A Riverboat Odyssey

By robert nerbovig

This book is "A Riverboat Odyssey". It is about a woman who grew up in central Minnesota. The story takes place starting in 1899 thru 1935. She marries a Paddlewheel steamboat captain in 1922 and travels up and down the Mississippi river between Braionerd, MN. and St. Louis, Mo. She has about 200 letters from her family that she reads to the passengers every day about growing up on a 40 acre farm. Their boat, "The Northern Belle", becomes a second home filled with Astrid's handmade quilts and fresh flowers. For over 20 years, Astrid and Hans work side by side, delighting passengers with scenic tours, home cooked meals, and Astrid's letter readings from her Ma and Pa about life on the farm beginning in 1899. This is book one of two.

• Language: English
• Publisher: robert nerbovig
• Release date: Apr 23, 2024
• ISBN: 9798224815081

robert nerbovig

About Robert Nerbovig: I have been married for 59 years to my wife Pat. I am a former active duty Marine as are my 2 sons. We live in the mountains of Arizona. I have been programming computers for business since 1970 and designing and developing web pages since 1996. I am familiar with computer viruses and the havoc they wreak. I am the 26th great great grandson of King Olaf of Norway.(Saint Olaf)

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Cover Art by Robert Nerbovig

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Prologue

The mighty Mississippi River has borne witness to countless stories over the centuries as it winds its way through the heartland of America. But few tales are as captivating as that of Astrid Hansen, a woman whose life was inextricably intertwined with the legendary paddlewheel steamers that once plied these waters.

Born in 1890 in the small central Minnesota town of Brainerd, Astrid's early years were spent on her family's modest 40-acre farm. It was a simple but happy existence, filled with the routines and rhythms of agricultural life. Little did she know that her destiny would one day lead her away from those pastoral roots and onto the ever-flowing currents of the Mississippi.

As a young woman coming of age in the early 1900s, Astrid possessed an insatiable curiosity about the world beyond the confines of her tiny rural community. She found herself increasingly drawn to the riverboat culture that was still thriving during those years, glimpsing a tantalizing taste of adventure whenever a grand paddle wheeler made its stately way along the Mississippi's tree-lined banks.

It was this fascination that ultimately led Astrid, at the age of 32, to make the boldest decision of her life - to leave her family's farm behind and embrace an entirely new existence as the wife of Hans Towers, a seasoned riverboat captain. From that pivotal moment in 1922, Astrid's days became a constantly unfolding odyssey upon the very waters that had bewitched her since childhood.

But even as her own remarkable journey unfolded, Astrid never lost sight of where she came from. Throughout her travels up and down the Mississippi over the next 13 years, she captivated countless passengers by sharing the letters and stories of her upbringing so vividly preserved in the sheaf of nearly 200 letters from her family. With each reading, she welcomed them into her humble past, painting vivid scenes of rural Minnesota life at the turn of the 20th century.

In the pages ahead, you will be transported back to that singular era, experiencing it through Astrid's eyes as both a farm girl of endless potential and a worldly-wise woman who achieved her grandest dreams. Her unapologetic zest for life, even in the face of adversity, will inspire you. Her boundless capacity for appreciation of the past and present alike will move you.

For within this singular narrative lies a profound truth - that our origins, no matter how simple, can fortify and embolden us to embark upon extraordinary journeys most cannot fathom. Astrid Hansen embraced that wisdom wholeheartedly, ensuring that her roots were never severed, even as the heady currents of destiny carried her to unforgettable new shores.

Chapter 1

In the early twentieth century, on the rolling countryside of Brainerd, Minnesota, nestled on a 40-acre farm, lived the Hansen family. They were a typical farming family, hardworking and dedicated to their land. The Hansen's ancestors had immigrated from Norway, and their Norwegian heritage was deeply ingrained in their daily lives.

Life on the farm was challenging but Ingrid and Lars Hansen were very self-sufficient. They were very proud of their Norwegian heritage. Ma and Pa had 40 acres, 20 acres of corn and a big garden. They were able to grow their own food including fruits, vegetables, eggs and meat. Summer produce was canned in order to feed the family during the winter months. To round out their pantries, they purchased items they could not supply like flour, sugar and coffee. Kerosene lamps were used to light the home and out buildings at night. Homes were heated with wood, or coal if the family could afford the expense. Regardless of the weather, going to the bathroom meant a trip outside to an outhouse. They also had to hand-carry water to the house for cooking and bathing.

Ma and Pa Hansen have five children. Their eldest son, Erik, was a bright and ambitious young man who had earned a scholarship to the University of Minnesota. Despite the long distance from home, Erik was determined to pursue higher education and make his family proud.

Next was Olaf, a charming and enterprising young man. Olaf had found a niche in selling stereoscopes and photographs to fellow locals who marveled at the beauty of their surroundings. He had a keen eye for capturing the essence of the landscape and had become quite successful in his entrepreneurial endeavor.

The other two sons, Henrik and Anders, dedicated themselves to working on the family farm. They toiled under the sun, tending to the crops and livestock with great care, following the traditions passed down by generations before them.

Their daughter, Astrid loved the river and often would visit the Brainerd docks to see the large Paddlewheel steamboats.

Her adventurous spirit had led her to explore the world beyond the farm's borders. The Hansens are a god-fearing family. They go to church on a regular basis. They love each other very much, and they always support each other through thick and thin. They often celebrate Norwegian holidays and traditions.

Letter-writing was a cherished activity for the Hansen family. Each week, Ma and Pa would sit by the cozy fireplace, penning their thoughts and news onto parchment. They would recount the everyday joys and challenges of farm life, sharing their love and aspirations for their children.

The mighty Mississippi River flowed through the small town of Brainerd. Brainerd was a thriving commercial hub with sawmills, warehouses, and merchandise stores supporting the river trade.

Massive sidewheel steamboats with names like War Eagle and Golden Era stopped at the long wooden docks of Brainerd to load cargo like lumber, wheat, and limestone quarried nearby. Passengers also crowded the decks of these riverboats, taking advantage of the key transportation link the river provided. The sounds of steam whistles and calls from rivermen loading freight echoed from the Brainerd waterfront.

The paddle-wheel steamboat, The Northern Belle, arrived in Brainerd captained by Hans. Astrid was fascinated by the boat and crew. Hans owned the Paddle-wheel steamboat and conducts river tours along the Mississippi river between Brainerd and Winona.

She meets Hans and feels an instant connection. They court over the next few months during his visits to town. Hans proposes to Astrid and she accepts. She is excited but also is hesitant about leaving her family and childhood home. Astrid married riverboat captain Hans in 1922. She begins traveling with him and helping on the boat. She often sent heartfelt letters to her parents, updating them on her new life on board The Northern Belle. Astrid sat comfortably on the deck of her riverboat, The Northern Belle, as it made its leisurely way along the majestic Mississippi River in southern Minnesota. The sun was beginning its descent, casting a warm golden glow across the water, while the crisp breeze carried the gentle sounds of nature.

Astrid's husband, Hans, skillfully steered the boat, his hands expertly manipulating the large wooden wheel. Astrid watched him with admiration, a contented smile gracing her lips. Together, they had built a life aboard this riverboat, conducting excursions for locals and tourists alike, between Brainerd, MN. And St. Louis, Mo., sharing the wonders of the Mississippi.

Astrid loved the river and being able to share its beauty with tourists from all over. She would point out eagles soaring overhead and the rocky bluffs lining the river. Hans was the captain, expertly navigating the sometimes-tricky channels of the upper Mississippi. He would talk about the history of the area and tell funny tales about life on the river.

The Northern Belle is a grand paddlewheel steamboat plying the waters between the sleepy town of Brainerd, Minnesota and the bustling port of

St. Louis. For one month, the mighty Mississippi River would be my home as we transported passengers and freight on our regular route through the heartland.

The Northern Belle was a vision from another era, its huge 30-foot waterwheel throwing up dazzling sprays of current as the large sycamore planks of her decks gently swayed with the river's motion. At over 200 feet long, with soaring white woodsides topped by elegant dark green awnings, the steamboat evoked romantic images of the river's Wild West heyday of the 19th century.

Yet inside, the Northern Belle provided luxuries and amenities fit for the modern traveler. The passengers lucky enough to afford the lavish deluxe staterooms were treated to spacious quarters with polished wood paneling, plush red draperies and large beds with crisp corn linens. Personal washrooms and copper bathtubs adjoined each cabin. Every decorative detail exuded the warm ambience of a grand hotel.

Those travelling in the second-class cabins were almost as comfortable, though their rooms were slightly smaller and they shared bathing facilities down the hallway. Even in coach class, all passengers had access to opulent dining halls where they could enjoy family-style meals included with their fare.

What culinary feasts we sampled on the long voyages! The chefs took full advantage of the southbound routes to source fresh local delicacies. Breakfasts may include farm-fresh eggs, thick-sliced bacon, buttermilk biscuits and sawmill gravy. Luncheons offered crisp salads, fresh-baked breads and roasted quail or pheasant.

Dinners were the pièce de resistance, with multiple courses bringing new delights like flaky baked catfish, thick smoky barbecued meats, corn puddings, and rich desserts like Southern pecan pie still warm from the oven. Accompanying wines complimented each dish perfectly as we dined in high style.

Of course, the true highlight was the ever-changing view outside the large picture windows that lined the ship's dining halls and promenade decks. Drifting lazily down the river's shining silver corridor, one could lose their cares watching the gradually shifting landscapes and abundant wildlife glide by.

Thick verdant forests of oak, cypress and willow bounced back our whistle's echoes, while further south the shorelines mellowed into lush wetland marshes where blue herons and snowy egrets stalked the shallows. In the fall, we witnessed trees ablaze in wild autumnal colors stretching to the horizon.

Frequently, we spotted herds of whitetail deer tentatively coming to the banks to drink, while bald eagles and ospreys soared effortlessly above. At night, the riverbanks seemed to come alive with choruses of croaking bullfrogs and howling coyotes as we slipped through the darkness under canopies of glittering stars. Astrid decorated the ship with quilts she had made and fresh flowers every day. Passengers loved browsing the gift shop and sitting on the deck watching the world drift slowly by.

As the boat glided through the calm waters, Astrid immersed herself in her favorite pastime - reading letters from her ma and pa. Each week, for the last two decades, her parents faithfully wrote to her, chronicling their lives back in their small hometown of Brainerd, Minnesota. The letters were a cherished connection to her roots, a reminder of the love and support that had guided her throughout the years.

As the sun began to dip below the horizon, casting a vibrant spectrum of colors across the sky, Astrid's heart swelled with gratitude for the life she and Hans