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thing you think about, but he was often camping in the wilderness,” she said.
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Two facts were learned at the museum’s daily live bird show employing injured fowl unable to survive in the wild. First was that an eagle can apply 1,000 pounds of pressure with its talons (a human can apply between 60 and 120 pounds.) Second was that owls typically have three talons pointing forward and one pointing backward. But they can rotate one of their forward talons backward to assist with catching and lifting prey. More animal trivia was learned about Henderson’s Ellis Park, which is not only used for horse racing, but throughout the year also features races of camels, ostrich, dachshunds and, (of course,) toddlers. In Louisville the tour highlight was the legendary Louisville Slugger Museum and Factory, easily located by the 120-foot-tall bat outside leaning against the entrance to the building. In the free museum a notable display was the bat which Babe Ruth used to hit his first 21 homers on the way to the record breaking 60th four-bagger. The tour of the factory floor includes a film about the company-owned forest in Pennsylvania where all the trees needed to manufacture their bats are grown. The presentation makes the point more trees are planted yearly than are used in bat production. The tour begins where the bats are
produced inside a glass enclosed lathe. The bats enter the machine as 3-inch diameter by 37-inch long ash or maple billets and emerge as a bat shaped from one of 2,000 different patterns. Interestingly, the machine was signed by Ozzie Smith and many other well-known ballplayers who had come to watch their bats being made. There were four other stops on the tour, with the last being the vat where bats are hand-dipped in varnish. The final port was the picturesque town of Madison, Indiana. Incorporated in 1809 the village has the largest contiguous National Historic The museum at John James Audubon State Park Landmark District in the U.S. Tour stops included the Schroeder Saddletree Factory Museum. For 94 continuous years until 1974, the tiny firm used the same equipment to make carved wooden frames for leather riding saddles. When the factory closed it was left as though the workers would return the next day creating a piece of industrial history frozen in time. The 1844 era Lanier Mansion State Historic Site in town is considered one of the best examples of Greek Revival architecture in the nation. Paint in the home was original, and one of the guides told us during a recent 2.1 million restoration the walls had been cleaned using QTips! Madison was the last port of call, and back on the boat, it was time for last evening of excellent food and live entertainment before docking in Cincinnati early the next morning. Inspired by America's heartland and America’s southern heritage, our menus had showcased the varied cultural and culinary influences of our nation. Every day each of the three meals featured a selection from five entrees (you could select more than one.) Every evening at the bottom of the menu in small type a notation mentioned lobster tail was always available. (One night I had two.)
Sometimes the menu offered surprising choices. One morning I enjoyed “The King of French ToastElvis style.” That translated into peanut butter and chocolate stuffed French toast topped with fried bananas. On another occasion our table companion ordered the vegetarian “carrot hot dog” on a bun for lunch. “It was different, but good,” she reported. In keeping with the tradition of legendary showboats from the 1800s, the husband and wife team of Clark and Melissa Roberts,(who had spent the last 15 years performing in built for the Mississippi and features a Scandinavian design. Additional ships are scheduled to be added in the next few years. https://www.vikingrivercruises.com /cruisedestinations/mississippi/index.html From $3599 for an 8-day trip departing New Orleans and returning to New Orleans.
Louisville Slugger Museum and Factory
Branson,) along with Doronte Evans, had entertained us three nights with Broadway caliber musical programs. On two occasions an entertainer boarded in a port along the way for solo performances.
Each evening after dinner the boat’s four-piece show band played late into the night in the boat’s lounge, “accompanied” by an open bar. (Drinks were included in the fare.) On two occasions impromptu entertainment included songs by one of the waitstaff, and a tap dance routine by Clark.
In retrospect, the cruise was a journey back to a simpler time when paddlewheel riverboats were plying our rivers, stopping in small towns where people were friendly, and happy to welcome you. Main streets were thriving and were only a block up the riverbank from where our boat was latched to shore.
After an enjoyable week on the water adjusting to a slower pace of life, transferring to the airport in our final port of Cincinnati and the commotion of air travel for the return flight to St. Louis was an unpleasant jolt back into reality.
If you go:
Three cruise lines sail American rivers and coasts. Sample prices below start with the least expensive itinerary and cabin. Consult websites for a comprehensive list of all cruises and prices. Prices vary by days on board, season, cabin and vessel. Special offers are often available.
American Queen Voyages
This firm sails four boats on the Mississippi, Cumberland, Ohio and Tennessee Rivers in mid-America, and the Columbia and Snake Rivers in Oregon and Washington State. Two additional passenger ships sail on the Great Lakes, New England and the Eastern Seaboard as well as international routes to Mexico and the Yucatán Peninsula. New to the fleet is the Ocean Victory offering 12 and 13-day journeys through the less-traveled regions of Alaska’s Inside Passage.
From $1399 for a seven-day sixnight cruise departing Portland, Oregon returning to Portland. https://www.americanqueensteamboatcompany.com/
American Cruise Lines The line operates thirteen cruise ships along the Eastern Seaboard and Western Seaboard as well as the Mississippi, Ohio and Columbia and Snake Rivers. https://www.americancruiselines.co m/ From $2455 for a five-day, fournight cruise from Baton Rouge to New Orleans
Viking Cruise Lines Known for cruising European Rivers, in June, 2022 this firm introduced the newly commissioned Viking Mississippi on the Mississippi River. Sailing itineraries from Minneapolis to New Orleans, the ship was specifically Photo Credit: All photos used in this story were taken by Barbara Winnerman.
About the Author:
Jim Winnermanhas been a journalist for 22 years writing about travel, art and architecture.
After serving as a 1st lieutenant in the U. S. Army from 1968 until 1971, he was a marketing executive for 27 years before retiring in 2001. He took up writing as a hobby, never intending to author well over 1000 published articles appearing in 80 different magazines and newspapers in the United States, Canada, South Korea and London. He lives in St. Louis with his wife Barbara.
