Random Mississipi River Ships

With 2017 looming, it’s time to imagine some possible goals for the near future, assuming we have time.  “Big River” mentions a lot of places I’ve yet to see from the water.  Johnny Cash’s 1962 version isn’t my favorite, I link to it here because he looks so young.   This style boat named Natchez–for one of those places–has worked on the big river in many many capacities for a long time.  Anyone now who is credited for introducing steam to the Mississippi River system?  Answer follows.

By the way this Natchez was launched in 1975, but

the steam plant that drives it

has been around since 1925, albeit in a different vessel.

New Orleans is over a hundred miles from the Gulf and the number of sea-going vessels that pass is phenomenal.

And since they have such wanderlust-feeding names, I’ll let them speak for themselves . . .  the one directly below is SeaKay Spirit.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Here’s a version of “Big River” closer to what I usually listen to, and it was recorded in long-gone Roosevelt Stadium in Jersey City.

And speaking of Roosevelts, that’s who teamed up with Robert Fulton to introduce steam boating to the Mississipi River.

So why are there no contemporary and catchy songs about the Hudson watershed?  Oh, I’m no songwriter and play no instruments.

Now if only I can get a job sailing from St. Paul MN to the Gulf.  I’m working on it.

All photos by Will Van Dorp.

 

Names 17

Such great names on steel vessels that . . . ply our waters

Indefatigable vessels like   Hyundai Grace, which left Shanghai on 6 February, entered the Narrows on 2 March–when I got these shots–and by 1 April will

be back in Korea!  And what bright orange tanker could ever carry claim for being stealthy . . .

this one with a stack logo like this wedge.

I’m starting to get a hankering to travel . . . to follow FSL Tokyo out the Narrows,

drawn by places like these . . . Handytankersmarvel of Majuro!

While I still have the stamina, I’m going to put my gallivant shoes on and  follow Hellas Endurance.

I’m especially intrigued by this one . . . Grande Guinea is a Grimaldi Line RORO, this one named for a sub-Saharan city whose history is linked to that of Timbuktu, a place until recently I’d always hoped to get to, a place that later served as namesake for a coin.

I’m not sure when next I’ll post.  All fotos in the past month by Will Van Dorp.