Goodby to the Big Muddy

We cannot believe it has been 34 days since we walked across the Mississippi in Minnesota! They say time goes fast when you are having fun with friends. Well, here it is. This evening we were treated to a steamboat dinner cruise on the Mississippi aboard the Natchez. This is the sister ship that we saw moored across from us at the RV park.

As we arrived for our boarding time, we were greeted to the raucous but memory inducing sound from the onboard steam calliope. This brought back memories of when the circus would come to our small town in New Mexico and parade down the street with the animal wagons, elephants and the steam calliope letting everyone know, the circus has come to town! Try to imagine the sounds, sights and smells coming from the wharf back in the 1800's when dozens of these steamboats were moored, leaving and arriving.  Each steamboat trying to outdo the others with the whistles and calliopes. Cotton and sugar being loaded, goods from Europe being off loaded. The people all dressed in their finery mingling with the trappers, traders, and workers of all types. It must have been an amazing assault on the senses!

The nice thing about being with Fantasy Tours is we got to board first and were directed to the dining room where we were seated and the waiters attended to us.

Our fellow travelers getting seated and ready to hit the buffet line. The dinner buffet consisted of chicken and sausage gumbo, sliced top round, Louisiana fried chicken thighs, Cajun seafood pasta, craw fish etouffee, herb roasted sweet potatoes, corn maque choux, Creole creamed spinach, Susan's favorite and everybody's favorite, New Orleans bread pudding. Have I made you hungry? It was delicious! As we were finishing dinner the boat departed for an evening cruise on the Mississippi. What a great way to end a trip to the "Big Easy."

As we finished the last bite or our bread pudding, the Natchez departed for the cruise, first down river and then up river. Evening was setting in and we were treated to this view of the St. Louis Cathedral-Basilica and the wharf from which we left.

As we cruised, the jazz band started up the music. Some was a cover for other bands and some of it original written by the trumpeter and/or tuba player. It is fun to think, that at the same time, music like this and of all types were coming forth from the different venues in the French Quarter.

As we continued are cruise we passed or were passed by many tows heading both up and down river. Down here, the cardinal directions or north, south, east or west are not used, it is up river or down river. The ordinal (Cardinal) points of the compass are virtually useless in New Orleans, as the West Bank is east of the East Bank (and vice versa) in some places.

With apologies to Mark Twain, we had our own "Great Steamboat Race", each Captain blowing the steam whistle when they got the lead. It was a good show, we did learn that the Natchez has enough power to cross the Atlantic in six and one half days. That is is you want to put to sea in a riverboat with a fairly flat bottom and about 8 feet of free-board! It was fun none the less. It is amazing the amount of water traffic this portion of the river has, ships of all shapes and sizes hauling almost everything from anywhere in the world. I wouldn't doubt that we all have Amazon Prime goods that were waiting to be cleared from Customs on one of the ships!

As we turned up river, and rounded the bend, the Crescent City came back into view along with the mood.

As we continued around the bend, the Crescent City Connection Bridge came into view. The bridge is being refitted with LED lights in preparation for the 2024 Superbowl to be held in New Orleans. It is almost as if Disney himself conceived of it. It look magical going from white lights to multi colored lights being reflected on the water.

As I have stated before, what a beautiful way to end our tour of the Great River Road. Tomorrow we all pack up and head out to our next adventure. Some will return home, others will continue to Florida to see if their house is still standing, our prayers and blessings are with those folks as they are with all who have been affected by the hurricanes. Praying that you and your loved ones are safe and sound.