Saturday, November 11, 2006

Stuck In Wooster with Those Traveling Blues Again

Saturday, November 11, 2006
4 comments
There was no sunset tonight. This is just eye candy for you.

Gave my talk to the Lorain County Metro Parks/Black River Audubon Society tonight. Nice bunch of folks who bravely came out on a cold and rainy night. Thanks to Gary and Harriet for making it all happen.

Had ants in my pants to drive at least part way home after the show. Made it an hour south to Wooster (where I seem to spend all my Saturday nights of late). Rainy nighttime driving in deer-rutting season is not for the faint of heart. And I was fading fast, so I holed up on the north end of town.

The best part of tonight's program was the song I opened with: Far, Far Away by Jeff Tweedy. I played the entire thing with my eyes closed, just feeling the music as it came out of me. It was as peaceful as I've felt in a long time.

It was cool (literally) to stand on the Erie lakefront this afternoon, getting blasted by wind and spray. Loads of red-breasted mergs and Bonies. Birding the Lake Erie shore in winter is really a change from what we get in SE Ohio. Of all the bits of time I spent in Cleveland over the years, I sure missed out on a lot of neat people and birdy places. But then I was playing music and visiting friends and birding was lower on the list of priorities.

I am not sure there's anything colder than the wet, ripping wind of November, right off of Lake Erie, hitting your face so hard that your eyes water. Makes you feel alive--for a second or two.

I want the job of November lifeguard on Lake Erie. Plenty of time for deep thinking (and watching for jaegers).

4 comments:

On November 12, 2006 at 10:54 AM Liza Lee Miller said...

If a bit chilly! Brrrr!

On November 12, 2006 at 1:53 PM Susan Gets Native said...

That last shot reminded me of Gordon Lightfoot's "Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald".
"The legend lives on from the
Chippewa on down
Of the big lake they call
Gitche Gumee.
Superior, they say, never gives up her dead
When the gales of November come early."
Wrong Great Lake, but still.

On November 13, 2006 at 6:39 AM Anonymous said...

Nice pic of lake! I grew up on Lake Erie, and spent many a wind-whipped moment by the shore in all seasons. It can be brutal in winter, for sure. I live inland now, but get back as often as possible and search for all those birds I missed (didn't even know existed!) when i was coming up. Judy (now in IN).

On November 13, 2006 at 12:35 PM Rondeau Ric said...

Hey BT3, did you sit in the chair and wave? I think I saw you.
It was only a 30 mile swim and you didn't come for a visit.
If you like Lake Erie, you will love it over here.

dos cerveza, por favor. Yes I know, but sounds better than two beers, eh?


[BACK TO TOP]