Memphis isn’t much of a port these days, but once upon a time cotton was king and the mighty Mississippi River was the city’s lifeblood. Paved in European cobblestones, the historic levee is now the departure dock for a leisurely paddlewheel cruise which travels up and down a stretch of the river. A highlight of which is watching the passing tug boats that still work the muddy water, pushing barges loaded down with coal and gravel. And I’m reminded that, yes, big wheels keep on turnin’ – Proud Mary was in fact an ode to a real life Memphis tug.
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