Live from Natchez! I’m back on the Delta Queen—sailed from Memphis on Monday. Good cruise, nice folks. I’m in the bar all the time, instead of splitting my time with the dining room, and enjoying it more than I thought I would. I start at 2 P.M., taking an actual dinner break for half an hour, and another break from 9-10. If things are not busy, I close the bar at 11:30, which has been the case every night so far. Things have never been nuts, and I’ve never made a drink I was unfamiliar with. It is pretty hot down south, so this has been a beer crowd—easier to deal with, although beer is cheaper. But on the upside, I think they are drinking more—apparently while I was gone, tips were terrible.
My friend Seth is on vacation, and I am bereft! I did see him before he left, as his “relief” had not arrived yet. In engineering and navigation, they cannot leave until their replacement arrives—they are important people! Seth’s replacement is Ray, a retired Army Corps of Engineering guy. He seems to be settling in fine—has already figured out which spot is mine on the bench. On his first full day on board, I was down in engineering when some passengers came down—some people I’d spoken to about coming to tour the engine room. I jumped up and started showing them around until Ray was free!
Today we were in Vicksburg. My friend, Bela, the watchman, and I went to the old Courtyard Museum. We spoke with the folks who were there, and toured the museum. They had some nice artifacts from steamboats, including the antlers from the famous race between the Robert E. Lee and the Natchez in the 1800s, as well as a step plate from the Natchez and a chair that belonged to the captain of the Lee. In case you did not know, the winner of a steamboat race traditionally is given antlers. Also, the biggest sternwheeler tow ever built sank near here—the Sprague—and the remains were in the riverbed until just a few years ago, when they were removed as a hazard to navigation. Great pictures in the museum.
It’s a short entry, but I’ve learned to take advantage of every hot-spot. I am happy to be back on the boat. Feels like home.
