As Kids growing up on Lake Superior, you couldn’t keep us out of the cold water. I remember this day like it was yesterday. Playing on the beach and water, the Edmond Fitzgerald was steaming towards us, out of no where the Captain gets on the Loud Speaker, and starts talking and joking around with us!

We were memorized to say the Least, a ship with the approximate length of 2 city blocks (729 feet total) and at the time .. it was launched in 1958 and was the largest freighter on the great lakes!

Well what happened for at least 5 years after was every time the Edmond’s Fitzgerald sailed by we would get a greeting from the Captain in the form of a Solute during the day..A general solute is “1 long and 2 short” blast from their Steam Whistle, and on Special occasions a Royal Solute “3 long 2 short“. Night time they would flash their lights right into our home.. How cool is that!!

The Edmond Fitzgerald was an Iron Ore Carrier, and when in the Sault delivering their product, my dad and his Best friend don got to know the Skipper, the Cook, first mate and others!

I will never forget this storm of 1975, because it was the day I ran away, at an early age..Well i didn’t really run!! I flew away Air Canada to New Brunswick. Thanks Ernie and Lin..The flight was unbelievable, the plane dropped 1,000′s of feet at a time, and the motion sickness bags we’re being used.

I called dad telling him I’m okay out east, and he’s telling me that one of there neighbors woke up in the morning finding their boat in there living room of the house..Bad Storm!! I could go on..

Cabby Ken went on to the Navy, Dive Boats, Tug Boats, Commercial Fish Boats, owner of fish boat..that will be another Story..And what did I learn about the Water? Respect It!!

That being said please enjoy Gordon LightFoot..he does a beautiful song honoring the 29 dead, and by the way you’ll here the liriks “Lake Kitchagomi”! That means Lake Superior never gives up it’s Dead..Why? because it is so cold and deep..The cold deep water keeps you Down.

And a final note: It sank 20 miles as the Crow Fly’s from my Water Front Bedroom Window!!!

A good info site to go to is http://www.notebookmargins.com/mike/EdFitz/EdFitz.html

Happy (“,) Mileage,

http://cabbyken.com

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