Happy New Year

 

A new (?) boat joins my list of favorites

 

With more than a week since it left my area, I have to say the steamer Belle of Louisville is now among my favorite boats on the Ohio River.

It's the oldest remaining true steam-powered sternwheeler still in operation. If and when the Delta Queen returns to action, it, too, will be among my favorites, but when you get to see a boat like the Belle of Louisville up close, it changes things.

I was allowed to be at the Amherst Madison dock at Gallipolis, Ohio, last week to watch the Belle depart after about six weeks of inspections and repairs below the water line.

Here is the boat as seen about 3:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Dec. 16.

The weather that day was wet and cold. A few snowflakes mixed in with the rain, which at times was heavier than ideal for photography. But eventually the rain stopped, although the air was still cold.

Here she is five hours later with the M/V Reliant in the background, ready to assist the M/V Nell in taking the Belle a mile or so down the river to meet up with the M/V Buckeye State.

And here, the next morning after at stop at the mouth of the Big Sandy River, is the Buckeye State taking the Belle home to Louisville.

I had wanted to visit Louisville this past summer so I could walk across the Big Four Bridge and see the McAlpine Locks and Dam up close again. The coronavirus and the civil unrest in Louisville put an end to those plans. Maybe this coming summer I can get down there. If I do, I'll need to add a visit of some sort to the Belle of Louisville to my itinerary. She might be worth a trip just for her alone, you know?

Sternwheel at night et al (edited)

 

Last night I was in Gallipolis to watch the steamer Belle of Louisville be removed from its dock at Amherst Madison and taken to the M/V Buckeye State for its voyage home. It takes time to go through all those pictures I got last night and today as the boats passed through my area. Here are a few.

First, the sternwheel as seen lit up by the local boats.

Next, the boats passing Ashland, Ky.

Last, here the boats are passing the lower end of Ironton, Ohio.

As they passed, my thoughts were good-bye and I hope to see you next year. COVID-19 and general unrest in the Louisville area caused me to cancel plans for a quick trip down to Louisville. Maybe next year and if so, I have to find a way to see one of my newest (and oldest) favorite boats on the Ohio.

# # #

I almost forgot this wave from the captain or the pilot. Sorry about that.

Barges at morning light

When there's not much going on ...

And when you're out and about at sunrise ...

And you see the M/V Ms. Nicole pushing barges into the morning light ...

... You get some sort of picture.

M/V Edith Tripp

 

Vulcan

From the (recent) archives ...

The statue of Vulcan at the riverfront park at Ashland Ky.