ROLLING ON THE RIVER

The family did something a little different on Saturday. We took a ride on one of the riverboats, not just the usual two hour, here's how boring it looks outside of downtown trips, but a five hour journey through the first lock on the Mississippi, which is north of here, up to the confluence of the Mississippi and Missouri. (The grade is so flat from here to New Orleans, dropping 450 feet / 137 meters over a wiggly course of 1,278 miles / 2,056 kilometers, that there is no need for  locks.)

The boat makes a pretense of being a stern wheeler for old-timey effect. When it got into the lock and had to so some fine maneuvering, it was obvious that there were propellers underneath. 

The day was gray and drizzly so outdoor photography was not at its best. There are still some other images worth a look.            

FINALLY, SOME MATERIAL

We usually look for something particular to do with Ellie on Saturday. Of course, our options are limited. I had the idea of taking a ride on one of the Mississippi River excursion boats that leave from under the Arch. It is a one hour ride up and down. Frankly, the scenery ain't great once you get much away from downtown. As we head north/upriver, we pass under the newest bridge in the area with the rather clumsy name of the Stan Musial-Veterans Memorial Bridge. (Just rolls right off your tongue.) It is a cable suspension design so you can get some nice patterns.

The most impressive moment was when I asked Ellie why the boat went faster southbound than north. She figured it out quickly.            

AS IF THE VIRUS WASN'T ENOUGH

The Mississippi is approaching flood stage. It's not supposed to get too high on this round but there is plenty of time for more and higher crests.  

Life On The Mississippi

That's the name of a book written by Mark Twain in 1883. That life goes on still, day after day after day. Looking at the great stream often reminds me of the Buddhist saying that you cannot step into the same river twice. But on the other hand, I don't know if I'd step into the Mississippi once.

This is the dock for excursion boats that take visitors on sightseeing rides. The river rises and falls so much that the dock has to float, connected to the levee by flexible walkways. Not much action at this time of year. The photo was taken from the Arch observation deck using my longest lens, 400 mm, on a camera with a 1.6 crop factor.           

Enough Room

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With the Mississippi this low there is plenty of room for the excursion boat Tom Sawyer to pass beneath Eads Bridge. When the river is in flood the tow boats of the big barge flotillas can barely get through. When the water level is at its highest commercial traffic on the Mississippi stops.

Life On The Mississippi

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The Mississippi is not a beautiful river, at least not around here. Nothing like the Hudson with its big rolling hills or the Colorado with its gorges. It's pretty flat from here to the Gulf of Mexico. It actually looks more interesting from the air, with twists and curls like a tortuous artery.

And an artery it is. Whether it's the Tom Sawyer taking tourists to its berth beneath the Arch or the enormous barges that carry bulk freight through the center of this country, the Mississippi is this city's reason for being.

Still no portal. It's been more than two weeks. Anyone know what's going on?