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I still moon over my pictures of the trip from time to time.
Got pictures of you mooning the camera? Now that would be something to post.
Ole
__________________ I never knew a man who wished to be himself a slave. Consider if you know any good thing that no man desires for himself. A. Lincoln
Zou, I can't remember the exact dates, but our flight into Chattanooga was delayed because of bad weather in the SE. We got there late after the boat left, then the next day they shuttled us to a point out in the sticks where the boat showed up and got us on.
There was a great Abe Lincoln impersonator there whose name escapes me. He came on one night. Then Bobby Horton. I don't remember seeing the 97th band. We had the Shiloh and Ft. Pillow tours, and before that the boat stopped at Decatur, Alabama for a while.
Could be you guys had a different week. I was totally impressed with the food, the quality and quantity. Was a little surprised at the high numbers of elderly on the boat. I had to check the brochure again to see if it the cruise wasn't specifically meant for retired folks, but I couldn't find anything on that. Most of them ate a lot and slept during the Civil war lectures and presentations.(those who showed up) They didn't ask any questions at Shiloh. Felt like I was the only one interested in the battle. The Confederate tour guide sort of ended up hanging with my wife and I because we were the only ones who were all that interested. I learned a lot from him and he enjoyed my questions. It was a great tour.
Stopped at Paducah for a while too.
Terry
__________________ "In this great struggle, this form of Government and every form of human right is endangered if our enemies succeed. There is more involved in this contest than is realized by every one." Abraham Lincoln - August 18, 1864 Speech to the 164th Ohio Regiment
My best friend here went on that same Mississippi Queen (well, it was one of the 'Queens', I'm not sure if it was the Mississippi or the Delta or American) and just LOVED that CW tour. She didn't mention the 'elderly' factor, but I have to laugh. Everytime I tell my husband that this particular trip is one I want to make, he says "That's for SENIORS". This from a man that was born during the last throes of the Hoover administration...
Anyway, I am always glad to hear positive reports of this trip as I intend to make it someday, senior husband or no! My friend said she'd go with me! She brought me two Bobby Horton CDs as a gift, and I have near worn them out.
I think all Americans should learn all of the great folk songs, and I of course include Stephen Foster's work chief amongst them. One of the reasons for public education is the sharing of our common culture and perpetration of it. Learning "Dixie" and "The Battle Hymn of the Republic" is a great part of that culture.
__________________ "Live in the world you inhabit. Look upon things as they are. Take them as you find them. Make the best of them. Turn them to your advantage." - R. E. Lee
Yep, for sure, the boat trip is a great learning experience for anyone interested in the CW. Don't get me wrong, I'm not against the elderly or anything. In fact I'm fast approaching that stage myself. I'll be 52 next month and the AARP has been sending me stuff since I turned 50! Anyway, the boat was pretty well maxed out as far as occupants, and by far my wife and I were the youngest aboard. It just sort of surprised me I guess. Your husband, wherever he got his info, was correct on that.
Bobby Horton even, got so exasperated during his performance, with the dozing crowd, that he actually mentioned, with a little irritation in his voice, that "you know, you can always sleep at home." He got applause for that. I mean, he was dressed to the the "t's", had his tux on, had all his instruments with him on stage, well-prepared, obviously well-rehearsed, a class act all the way, and here were all these folks noddin' off. Bobby worked his butt off but, alas, could not rouse them. He had to keep wiping his face with his hankie, he was workin' so hard, and sweating.
If you do get a chance to go Miss Markie, I'd go, because there are some very educated CW scholars, who appear there, well-paid I'm sure. It would be well worth the trip.
Terry
__________________ "In this great struggle, this form of Government and every form of human right is endangered if our enemies succeed. There is more involved in this contest than is realized by every one." Abraham Lincoln - August 18, 1864 Speech to the 164th Ohio Regiment
That is a great story about Bobby. How much do you know about him? Is he related to Johnny Horton? Did I hear he was his son or is that not true? I did know from reading the liner notes on the CDs that he plays a lot of instruments. I am surprised to hear he was in a tux to perform. Somehow I have a more 'homespun' view of him. Well, the 'dozers' missed out.
I think my favorite song by him is The Kennesaw Line.
PS~ I got my AARP card a year ago. I figure, hey, let me cash in on some of those senior benefits!!
__________________ "Live in the world you inhabit. Look upon things as they are. Take them as you find them. Make the best of them. Turn them to your advantage." - R. E. Lee
Terry, you may have been on the trip one before or one after us. We went the first week of June. There were indeed some people who were delayed on our voyage also, I remember seeing the bus driving along the riverbank as the steamboat nosed up to the shore! James Getty was the Lincoln impersonator on our trip. The 52nd Tennessee was on for just the first day, and they were our guides at Shiloh.
And yes, the crowd was tres elderly. They played WWII music on the PA system. My ex got mad at me when I told him that 20 years hence, all us old hippies will be toddling around those riverboats and the Beatles will be playing on the PA.
I'll try to find my pics from the trip and scan them in. I had just barely started writing my Civil War novel and was doing research. It was the perfect trip for me at that time... now I could probably give some of the lectures. I'd go back in a heartbeat, just to be able to rub shoulders with the likes of Richard McMurry and William C. Davis!!
Zou, your trip sounds just about identical to the one I was on, except for the 52nd Tenn. James Getty was our Lincoln impersonator too. Didn't remember his name til you mentioned it. Didn't you think he was pretty good? Remember, he told everyone outright as soon as he was introduced, politely but firmly,that he wouldn't answer any questions concerning the war? I thought that was a pretty smart move. I mean, he could easily have gotten mugged there on the boat if he had said the wrong thing. But his persona was dignified, he looked a lot like Lincoln, the beard was real etc. I was impressed.
Our guide at Shiloh was just one fellow, and when our bus arrived he greeted everybody and introduced himself. I don't remember his name. He had a straw hat on with a round brim, and people kept asking him, "Did the Confederates really wear those hats?". They evidently thought he would be wearing a gray colored bummer, or something. He was pretty authentic. The tour was good, but short. Everybody's attention span seemed pretty short, and some of them were getting annoyed with me for asking so many questions. Eventually I just shut up. It was pretty hot and uncomfortable, and the majority of the folks just seemed to want to get back on the air conditioned bus.
Miss Markie, Bobby Horton might be related to Johnny. I don't know. He is a top-notch professional musician who takes his work seriously, and wants people to pay attention. I imagine the boat gig paid him a pretty good wage, and he was entertaining on stage, with a fairly sophisticated light and sound system, for a riverboat. So he had his best duds on, in the spotlight, and he gave it all he had. He was very good, talented. His instruments included the banjo, guitar, violin, and they were all perfectly in tune. So, like I said he was a class act. He seemed to be about my age, possibly just a tad older. His cabin was right next to ours and as we were going into ours, he was coming out of his. I told him I enjoyed his show and that I purchased some cassettes. He said, "'preciate that. I got kids in college." Can't remember exactly where he got on the boat...maybe Decatur.
It was a well-planned affair, food was great and there was plenty of it. Cabin staff were very diligent, courteous, made your beds when they were supposed to, took care of every request. Very well organized operation. We were on the Mississippi Queen. Don't know if the Delta Queen is part of the operation. When we were cruising on the river everyone who was out in their boats would come up as close as they could to take a gander. All the rooms had balconies where you could sit of an evening after supper and watch the river go by as the sun went down. It was pretty cool.
Terry
__________________ "In this great struggle, this form of Government and every form of human right is endangered if our enemies succeed. There is more involved in this contest than is realized by every one." Abraham Lincoln - August 18, 1864 Speech to the 164th Ohio Regiment
Actually I think both are pretty cool songs and my kid will know both. BHR is this incredibly strong , heartfelt song that even being raised in the South I was taught ,learned and loved- powerful. Dixie is, as the rebels were, more flamboyant and carefree and flat out a great tune.
Dixie. Has to be Dixie! Even when Lynyrd Skynyrd play it on stage......ooo, the hairs on the back of your neck stand up! For the guys on the march..........
__________________ Long Live The Special Relationship!
Union Ancersor: Pvt Arnuah Norton, 60th Ohio. (G-G-G Grandfather) Died at Salisbury NC, November 3, 1864
Confederate Ancestors: Captain Thomas A. Morrow, 29th Texas Cavalry (G-G-G- Uncle) and 2LT George W. Morrow, 31st Texas Cavalry (G-G-G Grandfather). Both survived the war
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Most of them ate a lot and slept during the Civil war lectures and presentations.(those who showed up) They didn't ask any questions at Shiloh. Felt like I was the only one interested in the battle. The Confederate tour guide sort of ended up hanging with my wife and I because we were the only ones who were all that interested. I learned a lot from him and he enjoyed my questions. It was a great tour.
I'd go back in a heartbeat, just to be able to rub shoulders with the likes of Richard McMurry and William C. Davis!!
I imagine the boat gig paid him a pretty good wage, and he was entertaining on stage, with a fairly sophisticated light and sound system, for a riverboat. So he had his best duds on, in the spotlight, and he gave it all he had. He was very good, talented. His instruments included the banjo, guitar, violin, and they were all perfectly in tune. So, like I said he was a class act. He seemed to be about my age, possibly just a tad older. His cabin was right next to ours and as we were going into ours, he was coming out of his. I told him I enjoyed his show and that I purchased some cassettes. He said, "'preciate that. I got kids in college." Can't remember exactly where he got on the boat...maybe Decatur.
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