[Judy Patsch]

Ok, i'm not on the boat right now,and it's not even a Live from the Levee report, but I am just a block away from the river in a wifi place. With all the grim steamboat news this past year, here is a little relief, I hope. Imagine pulling into your driveway at 11:25, unloading the car and then zipping over to the levee to see the scene in the first picture: the Steamer NATCHEZ, with flags whipping in the wind, downbound on her 11:30 trip. Then later in the day, to be stuck in traffic while being serenaded by a calliope concert, and still hearing the calliope while bringing the groceries into the courtyard. Business has been pretty good this month, including a charter yesterday afternoon involving the Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew, head of the Orthodox Christian Church. He is known for his environmental concerns, and he is spearheading a conference in town regarding ecological concerns along the river. This was originally scheduled on the AMERICAN QUEEN for a week, but... No word on how that went yesterday, as Capt. Don Houghton and I were out on the City Park golf course, but even at that distance we did hear the whistle a couple of times. Here are some pictures which hopefully will be new to many of you, and now that I have a digital camera and a wifi place, presumably more will follow on this trip.
Pix 1 from the Moonwalk as the NATCHEZ heads downriver into Algiers Bend.
Pix 2 That is Don Houghton in the pilothouse and Debbie Fagnano narrating on the roof. The pilothouse has such a great view due to its elevation from the roof. The reason for this is that the big pilotwheel on display in the Dining Room was bought to be used, and there was space needed below the pilothouse for its bottom half. The CG didn't permit the wooden wheel up there, but apparently it isn't a fire hazard in the Dining Room....
Pix 3 Back at the dock - River stage 11 feet, rather high, thanks to the recent Ohio contributions...