Today, we went to Newport, Kentucky to Riverboat Row and boarded the River Queen for a slow cruise on the Ohio River. There were a total of 32 of us and we could not have requested a more beautiful day to be on the deck of a large riverboat. The trip was outstanding and we returned to our dock without any mishap, which seems to be so common with the cruise ships these days.
BB Riverboats - River Queen
(REMEMBER: CLICK ANY PHOTO FOR A LARGER VIEW)
We had a good selection of tables adjacent to the windows to sit while we ate a nice lunch of Pulled Pork, and Barbeque Chicken with the fixins. I didn’t hear and complaint about the food. Perhaps, this is because they recently hired a new chef. We also had a good guide who also played the banjo and sang. I learned some very interesting things about riverboats, the Ohio River and some of the bridges and architecture along the way.
After the meal, most of us went up to one of the upper decks. Our meal was on the first deck, and there were three decks available to us for use. There was a forth deck but it was blocked, perhaps because it would have been uncomfortable without any opportunity for shade.
This is the John A Roebling Suspension Bridge. It stands as a monument to the genius of its creator. Roebling submitted plans to Cincinnati and Covington in 1846 (yes, prior to the Civil War). Unfortunately, due to political wrangling and the Civil War, the bridge wasn’t completed and opened until January 1, 1867. At that time, it was the longest suspension bridge in the world and remained so until he built the Brooklyn Bridge in 1883. Our guide referred to this bridge as the prototype for the Brooklyn Bridge. I would say, as a testimony to his genius, it is still standing and carrying motor traffic to this day.
No trip on the Ohio or Mississippi Rivers could be a true riverboat experience without the paddle wheels.
One reason these riverboat tours are so popular is because of the scenery on both sides in Ohio and Kentucky. I would love to have one of those old homes or condos along the riverfront! But, of course, so many people also flock to the riverfront for the sports complexes in Cincinnati. The Reds were playing as we cruised by.
Lest you fear that we weren’t being safety conscious, here is a locker full of life vests. There were a number of these, so I must assume that there were enough to go around.
But, of course, the best reason for these trips is to make friends and get acquainted with new people. Nancy befriended Greta during this trip.
OK, so “there are other fish in the bond!” Perhaps, next year we will ride on one of the DUCKs!
