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November 10, 2005

When the gales of November come early

"The legend lives on from the Chippewa on down
Of the big lake they call Gitche Gumee
The lake, it is said, never gives up her dead
When the skies of November turn gloomy."

- Gordon Lightfoot, The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald

In accordance with this week's maritime theme, I bring mention to the 30th anniversary of the sinking of the ore frieghter Edmund Fitzgerald into the bitter cold waters of Lake Superior on this day. The tragic tale inspired a top-forty hit by Gordon Lightfoot and a legend that lives on.

Meanwhile, the legend of Michael Fitzgerald has only just begun.

I took today off for fear that my trip to the DC DMV for a driver's license renewal would take all day. At the advice of many I did it at the service location in Georgetown with the promise that it wouldn't take as long as the one in downtown DC. For the most part it was true, and my trip would have been cut down to a mere half hour had I not heard the dreaded line, "Oh no, the camera broke." But it was back up and running in no time.

Our last practice of the year is tonight but I'm standing on the sidelines to give my calf a break. It got kicked square in the meaty part on Tuesday and is now swollen and stiff. It does better in warm indoors than it does out in the cold. Hopefully I'll be able to run on Saturday. We leave by bus tomorrow afternoon, and this year, don't share the bus toilet with all the other teams, OK? No more blue geysers of shit on the way home this year.

Posted by jimbo at November 10, 2005 5:30 PM

Comments

Growing up in the UP, this is something I remember hearing stories about (as I was only a year old at the time). Glad to see that someone else has remembered such a tragedy. And Lake Superior can be quite the vicious lake when a storm rolls in.

Posted by: Craig at November 10, 2005 11:17 PM

The lifeboats of the Edmund Fitzgerald are displayed on the museum ship Valley Camp in Sault Ste. Marie. The metal lifeboats are just torn to shreds- even if the sailors had gotten in them they would have perished.

Posted by: homer at November 11, 2005 8:19 AM

I used to love that song as a kid, but I didn't get the full flavor until I heard it on the old stereo one night in a log cabin in the north woods of New Hampshire.

Posted by: John [TypeKey Profile Page] at November 11, 2005 11:37 AM

Ahoy, matey. Good luck at the Gotham game this weekend. Go 'Gaydes!

Posted by: schtzo at November 11, 2005 1:58 PM

I thought Gordon Lightfoot was HOT way back then......

Posted by: Dan at November 12, 2005 6:52 PM

It's too bad that people remember the Edmund sinking only for the song. But better than not remembering at all, I guess. There are so many people who have died on those lakes who are forgotten.

Posted by: Byf at November 15, 2005 5:05 PM