/2006 5:24 pm
Keith Norrington;1427 wrote: You might need sunglasses just to look at the paddlewheel! We depart the Louisville Wharf on Sunday morning at 9:30 and I'll be tootin' the cally-ope! Steamboat A' Comin!!!
Keith,
I just broke my glasses (one of the glasses fell out of the frame). So I guess I definitely have to wear my sunglasses for this big event!
Carmen
27/09/2006 12:28 am
Florence T
Nick,
I just had to look up grandmother's boat in the IRR. To wit:
FLORENCE T 517714
Twin screw towboat, b. 1968 by Yates Marine Const. S. Charleston, WV. 60.3 X 21.1. GM 12V-71 diesels, repowered 1997, 800 hp. Twin Disc red. Orig. WILBUR H. RUESE, owned by Indiana-Kentucky Electric Corp., Madison, IN. Sold 1995, renamed by Valley, Inc., Millwood, WV. Sold 1997 to Madison Coal & Supply Co., Charleston, WV.
Bet you're proud of that boat!
27/09/2006 1:26 am
Yep, Valley renamed her. I have been on that boat a good deal, on some local runs. 🙂
Speaking of the Inland River Record... I just found mine, but it is 1997. Need to update. 😀
27/09/2006 6:27 am
Hi Judy,
I look forward to seeing you at Tall Stacks. On the 4th, 5th and 6th I'm working the first two cruises as Chief on the Belle of Cincinnati. Wednesday night I'll be on the Natchez dinner cruise, Thursday afternoon on the Belle of Louisville Harbor cruise and after I get off the BOC (Belle of Cincinnati) on Friday I'm rushing ontop of the purple people bridge to record video of the steamboat race and then off to pick up my daughter Alainah for the weekend. On Saturday we will be back down to "cruise" the BOL (Belle of Louisville) and Natchez. And then cruise the harbor cruise on the Natchez on Sunday. Looking forward to seeing you and the rest of the Natchez and BOL crew. I'm looking forward to getting lots of pictures and video too. Will you be on the Natchez Wednesday night?
Topic starter
27/09/2006 11:51 am
I'm arriving in Cincy Monday afternoon and plan to be on the Natchez from then on, other than a few hours sleep each night! It looks like a short day will be 15 hours, and most are about 18. Last time I looked, 10 of the 24 cruises were sold out. The Natchez is also doing a patrons' cruise on Tuesday night, not open to the public. Debbie Fagnano(calliope player/gift shop helper) called yesterday and said she and several others were flying in Monday. One of Mr. Dow's twins, Bubba, is on board as a deckhand...a kind of repeat of 59 years ago, when Gordon Greene II got to ride the DQ up from New Orleans to Cincy on her delivery trip...
29/09/2006 11:23 am
Hi,
I just saw the Celebration Belle is listed in Pool 53 now. So she made her way into the Ohio River.
Carmen
Topic starter
29/09/2006 4:58 pm
She left here at 7AM Monday, so she's covered the 485 UMR miles plus the few Ohio to 53 in 4 days. She was taking pax on day segments enroute. I assume if the NATCHEZ is still making 6 mph, she'll show up on the Ohio lock page later today. Meanwhile the Munich Munchkin gets 'deserted' by her parents soon as they wing their way to Louisville - oh, the price of being in school now, but I suspect she'll have a few souvenirs, especially from the NATCHEZ gift shop, when they return. And Keith is not at a computer today as he is at home cleaning up their already spotless house in anticipation of the Pats and JoAnn visiting Saturday night. And like many New Orleanians do at Mardi Gras, Dale is getting ready to leave the hometown during the local festivities. Weather forecast for Cincy next week is mid 70s and no rain. Let's hope that holds up...
29/09/2006 5:31 pm
Upps, and I´ve emailed Keith that we try to call him or Jo Ann from Philadelphia. The Munchkin has already "left the building" and opted for another night at her grandparents place. The cats moved out with her. We´re packing our bags.
Carmen
29/09/2006 6:31 pm
Miss Helen Hot Fingers Prater and I will be on the NATCHEZ lunch trip Thursday -- looking forward to seeing you, Judy. Hot Fingers can hardly wait to get her hands on you. We are also going to be on Wednesday morning's very early BELLE OF LOUISVILLE "Steamboat History" trip (so we can see Keith and Capt. Kevin, among others -- don't know who will be Chief) and then will be joining the indomitable Miss Virginia Bennett for lunch on the BELLE OF CINCINNATI that same day. Any others out there booked on those same trips? After a truly smashing S & D meeting (Doc's talk was terrific and got a standing O, the picnic/whistle blow/calliope concert/birthday party was wonderful, and Mom played the piano -- including duets with Doc -- in the Lafayette Hotel lobby to a packed house for no less than four straight nights), we are greatly looking forward to a jam-packed couple of days at Tall Stacks before we have to depart Thursday afternoon for a family reunion in Carrollton KY. Virginia is going to show us the photo exhibit in Newport that she asked Capt. Alan Bernstein to mount (includes old photos from her collection of Capt. Stogie White and my grandfather, Capt. Jesse Hughes), we are going to visit Capt. Nelson Jones and his gang on the J. S. LEWIS, and we are going to take in the LST exhibit in Covington. Lots of good stuff on the Kentucky side of the river. Hope to see lots of river friends.
29/09/2006 7:02 pm
The NATCHEZ cleared lock & dam 53 at 12:27 today.
John
29/09/2006 8:03 pm
Lil,
We´re on
Magnolia Belle, Wed, 11:30 am
PA Denny, Thu, 9am
Natchez, Fri, race, 2:45 pm
We might make it for the Belle´s Steamboat History cruise. Not sure yet. Hope to see you and Miss Helen!
Carmen
Topic starter
29/09/2006 8:47 pm
In reply to Lil
I can't get a reply button by your message: too bad you and Hotfingers haven't gotten anything lined up for your TS visit! For those .orgers who don't know Miss Helen and Lil, just look for a gray-haired dynamo probably 10 steps ahead of her daughter who does her best to keep up! Looking forward to seeing you - and if Hotfingers would only put out a tip jar on the Lafayette's piano, you could pay for an extra trip or two on the DQ! If you take that Steamboat HIstory cruise, your mom might end up being the History instead of the planned lecture!
30/09/2006 4:06 am
Thought I would add that the Majestic is also underway to Tall Stacks. I am not sure, but I think she is the only commercial vessel that will be arriving at Cincinnati from above. Except of course, that one boat that will be there... the Delta Queen! 😉
Topic starter
30/09/2006 4:25 am
The MAJESTIC is in the Hannibal pool tonight. And the GENERAL JACKSON was in the Barkley pool late this afternoon, so she's probably on the Ohio by now too.
30/09/2006 10:32 pm
It would be wonderful to finally meet you both on the BELLE! We have no idea who is doing the history lecture, we just never want to mis an opportunity to be on that beautiful old boat, be with some river friends, and listen to her matchless whistle and scapes.
Hope to see you Wednesday morning .... Lil
30/09/2006 10:44 pm
Except on stairs, the dynamo is still charging ahead of me. My mantra is, "Slow down, Mom". Can you come join us for part of the trip? Lot's of catching up to do ...
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