- MUSEUM ENTRANCE - As we drove down Market Street from the Ramada Inn (and past Jeffboat on our right), we were greeted on our left by one of two entrances to the Howard Steamboat Museum and the 10th annual Chautauqua. Little is visible from this perspective, but here walk-in customers pay their $2 entrance fee. Posted by B&B.
- DELTA QUEEN PADDLEWHEEL - We drove on down Market so as to maneuver our carload of books to a strategic location. As we turned off Market, we saw, to our left, the brightly painted, 22-ton original paddlewheel from the Delta Queen. Posted by B&B.
- CARRIAGE HOUSE - Another attraction that can be seen from outside the museum grounds is the carriage house, which is being restored. Posted by B&B
- BABY BELLE - On the road behind the museum we ran into the BABY BELLE, sitting high and dry, naturally! Posted by B&B.
- MUSEUM ADMINISTRATOR - A good administrator is always hustling. Yvonne Knight, of the Howard Steamboat Museum, was doing just that; but she stopped to visit with longtime friend and museum member James V. Swift, who was there to sign copies of his book, “Backing Hard Into River History.” Very little of the large festival grounds is visible here. Posted by B&B.
- READY FOR BUSINESS - Having been through the routine before, it didn’t take long to get Little River Books ready for business. I placed my large umbrella tent right under a ginko tree, same spot as last year. The ground is filled with the rock-hard ginko nuts, and last year I bent my aluminum tent stakes on them. This year I bought heavy eight-inch steel nails from the hardware store and a hammer, and won the battle. Posted by B&B.
- EARLY VISITOR - An early visitor to the Little River Books booth was Dan Back, left, a B&B subscriber, who also is the Ship’s Carpenter for the MV. BARBARA H. With him is Jim Swift, who helped tend our site and talked with visitors. Posted by B&B.
The word had spread that Virginia Bennett of Covington, Ky., former “Waterways Journal” correspondent and known by rivermen from one end of the Ohio to the other, would show up at the Chautauqua. She did, and we lucked out. Jim Swift has known her many years more than I have, but we both got hugs and she graciously posed with river friends for pictures. Virginia has an apartment overlooking the river. She communicates with passing vessels and they with her, often sharing a friendly whistle or lusty river song.
- HONORED GUESTS - Posing at the Little River Books booth with Jimmy Swift, right, are Virginia Bennett, center, and kin Anne and Bob White of Ft. Thomas, Ky. Posted by B&B.
- CLAN MEETING - Keith Norrington of New Albany, Ind., left, Honorary Historian of the MV. BARBARA H, poses with Virginia Bennett, second left, and Barbara (Fluegeman) Huffman, for whom the MV. DONALD B was renamed. Jim Swift can be seen in the background, and at right is Capt. Steve Huffman. Posted by B&B.
- NOT FOR SALE - Our hopes were up, but suddenly this man picked up a decorate can from our table and was examining it closely. He sounded very disappointed and they left immediately when I said it wasn’t for sale. On the face of the can was our credit card logos and inside was a bag of pennies to hold it down. Jim Swift, sitting with his back to the camera, holds down the fort. Posted by B&B.
- THE HUFFMANS - Next to us on our left was Capt. Steve and Barbara (Fluegeman) Huffman, who have the oldest operational sternwheel towboat in the nation, the BARBARA H (the former DONALD B) and operate it as a National Historic Landmark Vessel. The crew list includes Capt. Huffman, First Mate Aaron Richardson, Chief Engineer Dennis Huffman, Purser Barbara Huffman, Ship’s Carpenter Dan Back, Striker Sue Back, and Honory Historian Keith Norrington. The Huffmans operate as the Historic Sternwheel Preservation Society at 11 Ashland Cove Rd., Vevay, IN 47043. The URL for their website is http://hspsi.org. Posted by B&B.
- BACKSIDE OF MUSEUM - A little different view of the picturesque museum building was visible to our left. Posted by B&B.
- VIEW OF ONE SIDE OF GROUNDS. Posted by B&B.
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