Cruising the Mississippi
The Queen of the Mississippi was built in 2015 and has a guest capacity of 150. She is 305 feet long, 53 feet wide, cruises at 14 m.p.h., and displays a American flag. The American Cruise Lines offers an authentic paddlewheeler experience with all the comforts of home, including complimentary room service and more.
Our 15-day cruise is already starting to blur in my memory. The treed shoreline, soft hills in the background, the huge sky and endless bridges recede into the constant flow of the mighty Mississippi.
All the hype regarding river cruising is absolutely true. I no longer grieve the loss of my youthful self and constant activity, but rejoice in the travel opportunities still ahead of me and all seniors, as well.
We can gaze at the passing landscape in a comfortable deck chair or jump off to explore a whole new city in a whole new world.
You unpack only once, the staterooms are fresh, bar and food are all in the initial cost, as are gratuities.
New small cruise boats are due in the spring as this holiday concept is truly catching on.
Our adventure began in St. Paul, Minn. with an introduction to the Twin Cities. Nearby, the Mississippi River begins at Lake Itasca and flows 2,320 miles to the Gulf of Mexico in Louisiana.
We learned all about favourite sons like Prince, Bob Dylan, writer F. Scott Fitzgerald and Charles Schulz, a native who has been named the greatest illustrator of all time. Charming Peanuts cartoon statues are placed all around town. I especially loved the dog houses.
We had breakfast in the basement at Hell’s Kitchen in the Guthrie Theatre neighbourhood, dinner at Moscow On The Hill, across the street from Garrison Keillor’s book store, Common Good Books, and a limo tour to what is now called Bohemian Flats, where my mother grew up on the banks of the Mississippi River.
Natalie Stutzmann is conductor of the Minnesota Orchestra. Her confidence, composure and physical good looks reminded me of our Rosemary Thomson. The program featured Prokofiev, Beethoven and a clarinet concerto by Mozart performed by the young, adorable Bixby.
One evening, we attended a Unitarian Bible group discussion led by my nephew, Paul Gade.
He tied photos from the recent eclipse to verses from the book of Acts. There are seven passages in the Bible with eclipses, and one of the exercises asked, “What kind of extraordinary experiences have you had in or with nature?”
I treasure my notes from this intimate group’s sharing of experiences and keep them as a reference, along with the photos I took during our visit with them.
Our Grand Heartland Cruise began in Red Wing, Minn. A local expert showed us Victorian homes and the historic St. James Hotel.
We bought stoneware, which is a rough-hewn cousin of porcelain, at the Pottery Museum where we learned a German immigrant, J. Pohl, began creating the crocks and bean pots we all grew up with back in 1861.
At the turn of the century, Red Wing Pottery was the most popular on the market.
And I thought Maria Marinez in New Mexico was the only ceramic artist of note.
Next door is the Red Wing Shoe Store. This place has a two-storey boot on display and hand-crafted leather footwear.
We loved the confectionary across the street and Mike had his first-ever hot mulled cider there.
You feel you have travelled back in time in Red Wing, with its Sheldon Theatre, National Eagle Center and beautiful deciduous trees on 600-foot high bluffs overlooking the river.
Passengers enjoyed board games back on the ship and River Historian Bill Wiemuth discussed the river’s culture significance in music, art, and literature.
Entertainment featured nightly performances by first-class musicians like Laura Sable presenting “A Tribute to the Great Ladies of Song.” Husband Bill Wiemuth is also an accomplished piano and vocal Dixieland artist.
Cruise Director Diana liked to introduce the day’s activities with a joke. Here is her favourite: A very nervous first-time crew member says to the skipper, “Do boats like this sink very often?”
“Not too often,” replies the skipper. “Usually it’s only the once.”
We visited La Crosse, Wisc. It has high rankings for health, wellbeing, quality of life and education.
Our cruise stopped in Dubuque, Iowa. My most memorable destination was Eagle Point Park, which features Frank Lloyd Wright designs in the shelters and picnic areas.
The trees are so beautiful you want to hug every one. We took a taxi to the art museum and I got my first look at an original Grant Wood painting.
Next day was Davenport and the John Deere Pavilion which chronicles 175 years of one family’s huge success building tractors.
You can get into one of the giant modern combines and sit at what looks like a console from a jumbo airplane. The displays of equipment will knock your socks off.
I took lots of pictures. The Black Hawk State (Hawkeyes, for short) Historic Site is within walking distance and celebrates the Sauk and Meskwaki Indians.
The next stop after a full day of cruising was Hannibal, Missouri, and meeting with a Mark Twain impersonator. Seniors grew up reading The Adventures of Tom Sawyer and Huckleberry Finn. We went to the Mark Twain Theatre Show, we shopped for souvenirs and ended up at the Mark Twain Brewing Co. .
The Museum in Hannibal featured 15 original Norman Rockwell paintings and handmade gifts made by local artists.
Back on board, I chose was Surf and Turf for dinner — stuffed lobster and roasted tenderloin.
Our tour lasts 15 days, only two of which are spent cruising. Mike plays bridge while I read in the Magnolia Lounge with a chocolate martini in hand.
Tomorrow, St. Louis and the Gateway Arch, then the cruise continues to the lower Mississippi.
My memories are rolling, rolling, rolling on the river.
Email Jeanette Dunagan at jd2399@telus.net.