American Queen In Town

Yesterday, while at the doctor's office for Bob, the doctor said he had went up to one of two parking garages we have downtown on the upper level and took a picture of the paddle wheel American Queen. I was also excited about it being in town. I love boats especially when the American Queen, Delta Queen or the Mississippi Queen dock here at the waterfront. It is truly a Mississippi Journey! Usually there are big tour buses that take the tourist to the Vicksburg National Military Park. Some of the tourist would rather take in the sites of our newly renovated downtown district walking the bricks. After the doctor's appointment, Bob and I drove down to the waterfront to see the American Queen and could hear the calliope playing. It is a huge boat and with the water up it was real close to the floodwall. I knew it would be leaving about 5:30 so I headed to the lookout over the Mississippi River. Actually, I did not know if it was going north or south. I was excited to see it coming out of the Yazoo Diverson Canal headed south going to Natchez, MS, on its way to New Orleans, LA. It was quite windy yesterday with winds picking up to 30 miles per hour and was difficult to stand still and hold the camera. Here are two of six pictures I took of the American Queen. Noticed the "feathered" smoke stacks laying down. That is for a reason so it can get under the two bridges. The older bridge with the flag flying is old Highway 80 and the newer bridge is Interstate Highway 20. To the left is a parking lot that is being added on to Ameristar Casino. We have Horizon by the waterfront, Black Diamond, Ameristar and Rainbow Casinos. Another casino is now being built between AmeriStar and Rainbow. Charming, Just Charming!