Ohio River Bankside

No props, azipods, VSP units, but real functional paddlewheels that churn through milky coffee water. . .

Capstan and h-bitt like a tugboat. . .

Really ornate wheelhouse . . .

Lots of ringtones available old style . . .

the Belle of Louisville (ex-Idlewild, ex-Avalon) waits wharfside ahead of the smaller Spirit of Jefferson. Belle approaches the century mark, having shifted in mission from cargo carrier to excursion vessel.

Spirit of Jefferson (ex-Mark Twain) approaches the half-century mark. It lacks a paddle wheel, but I’m intrigued by the antlers. Reminds me of the question of why some tugboats a century back sported a carved eagle or a trotting horse atop the wheelhouse. Just logo, I suppose.

Photos, WVD.