Some days on the water, you don’t even have to be on the water to enjoy it. This one stopped me in my tracks: the Belle of Memphis, tied up at the landing and gleaming in the sun.
Everything about her says classic riverboat: the crisp white decks with red trim, the tall black smokestacks topped with red crowns, and a row of American flags snapping in the breeze. Her name is painted right across the side in bold lettering, and a pair of big dark stars decorate the hull near the bow.
She isn’t alone, either. Another paddlewheel-style boat sits alongside, with its own stacks and blue-roofed upper deck rising behind. Together they make a great scene against the wooded hillside.
One detail I loved: the water was calm enough to give a nearly perfect reflection of the boat’s windows and railings, and the exposed, rocky bank shows just how low the river was. Low water makes for a good reminder that rivers have moods, and every season shows you a different side of them.
If you’re ever near a riverfront landing, take a few minutes to walk down and look around. You might be surprised what’s tied up at the dock.
Have you spent time on a riverboat, or have a favorite river town? Tell me in the comments.
