Two Great Steamboats traveling up river side by side...

As you may know, the Delta Queen is a National Historic Monument, and I can't describe in words the feelings I experience when I see her on the river.  The Mississippi Queen is an extraordinary sight, as well.  The great visual joy of the steamboat race is getting to see both boats on the river, side by side.

The above photo is not from a postcard.  My wife, Sandi, took this photo from the port-side railing of the Mississippi Queen while the two boats were racing together.  Visually, I just loved this. 

Here's a shot, taken from the port-side railing of the MQ, of the Delta Queen river pilot moving the DQ very close to the shoreline to travel in the slow-moving, slack water.  Again, while my wife was using her camera to get this shot, I was just awestruck with the visual beauty of being able to see this in person.

This photo was taken from the Caliope Bar, upper deck aft, on the MQ.  A beautiful river day with the two steamboats steaming up the river together. 

I'm wearing a special shirt made for me as the race "judge", fashioned by sewing together half of a Delta Queen shirt with a Mississippi Queen shirt, to signify, of course, an impartial love for both of the boats during the "judging" of the race events.

 I was onboard the Mississippi Queen in 1976, during her maiden voyage.  The company called her, accurately at the time, "the biggest steamboat that ever was afloat."

From a wonderful vantage point on the port-side railing of the Delta Queen, you can see the MQ paddlewheel, and the two layers of windows surrounding the upper and lower levers of the Mississippi Queen's Paddlewheel Bar.  I've had more fun in that paddlewheel bar than I will ever be able to recall!