Barges and Boats

Last Sunday we took a drive down near Diamond Jacks Casino just to sit closer to the river to see if a barge would come along.  Across the river were 3 boats anchored on the sandbar bar and people swimming in the river.  Nearby, a couple was getting ready to go ski boating on the river.  All of a sudden here comes a towboat with a huge unloaded barges up the river and he made a wide turn in bend because another barge was coming behind and was close to where the people were on the sandbar.  It was very interesting to watch and was very hot day.  As we went back up the steep hill to leave, I stopped to take a picture of the bridge that was out and being torn down.  This bridge has the Kansas City Southern Railway tracks under it.  The 80-year-old bridge began coming down on August 7th in preparation for its replacement by a roadway-topped train tunnel expected to be completed by next summer.  It has been close since January 2009 and is the lone bridge along the main north-south corridor connecting downtown and I-20.  It has been a problem for motorist and business owners along Washington St.  Kanzaa Construction of Tokepa, Kansas, holds the $8.6 million contract for the project.  As we were going back home we saw another long barge making it's way up the river.  It is something about the river traffic that makes everyone stop and look.  To me it's fascinating.  What I miss the most about the river are the three queens, Mississippi, Delta and American paddle steamboats that would dock at our riverfront and you could hear their whistle blowing as they were coming down the canal and started playing calliope music.  Hopefully, one day they will put them back into service.  If you are interested in towboats you can go to a towboat gallery and look at them. 

Ergon Towboat Company at riverbank.

People enjoying an outing on the sandbar.

You can't see the towboat pushing the barges...its so long!

"Jennie K"

Jennie K making the big turn in the bend and heading up the river.

Couple riding the waves from the barge.

Dru Lirette heading up the river.

Looking towards the entrance of Diamond Jacks...it's a very steep hill.

Tearing down the lone bridge into town to make way for a new one.