Saturday Owensboro

We arrived at the 3rd largest city in Kentucky a little after midnight this morning. Our tie-up took about 40 minutes because an SUV’s tire was sitting on our tie-up ring. It was accessible, but I guess the crew would have preferred that the car be moved. There was obviously a party happening on shore because there was a lot of hootin’ and hollerin’ going on as we landed.

Our shore time would only be about 4 hours so we decided to walk into town on our own. We walked along the riverfront, which was very nice. Up near the bridge was a Bluegrass Museum that we would visit after it opened at 10 am.



We continued walking down the main street of town just taking pictures. It was still early so not much was open. The Delta Queen doesn’t dock here very often so they really aren’t tuned in to us being in town and opening their shops for the short time we are here.

There was a cool mural on the wall of a steamboat.



We found a drug store owned by a guy whose grandfather owned it before him. Doug is our “conversation starter”. Karen and I are little shyer, but having Doug along has really helped our education of the area. He talks with everyone. We were looking for some sunglasses since Karen’s broke. He pointed us toward a CVS about 9 blocks away. Off we went.

On the way back we stopped at the Bluegrass Museum. They played music outside under the block-long awning. Inside, we visited the gift shop because time was short. They had these cool stands that were made out of wooden pieces that looked like guitars and banjos.

I think I mentioned that Karen had me make labels to put on candy to give to the kids as we left town or while we were in a lock. We had yet to give any away. People aren’t allowed as close to the locks anymore because of the “security”. I was determined to give some of these away this time and while we were still tied up I took a cupful of them and gave them to anyone standing around ready to see us off.



By the time we got back to the boat it was lunch time and close to the time we were to depart. We left on time without the calliope playing this time. It is the best of times when the calliope plays and the people are waving as we leave.

Our cabin on the top deck of the boat



Karen reading a Waterways Journal while on the Delta Queen



Today was Kite Flying Day. This is a tradition that has been discontinued by the Company. However, there were 95 repeat riders on the DQ so some of them brought kites with them to fly. Doug, our engineer, built our kite. With my helped and getting on the correct side of the boat we managed to obtain lift-off. He called us Wilbur and Orville to anyone who asked. Karen asked if she could fly it after awhile. Within 10 minutes the kite was going the opposite direction down the Ohio River the end of the string having let go from the handle she held in her hand.



Karen just before the smile left her face as the kite floated down the river.