Thursday, October 23, 2008

Farewell to the Queen!

I didn't hop across the big pond and have high tea with Queen Elizabeth and Prince Phillip but I am sure they are breathlessly waiting by their phones for me to call. :-) No I am talking about the grand old lady, the Delta Queen Steamboat. She made her last stop here in Cincinnati on Tuesday and we went down to the river to say goodbye to her. She is being forced into retirement because of decades old safety rules. For those of you not familiar with her, she is a steamboat that was built in 1926 and carries 174 passengers along America's inland waters. She is made mostly of wood and that is the safety issue that is coming into play. But to me she plays a part in my childhood memories. I grew up on the Ohio River and remember this beautiful boat going up and down the river playing her calliope as she cruised on by and my Dad telling all of the kids to hop in our boat and we would ride her giant waves that her paddle wheel would create. I never set foot on her decks but will miss her. She is a part of our American history and she will forever be in my childhood memories. All of the photos are mine except the last one but I wanted to show a photo of her actually sailing on the river.


We ran into my brother in law Bill, he was taking a walk during his lunch. Maddie really didn't care about the big boat.

Look at this big old paddle wheel!







Farewell to the Queen!




18 comments:

Brenda said...

How sad to see such a historical icon being put to rest. I live only a few miles from the Mississippi River so I understand your draw to the river.

Hope your week is going well!

Anonymous said...

So sad to see her go.

Years ago when we lived outside of Cincinnati, we went down to the dock once and saw the Delta Queen and the bigger paddle-wheel boat (Mississippi Queen maybe?) side by side. What a sight! I've always wanted to go on a riverboat cruise.

Donna said...

Sniff, sniff! Another historic beauty put to rest! I remember seeing it docked in Cinncinnati once. Had hoped to journey on it sometime, but never got to do it. Darn it!

david mcmahon said...

Beautiful work all round, Joan.

Mary Isabella and Kiley too! said...

Beautiful pictures and wonderful header...m.

photowannabe said...

Never sailed on the Delta Queen but sailed the Mississippi on the Mississippi Queen. the calliopi is a sound one never forgets.
I hate seeing the icons of Americana disappearing. Too sad.

A Bite of Country Cupcakes said...

I think paddle boats are so romantic and nostalgic!
Shame she is being put to rest due to "saftey reg's' seems there are rules over alot of things these days...
She's probley built safer and sounder than the newies

Louise said...

That's sad! I've seen the boat once on a vacation, but she is the stuff legends are made of.

Anonymous said...

We are trying to save the old Paddle Steamer, The Medway Queen, that has been rotting away for half a century. She used to ferry passengers along this coast and was used to rescue forces from Dunkirk.
It is so sad to see these lovely boats disappear for want of money.

Sandi McBride said...

Oh Joan, I've dreamed of her for so many years...like you, I've only seen her from a river bank, but what a might sight she was. I hope someone is going to take splendid care of her!
Beautiful post, my friend!
hugs
Sandi

Sandi McBride said...

OHHH I forgot to say congratulations on the Post of the Day mention at David's place! (if by some oddity you don't know who David is, look above me at David McMahon's comment, that would be him!)
me again
Sandi

Lee said...

Sadly, I've never gotten to ride on a river boat, but this takes me back to those wonderful stories that Mark Twain told and also a few movies scenes centered around one. I hope they keep her in good shape for others to visit.

Congratulations on making David's Post of the Day.

Peace!
Lee

Cath said...

Over from David at authorblog. Lovely post. Congrats on POTD!

Unknown said...

This is my first visit to your blog, thanks to david @ authorblog! My folks took a cruise on the Delta Queen years ago...it was on my bucket list.
Beautifully written post!

~AirmanMom returning to her blog...

Vee said...

Congrats for earing post of the day!

You've given me a connection to a vessel that I've never thought much about. Thank you for sharing your memories.

Maggie May said...

Wonderful pictures and what an experience.
Congratulations on POTD over at David's. Glad I dropped by.

Lew said...

Wonderful ictures and story. I she will be docked and preserved some where so others can see this aspect of life on the rivers.

Lew said...

Oops, some typeos in my post:
Wonderful pictures and story. I hope she will be docked and preserved so others can see this aspect of life on the rivers.