Hello from Decatur, Alabama!  I am settled in on the DQ, happy to be back on my boat with my DQ family. In order to get back, I travelled all over the country--from Alton, IL in a taxi to St. Louis, then by air to Houston, Cincinnati and Huntington, WV.  My luggage, however, went to Manchester, NH for some reason!  I spent the night in a hotel, then rented a car and drove to Pt. Pleasant, WV to join the boat.  My luggage made it about a half hour before we sailed!

I am enjoying the new job on the DQ.  Our first couple of cruises were not typical of our usual group of passengers.  We were heading into Tall Stacks, and it was a charter.  We had people with us who had never steamboated before.  They were more inclined to do other things than listening to the riverlorian talk!  But things are getting back to normal now, lots of familiar faces.  I love doing pilot house tours, and tried an engine room tour.  There are so many people who won't go down themselves, so I escorted them down and encouraged them to ask questions.  I think the passengers enjoyed it--they stayed for an hour! I think it is necessary to see the engines, if you want to understand what the pilots do.  It's cooperation between the two places, and so fascinating to see how it works! 

My room on the DQ in the officers hold is noisier than any room I've had!  I got used to the bow thruster on the MQ--could sleep through it, unless I knew it was coming on when I didn't expect it (tying up for fog, etc.). But this room is right under the dish room--you should hear the noise when a pot hits that floor when it is dropped!  I almost fall out of the bed. I liked being aware of what was going on around the boat from my room on the MQ.  I can tell if we are stopped on the DQ, but don't hear the fog horn or know when we are tying up.  Would be nice to be in the old riverlorian room on a passenger deck!

I must tell you, I am amused by some of the questions that I am asked.  I try to remember that not everyone is a steamboat nut--but really!!  My favorite so far is "Is this old, abandoned bridge still in use?" They were referring to a bridge where the appproaches had been removed, and it was nothing but rust!  People want such detail, too--with what amount of force does the bucket on the paddlewheel hit the water? I go to engineering to find out, but they sure laugh at me!

I'll be on the boat through the end of the season.  I hope to keep updating by going to libraries when I can.  Happy steamboating!