Ambassadors help tourists have smooth sailing in Cape

Clara Morrison got the call early Wednesday morning.

"The Queen has arrived."

"I knew the Mississippi Queen was scheduled to dock at noon," said Morrison. "But sometimes they're early."

This was one of the early days. The Queen, en route from Nashville, Tenn., to St. Louis, docked at its downtown Cape Girardeau port at 4:30 a.m.

Although she didn't see dawn on the Mississippi, Morrison rearranged her schedule to be at the riverfront long before noon.

Morrison serves as one of city's more than 50 "Paddlewheelers," tourism ambassadors for Cape Girardeau.

Paddlewheelers greet groups and hand out tourist information about Cape Girardeau. They also help with programs, serve as guides for city tours, work with conventions, meetings and act as greeters when riverboats come to town.

This year, more than 20 Cape Girardeau stops are scheduled by the Mississippi and Delta Queens and the River Barge, a floating hotel.

Meeting people

The city is always looking for volunteers to help with the paddlewheeler program. At one time, all Paddlewheelers were volunteers. Now they receive pay.

But for many, it's still the opportunity to meet people that attracts them to their part-time jobs.

"I thoroughly enjoy being a Paddlewheeler," said Morrison, who has been retired from her job since April 1998. "I worked in the Cape County Collector's office for 31 years. I joined the Paddlewheelers the day after I retired."

"You get to know people from all over the country," added Morrison, who meets riverboats and acts as a greeter for bus tours of the city.

"Some people like to take trips to Bollinger County Mill, others like Trail of Tears State Park," said Morrison. "Many just enjoy seeing the old part of town and learning about Cape's history."

Morrison also devotes lots of volunteer hours to her church, Grace United Methodist. Last week, she helped prepare meals for vacation Bible school. She also helps plan trips for church groups. Those excursions include the quilt show at Paducah, Ky., the Muny and Fox theaters in St. Louis and shopping trips to nearby antiques stores.

When not tied up with church or Paddlewheeler obligations, Morrison enjoys planning trips for herself -- to Springdale and Normal, Ill., to visit her children, daughter Elaine Cook and son Jim Morrison.

She and her husband, the late James D. Morrison, moved to the Cape Girardeau area in 1962 from St. Louis.

Making memories

She does spend some time in front of her computer.

"I've started writing my memories," she said. "I remember how we used to be entertained as children, and life as it was many years ago."

One of her remembrances is a giant whirly-gig, built by her father when she was a youngster. "The whirly-gig (plank) was placed atop a tree stump, and we would go around and around on it," Morrison recalled.

Just like the whirly-gig, Morrison goes around and around in her duties as a Paddlewheeler and volunteer.

"It sure beats sitting around," she said, smiling.

rowen@semissourian.com

335-6611, extension 133