[JLee Baer]

Hello Everyone,

Just wanted to drop a line because I know there has been speculation about my boat. I know it seems like the boat fell off the radar, but I wanted to confirm and officially announce that the Magnolia Belle is going to be running out of Paducah. Right now I only have a few details to offer. Until my new website is up and running I created a page on myspace.com. The direct link for myspace is www.myspace.com/magnoliabelleriverboat. Please take look when you get a chance.

I am planning on starting cruises in Paducah on April 23rd for the Quilt Show and I’ll have a regular schedule published beyond that on our calendar. Here is a direct link to the boat’s calendar, http://calendar.yahoo.com/magnoliabelleriverboat.

I’ll also be offering overnight cruises up to Grand Rivers on the Kentucky Lakes. It will give everyone a chance to make what some people call the “Loop”. The Loop is a round trip up the Tennessee River, through Kentucky Lock, into Kentucky Lake and overnight stop in Grand Rivers. The rest of the Loop continues through the Barkley Canal into Lake Barkley, through Barkley Lock, down the Cumberland River, and in to the Ohio River back to Paducah. That’s SIX major bodies of water with a beautiful overnight shore stop!

Also, for those of you that may feel adventurous I am doing an overnight trip from Cincinnati to Louisville, April 10th-11th , with a stop in Vevay. I am also doing a 4 night repositioning cruise from Louisville, April 16th – 20th , to Paducah. We’ll be stopping overnight in Brandenburg, KY; Owensboro, KY; Evansville, IN; and Cave-in-Rock, IL. If you don’t want to go for the whole trip you can get on any one of the port stops. I can even pick you somewhere along the way (the joy of having a stage and a shallow draft). I have hotels and meals all included. Special discounts for all of you here on steamboats.org.

I would like to say it has been a ruff a couple years since Hurricane Katrina. I would like to thank those you have been there for me with words of encouragement and a shoulder to cry on. I think Paducah will be a great market for the Magnolia Belle. The people in Paducah have been very helpful and encouraging. I enjoyed life in New Orleans and I will miss it.

Capt. Joseph L. Baer
Master, M/V Magnolia Belle
President, B&C Marine, LLC