Paducah’s history




Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Friends on the river

Image
Start Mile 463, just upstream of Cincinnati  Last night I set up the boat for the usual night, but at 12:30 the rain returned.    Shower turned into heavy downpour, plus a wind from upstream (opposite the daytime pattern).. The boat could accommodate a light rain, but not this. As lightning flashed I am thundered, I lay in bed thinking about all of the rain coming aboard, and worrying that if I didn’t get up The boat could accommodate a light rain, but not this. As lightning flashed and thundered, I lay in bed thinking about all of the rain coming aboard, and worrying that if I didn’t get up, Water might come over the transom. The bow to stern heavy. I’ve pumped quite a bit while the rain continued to drill down. Back in the cabin, only my feet were damp, from a water might come over the transom. The bow to stern heavy. I’ve pumped quite a bit while the rain continued to drill down. Back in the cabin, only my feet were damp, from a leak above. Eventually the rain slowe...
Read more

Cave in the Wall

Image
Cave in the Wall has fed the imagination since the 1700s. River rowdy’s and pirates would gather there to plunder innocent passersby, and probably drink lots of whisky at the same time. The original party spot of the Ohio. Wabash Island Mile 851 Lonnie Lewis, ferryman, farmer Downriver at Cave In The Wall I stopped for breakfast at Rose’s Kountry Kitchen. A ferry crosses the river here. No fare to cross. The states pay. Lacking a better choice, I tied up to a nest of small towboats which had a derelict appearance. They had to be part of the ferry operation, which use a tow to guide a ferry barge. Knowing that the ferryman would see me, it was either going to be okay or not. It was not. The ferry owner showed up before I hit the shore. I couldn’t stay there, by policy. So we stood and visited. He talked with the authority of a man who had lived here all of his 78 years. He is both ferryman and farmer. I will remember him as the Grand Old Man of the river. Here’s something he...
Read more

Pushing rocks

Image
When the boat is going fast (fast means 21-25 mph), and I abruptly shut down the engine, the stern settles down, with a pause, and then the boat surges forward, riding its own wave. That seems so for the trip also. Having shut down the throttle, I surge back into normal life. A shower was top priority. AirBNB provided an elegant bedroom in the house of the former mayor. She said she lost reelection because of her support for the city owned transient dock, the place where my boat is tied.  The dock was controversial. She said what got the project started was a $1.5 million federal grant, thanks to Senator McConnell. This is the only occasional I have found to think well of him.  She was unhappy because Owensboro got $5 million for their waterfront project. Anyway, rocks. I have tried to learn from Sisyphus, who spent his afterlife pushing rocks up hill, only to have them roll down while he slept. For eternity!  I looked up Sisyphus, and he probably deserved it. For much ...
Read more