Gordon Lightfoot Forums - View Single Post - Split Rock Lighthouse

mnmouse · 11-11-2005, 06:41 PM

John,

Thanks for sharing your thoughts and recollections...it was indeed a beautiful day on the lake yesterday.

A few thoughts of my own:

The drive along the lake shore from Duluth was beautiful, with the sun sparkling on the sky blue water, and Gord's tunes playing in the car. Skies were clear, the air was cool. It was hard to imagine the violence of the storm that hit the Fitz with such fury on this same date all those years ago.

Once at Split Rock, there was a film about the Wreck of the Fitz, with recollections from captains who sailed the lake and theories as to why she went down quickly. (They even mentioned "Lightfoot's ballad" in the film.)

We spent a lot of time outside, walking the grounds and the lake shore, and looking out on the lake from the lighthouse itself.

When they read the muster of the last watch of the Edmund Fitzgerald to the tolling of the ship's bell, the crowd was silent and respectful as we all comtemplated what was lost. I was thankful to be able to experience that with the breeze coming in off the lake, and the lighthouse watching from it's rocky cliff.

Immediately after the last bell rang out, the light was lit. We walked down to, and along, the lake shore as the sun went down. Once down on the shore, we watched the lighthouse shining out into the darkness while listening to the waves lap the rocks. Breath-taking.

On the way back to Duluth, Gord's music was once again playing softly in the car, and we could see a large iron-ore boat, her decks all lit up, riding smoothly on the moon-lit lake. Away off in the distance we could see the lights of Duluth waiting to welcome her to the harbor. A perfect end to the day!!

There is something about a lake this large that stirs the depths of a person's soul. To see her immense beauty and know, at the same time, the immense power she possesses, to understand the treasures and the dangers that she holds...to ride her waves, and look out and see nothing but water on every horizon...that is something everyone should experience at least once in their lifetime.

11-11-2005, 06:41 PM	#3
mnmouse Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2005 Posts: 225	John, Thanks for sharing your thoughts and recollections...it was indeed a beautiful day on the lake yesterday. A few thoughts of my own: The drive along the lake shore from Duluth was beautiful, with the sun sparkling on the sky blue water, and Gord's tunes playing in the car. Skies were clear, the air was cool. It was hard to imagine the violence of the storm that hit the Fitz with such fury on this same date all those years ago. Once at Split Rock, there was a film about the Wreck of the Fitz, with recollections from captains who sailed the lake and theories as to why she went down quickly. (They even mentioned "Lightfoot's ballad" in the film.) We spent a lot of time outside, walking the grounds and the lake shore, and looking out on the lake from the lighthouse itself. When they read the muster of the last watch of the Edmund Fitzgerald to the tolling of the ship's bell, the crowd was silent and respectful as we all comtemplated what was lost. I was thankful to be able to experience that with the breeze coming in off the lake, and the lighthouse watching from it's rocky cliff. Immediately after the last bell rang out, the light was lit. We walked down to, and along, the lake shore as the sun went down. Once down on the shore, we watched the lighthouse shining out into the darkness while listening to the waves lap the rocks. Breath-taking. On the way back to Duluth, Gord's music was once again playing softly in the car, and we could see a large iron-ore boat, her decks all lit up, riding smoothly on the moon-lit lake. Away off in the distance we could see the lights of Duluth waiting to welcome her to the harbor. A perfect end to the day!! There is something about a lake this large that stirs the depths of a person's soul. To see her immense beauty and know, at the same time, the immense power she possesses, to understand the treasures and the dangers that she holds...to ride her waves, and look out and see nothing but water on every horizon...that is something everyone should experience at least once in their lifetime.