We took the
La Crosse Queen paddlewheeler tour of the Mississippi River with Cheri and Todd today. I've been on the tour once before, in grad school, but remembered very little of the ride, aside from some of the views. Probably because then I was on a riverboat tour with my classmates, drinking beer and eating pizza (and not listening to the tour guide). My, how times have changed.
Isaac loved the ride, and even had the chance to drive the boat! Unfortunately Emma wasn't in a great mood, and fussed most of the time. Good thing there were a couple extra sets of arms to take turns holding her. Baby crankiness aside, it was an enjoyable ride, with lots of interesting historical information shared along the way.
Captain Vanberg!
The La Crosse Rail Bridge, a swing bridge, was really neat to see. It was built in 1876, and is still operated by the rail line. Someone mans the bridge day and night, making sure boat traffic and train traffic both pass safely. On the tour, our guide told us the story of the original swing bridge built on the Mississippi in Illinois. When it was first built in 1856, a steamboat crashed into it, and started the bridge and itself on fire. The steamboat owner sued the railroad, claiming the bridge was a hazard to river traffic. But the steamboat owner lost, because the railroad was defended by Abraham Lincoln in court, and he argued that people had just as much right to pass over the river as ride on it. Pretty cool, right?!
Isaac, waiving to the rail worker.
The paddles.
The Queen.
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