Belinda Orange gives Paducah Life a little glimpse of what it is like to be a towboat cook. Read about how cooking on the river is changing in the March/April 2013 issue of Paducah Life Magazine!
Belinda you fed me many times as a visiting technician on the upper. Thank you a ton!! I felt right at home when you were cooking, I felt like I was family the way you treated me, and I felt like I was at my grandmothers the way you cooked soo well!
Most defiantly not the way it was when I was "out there". You ate what the cook fixed which usually reflected what the cap. wanted. However, it was always good!!!
In Dubuque Iowa they have a river boat that was a Dredger (cleaning the bottom of the Mississippi)> Retired in the early 70s. Its a museum now. Its amazing a boat that was built in the 20s or 30s would have such a nice kitchen and dining area.
There's only a few bad cooks on the river.The first rule when boarding a towboat for your hitch is to watch your mouth around the cook and don't cuss unless she cusses first.
On the lakes I never had a bad cook.All were good, a few were great. Up to date mail was an issue for me. This was before E-mail. I always wanted to work on ther Mississippi. What apart of history that would have been.
@@davidwadsworth8982 You still can. I've never seen a bad cook, except for the time they asked me to ride over & fill in as cook while she went home for an emergency. They won't never do that again. One time,we were waiting for our lock turn & the crew from another company boat came by in their yawl(small boat) to beg our cook,"Miss Nancy, would you cook our eggs? Jimmy (their own cook?) doesn't know what he's doing over there!"
@@doughesson I am TOO OLD son, I turn 71 21 November. Now if I ever get that Time Machinme I seek and pray for, we could be shipmates. I filled in for a week as the 2nd cook just once. Did a good breakfast, made solid coffee, snacks on my own, just followed orderes dinner and supper. I miss being out there on the water soooo much it hurts. But I am so blessed. I got to be a soldier, and a merchant mariner.To me that is so cool. Safe transits my friend.
@@davidwadsworth8982 I'm 56,was 42 when I was back on deck in order to get my Master 100 tons-Western Rivers license renewed after letting it expire. I broke my leg when the towboat slammed a barge into the dock so that the hopper could be loaded farther away from the dock. Been off the river 13 years now & still miss it.
I just heard a guy who is in his 70's mention a cook they called Arkansas Ma. Said all the guys loved her. She raised 11 sons. He said she was the best cook on the river. Anyone else ever heard of her?
Mrs I don't know you but I'm looking for a job cooking on the boat can you lead lead me the right way where to go and what to do I'm a 63 year old woman I had 14 brothers and sisters so I can cook a fest I have 3 grown sons so if you can help me please HELP
Hey Sergei, I don't know if you still want in the industry but now is the time to apply of you do! Search Indeed for jobs as a deckhand and go from there
Weight conscious crew should spend a little time in the gym and eat stuff that makes them happy and alert! I’d love to see some chow times with example of the cooking!
Mrs Richards: "I paid for a room with a view !" Basil: (pointing to the lovely view) "That is Torquay, Madam ." Mrs Richards: "It's not good enough!" Basil: "May I ask what you were expecting to see out of a Torquay hotel bedroom window ? Sydney Opera House, perhaps? the Hanging Gardens of Babylon? Herds of wildebeest sweeping majestically past?..." Mrs Richards: "Don't be silly! I expect to be able to see the sea!" Basil: "You can see the sea, it's over there between the land and the sky." Mrs Richards: "I'm not satisfied. But I shall stay. But I expect a reduction." Basil: "Why?! Because Krakatoa's not erupting at the moment ?"
