After getting a motel room, we drove toward the river and the old city of Paducah, Kentucky. John probably knew we’d see railroad tracks and the confluence of the Tennessee and Ohio rivers. His geographic and choo-choo antennae are always up. He didn’t sense a barrier wall, and that’s what we found. I took a photo of John standing before the wall at a mural depicting a steam engine. To the right was the Ohio River.

A few steps down was a mural welcoming visitors to the wall depicting Paducah in the past. There were scenes of Indians, early settlers, historic events, important people, and cultural buildings. Before each mural was a brass plaque explaining the scene. What a marvelous history walk it was!

We found out the city had three devastating floods. To prevent it happening again, they erected this barrier wall. The highest flood was 11 feet higher than the pavement we were standing on. John stood at one of the gates where a large concrete slab would rise to close the gap.

To our surprise, the steam engine in the mural was sitting around the curve. It had an odd collection of cars behind it, making it look like a train. John said the cars were ones that would have been used in that area, but not necessarily together.

We walked behind the wall, near the water. Evidently, the river draws people there to stroll, ride bikes, and enjoy the cool breezes. Some drove their cars, watched the water for a while, and drove away. It seemed such an old-fashioned, low-tech pastime. Good for you, Paducans!