Gordon Lightfoot Inspired Travel

mytoyota@earthlink.net · 02-07-2003, 07:26 PM

With Gordon Lightfoot on the mend and my life about to change forever, I have been thinking about taking a month off. A month in between the old and the new, here's what I'm thinking about doing.

First thought was to to travel up the East coast with maybe two or three stops, one in the south, nice and warm, one that would include Massachusetts, Connecticut and New York, possibly slip on into Maine. From there to Toronto and then to the West Coast north to Seattle, Portland, then south to San Diego, then finally San Francisco.

I got to thinking about missing Gordon, the shows and how much peace I seem to have while listening to his music. And, I thought it would be interesting to go to the places that inspired him, places in the songs that I've only dreamed about and where he would go for his spiritual renewal aka Canoe trips. While I like the idea of first plan, I think it would be far more meaningful to me to make this a "Gordon Lightfoot Inspired Travel"

The reason for my post is this: With the lack of concerts to talk about, I thought maybe you'd enjoy helping me to remember all of the places that are Gord related via song, or where he has spent meaningful time. I imagine this could get long with more places to go then time, but with your help maybe I could sort out the best plan. Sure, I could look all of these things up, song by song that relate to a specific place, if I didn't have to work and had no life . . . Also, once this thing starts turning into a real plan, I'd love it if anyone would like to join in for any or all lengths of the journey.

Partial list:
Orillia
Toronto
?Name of town, Great Lakes Memorial to the Fitz
Alberta? is this the place he went on trips?
Christian Island

Help me, this could be fun.
Kimberly

If you need me . . .

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paperback dreams . . .

brink · 02-07-2003, 08:28 PM

Kimberly,
I was in Orillia last fall and it is just a great place to visit I loved it, I also spent a couple days in Toronto - that was fun too. Thinking gee I wonder if Gord ever ate here or did he ever come here, it was great. I also have a picture of me by the Carefree Highway sign. I lived in Northern Minnesota and that area was where I imagined a lot of his songs coming from. I understand that there is a school that Gord supports for mariners, that would be cool to go to. Duluth has a memorial I think for the Fitz. I love road trips and haven't done one for many years but Gord's music and I went many a mile together. I am envious and hope you have the best time. Gord didn't sing about anything in Colorado but if you get this way, email me.

mytoyota@earthlink.net · 02-07-2003, 08:42 PM

"but if you get this way, email me."

You bet I will and thanks so much for sharing your experience and information. This is going to be good!
Kimberly

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paperback dreams . . .

Khotsocooldude · 02-08-2003, 05:57 AM

Brink, being a Brit I am not up on American geography. However in the song '10 Degrees And Getting Colder' Gordon mentions Boulder. Isn't that in Colorado?

brink · 02-08-2003, 07:47 AM

Yes it sure is! Forgot about that one. There was a book out published in Boulder too of Gord's "Wishing you good spaces(?)?". How could I forget. Thanks.

closetcanadian · 02-08-2003, 10:22 AM

Khotsocooldude,

The Boulder referred to in "10 Degrees and Getting Colder" is actually in Nevada, not Colorado. Boulder Dam was the original name for Hoover Dam, located on the Colorado River at the Nevada-Arizona border. The nearest town to the dam is Boulder City, Nevada. It's my understanding the locals were not pleased when the dam was renamed in honor of President Herbert Hoover and many residents still refer to the dam as "Boulder Dam". And don't be self-critical of your knowledge of American geography - I'm quite certain it exceeds my knowledge of your country!

Regards,
closetcanadian

02-08-2003, 12:16 PM

Gord mentions Colorado in "Long Thin Dawn" at least for one of the verses. "Last night I came to Denver beneath the snow capped ridge, I thought about my darlin' as I stood beneath the bridge. Just to mention something

christinefrommichigan · 02-08-2003, 12:25 PM

Sault Saint Marie Michigan has two of the life boats from the Fitzgerald at Valley Camp Museum near the locks and Whitefish Point near Paradise Michigan has the bell.

02-08-2003, 11:56 PM

[QUOTE]Originally posted by mytoyota@earthlink.net:
[B]With Gordon Lightfoot on the mend and my life about to change forever, I have been thinking about taking a month off. A month in between the old and the new, here's what I'm thinking about doing.

How about St. Augustine Florida. Gordon mentioned the ciy in his song "Miguel" which is one of Gord's most classic accoustic instrument songs. I am not sure if he was meaning St. Agustine Florida or not. But St. augustine is full of Folk music and has a folk festival in the fall.

Khotsocooldude · 02-09-2003, 09:55 AM

closetcanadian, thanks for the information regarding Boulder and Boulder Dam. Although I am a Brit, born and raised in England. I consider myself a 'closetcanadian' also. My late father was a Canadian, and I feel this tremendous affinity with Canada. Hence my great love of all things Gordon Lightfoot. My father's great regret is not registering me as a Canadian born abroad all those years ago. I feel pretty much the same, as I would be over there like a shot. This country is starting to miff me just a little.

Changing the subject, I and my wife decided to do a Lighfoot discovery trip a few years ago. We visited Orillia, in the days when there was a 'Home of Gordon Lightfoot' sign as you entered the environs of Orillia. We walked the 'Lighfoot Trail'. Enjoyed a 'Lightfoot Salad' in a local restaurant, which was (and still is) a railway carriage down on the lake.

We then decided to do 'Christian Island'. We took the ferry, and drove to the end of the road that ran through the little town. At the end of this unmade road was a little toilet, just a hole in the ground in a small hut. We walked along a fine beach admiring some fine looking holiday homes at the waters edge. Then it got interesting, in attempting to drive away, the car dug it's way into the sand. We were stuck. It took me about 2 hours to dig it out and get some grip under the wheels. Then it was a frantic dash to catch the last ferry back to the main land. Good memories.

Gordon mentions several places in his songs. Can anybody tell me where Hornepayne is

char · 02-09-2003, 02:47 PM

Hornepayne is north of WAWA ontario. http://www.mto.gov.on.ca/english/tra...eets/map14.pdf

Char

02-09-2003, 03:02 PM

I think he was referring to St. Augustine's cathedral in Mexico. The song deals with crossing the Mexican border, and Florida is a little too far east for that

quote:Originally posted by jg005@aol.com:
[B][QUOTE]Originally posted by mytoyota@earthlink.net:
How about St. Augustine Florida. Gordon mentioned the ciy in his song "Miguel" which is one of Gord's most classic accoustic instrument songs. I am not sure if he was meaning St. Agustine Florida or not. But St. augustine is full of Folk music and has a folk festival in the fall.

gwen snyder · 02-10-2003, 09:45 PM

mytoyota
don't forget across the river (Through the tunnels) to Windsor, Canerda (let it roll).
Funny thing in the song 14 karat gold, he alludes to gambling and cashing in chips etc. and I thought for the longest time he was talking about Las Vegas...has anyone heard of concerts he has had there? Well, I was on a lighthouse trip last fall up to the straits of Michigan and we were there for a few days...we stayed at the Kewadin Casino in Sault Saint Marie (on the U.S. side) and while we were walking back to our room the first night we saw an advertisement billboard for Gordon Lightfoot concert, it was not for the time we were there so, I didn't pay alot of attention to it. Then I thought maybe this was the Casino/gambling place, he sang about, any comments? Any way it is a powerful place up there in the Soo locks area, so you probably want to visit there.

gwen

closetcanadian · 02-10-2003, 11:22 PM

gwen,

GL has played in Las Vegas, Reno, and Laughlin, Nevada many times over the years. In fact, it was while driving from Las Vegas to Phoenix on tour that he first saw the "Carefree Highway" sign that inspired one of his biggest hits!

In recent years he has played at many Native American owned casinos from coast to coast as well.

best regards,
closetcanadian

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"be calm in the face of all common disgraces...and know what they're doin' it for..."

SomewhereupinMichigan · 02-11-2003, 03:06 PM

Yeah, ditto to ClosetCanadian's comment. The Kewadin in the Soo is not that old a casino to have inspired his song lyrics. I am almost certain any inspiration would have been from Vegas or Reno...if, in fact, the lyrics are inspired by a casino at all. Remember that Gord has been involved throughout the years with lyrics to songs in more than one motion picture that involved gambling scenes.

BILLW · 02-11-2003, 09:08 PM

Kimberly,

First of all I assume your upcoming life change is a good one. As for GL inspired travel I could swear he mentions Baltimore in a song and I've played about 55 today looking for it. (help? - anyone?) But a trip would be missing something if it didn't include Maryland and I know we have quite a few supporters/members here in the Delaware, Maryland, Virginia area. And we'd all love to see you.
Happy planning,

Bill

gwn snyder · 02-12-2003, 08:49 AM

hi Billw

Could that be in "lifeline"?

gwen

catmanron · 02-12-2003, 04:45 PM

The Plains of Abraham just outside the walls of the "old" City of Quebec is a must see Kim, it has a great feel of history, and change for the "new" world.

Char, I've been the Wawa, it's the only place in the world that I've seen float planes parked in the main street. ( "In a lunch pail town with a one horse way"... lol )

Ron.

BILLW · 02-12-2003, 05:36 PM

Thanks Gwen, Lifeline it is.

Bill

gwn snyder · 02-12-2003, 10:12 PM

Did anyone mention New York City, yet? Catmanron,when you say the "old" city of Quebec, what are you refering to? We are planning a trip up there sometime this year, and this souncs like a greatplace to visit.
gwen

BILLW · 02-13-2003, 05:31 AM

Gwen,

Are you gwen snyder or gwn snyder. Just want to make sure I'm responding to the right person? There are two profiles in this thread.

Bill

gwn snyder · 02-13-2003, 09:24 AM

BILLW
HELLO! I MEANT TO CHANGE MY PROFILE INSTEAD I CHANGED THE SPELLING OF MY NAME, I WILL FIX IT! SORRY FOR THE DUAL-PERSONALITY CONFUSION...
GWEN

OH AND MY TOYOTA, DON'T FORGET TO VISIT WASHINGTON STATE AND GO SEE "BIG BLUE"

Auburn Annie · 02-13-2003, 09:41 AM

There's always Biscayne Bay (from MORNING GLORY) or the Bahamas (TRIANGLE)

char · 02-13-2003, 12:30 PM

Old Quebec City (the old area) is beautiful. charming and quaint and lots of great food and wine.
Wawa - what can ya say about Wawa?? LOL
Char

Brian 57 · 02-13-2003, 10:34 PM

Central New York State (Syracuse to Utica/Rome area) qualifies for "Song for a Winter's Night" for anyone out traveling now. It's still snowing compliments of "lake effect" snow off Lake Ontario.


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