[Dixielandjazz] hi

[Bill Gunter]

Hi Listmates,

Cebuisle2 at aol.com wrote (concerning placing the USS Iowa in Stockton):

>Stockton . . . I thought this city was  inland?? Maybe they will put wheels 
>under it??

Stockton, Like Sacramento, is located in the middle of the great central 
valley of California - many miles from the sea. But they both have deep 
water channels connecting the cities to the San Francisco bay and, through 
the Golden Gate, the Pacific Ocean beyond.

The Cell Block 7 just recently played a dance gig in Stockton aboard a 
refurbished ferry boat - "The Klamath" - which used to ferry autos across 
the bay between Oakland and San Francisco. When the bay bridge was built in 
1936 the ferry boat fleet fell into disuse and most were junked. The Klamath 
was salvaged and later taken to the Port of Stockton via the deep water 
channel and turned into a floating party and convention boat.

I have crossed the bay on ferryboats many times as a child 70 years ago and 
I'm sure I must have ridden in the Klamath a few times.  It was a hoot 
playing for a dance on the old barge 70 years later!

If they do move the Iowa to Stockton it would be a magnificent addition to 
the city's waterfront and I'd love to play in an opening ceremony if it ever 
comes about in my lifetime.

Respectfully submitted,

Bill "Thimbles" Gunter
jazzboard at hotmail.com