Tall Stacks is fun for crews, too
Workers on ships like seeing big crowds, smiles

BY ANDY KNIGHT
Cincinnati.Com

Enclosed in his 8-by-10 foot glass box of solitude, Captain Matt Olwig can still appreciate the atmosphere that makes Tall Stacks a "one-of-a-kind event."

"The thing that's most special is the turnout," Olwig said from his captain's perch on the Tom Sawyer as he watched hundreds of passengers board the ship for a one-hour cruise up the Ohio River Friday. "The number of people and the enthusiasm that the city has for this event is really neat to see."

Olwig and his crew brought the Tom Sawyer up the river from St. Louis to make its maiden appearance at Tall Stacks. "In St. Louis the people that ride the boat are the people that visit; they're not necessarily the people who live there," he said. "This is kind of different here because so many residents of Cincinnati come down and participate in this event."

A member of Olwig's crew, Paul Culley of St. Louis, has made a career out of serving aboard the Tom Sawyer. After "just coming down and riding a few times," he has worked on board since 1984.

"I decided it was peaceful on the river, and I liked it," Culley said as a cool breeze whipped across the deck during the cruise. "You can go out and just spend some time with yourself. It's just enjoyable. It's fun. Plus, you like seeing other people enjoying themselves. It's great."

The Tom Sawyer is available for early morning tours, harbor sightseeing trips and meal cruises. Click here for ticket information.