Magic Of The Mississippi – Cruising Ol’ Man River

Nick Dalton is a travel writer and expert in both cruises and American destinations. Following his recent journey on the American Queen he has kindly allowed Bon Voyage to feature his article that appeared in the Daily Express.

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“I’m sitting on deck hypnotised by the relentless flow of the mighty Mississippi as the paddle steamer American Queen heads upstream.

“The river must be a mile wide, its banks thick with forest and the air is warm.”

Magic of the Mississippi – Cruising “Ol’ Man River”

Nick Dalton is a travel writer and expert in both cruises and American destinations. Following his recent journey on the American Queen he has kindly allowed Bon Voyage to feature his article that appeared in the Daily Express.

I’m sitting on deck hypnotised by the relentless flow of the mighty Mississippi as the paddle steamer American Queen heads upstream.

The river must be a mile wide, its banks thick with forest and the air is warm”.

We are only a few hours from our starting port of Memphis yet the only signs of civilisation are clusters of coal barges heading down to New Orleans.

I walk to the stern to watch the giant wheel, powered by piston engines salvaged from a 1932 boat. It’s even more impressive to watch at night through portholes from the Engine Room Bar.

Walking in Memphis

I happened to catch this song on the radio recently. Radio Two, if you must know. The first thing I did when I got home was to find the track on my iPod and remind myself why it’s a one of my favourite songs of all time. Not the frivolous remake version as recorded by the scarily renovated Cher, but the original by Marc Cohn. His haunting and powerful voice and the simple yet evocative lyric always transport me to one of my favourite cities in The South – Memphis.

“Walking in Memphis”

I happened to catch this song on the radio recently. Radio Two, if you must know. The first thing I did when I got home was to find the track on my iPod and remind myself why it’s a one of my favourite songs of all time. Not the frivolous remake version as recorded by the scarily renovated Cher, but the original by Marc Cohn. His haunting and powerful voice and the simple yet evocative lyric always transport me to one of my favourite cities in The South, Memphis.