Last trip of the season - Page 2

Ally · 10-12-2007, 12:45 PM

Puts on ignoramus hat on.....what the 'eck is cow tipping? sounds dangerous to me

**MgicTwnger** · 10-12-2007, 01:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dalehall

That's why, when I got out of the military (the first time) I moved back down South, where the women are hot, the men are men and cow tipping is an acceptable Saturday Night date.

ROFL! I lived for a lot of years in the deep South, and that brings back a lot of memories.

**MgicTwnger** · 10-12-2007, 01:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ally

Puts on ignoramus hat on.....what the 'eck is cow tipping? sounds dangerous to me

According to Wikipedia:

"Cow tipping is an alleged activity performed by participants who sneak up on an upright, sleeping cow and push it over for fun. There are factors which make success in this unlikely, and a variety of calculations have been applied to determine if cow tipping is physically possible, sometimes with humorous intention.[1][2]

Academics in the zoology department of the University of British Columbia have concluded that cow tipping is impossible, noting also that cows sleep while lying down.[3] Some consider the attempt to practice it as an act of animal abuse.[4]"

I live in the heavily agricultural Midwest, and everybody here assumes it's true. I've never tipped one myself, just think what you have to walk through to do it!

**dalehall** · 10-12-2007, 06:25 PM

LOL!! To be honest, even though I grew up on a farm here in the South, I never tipped a cow either. I was always a bit on the small side growing up. You need some girth on you or a lot of friends to help out to make it successful...

That was just the first thing that came across my mind when I was writing my reponse. I saw "Cars" again the other day and seeing "Mater" go Tractor Tippin' is what made me think of it.

**MgicTwnger** · 10-15-2007, 08:35 PM

OK, to get back on track:

The weather gods smiled on us Saturday. After gale force winds Wednesday and Thursday, the lake was flat on Saturday with hardly a breeze, although it was overcast most of the day. Temps were in the low 60's F, perfect drysuit weather.

The two morning dives were on the Wisconsin:
Wisconsin 95 ft. - 130 ft. (Kenosha) - Sunk as the result of a northeasterly gale on October 29, 1929. The deck of the wreck begins at 95 ft.. The bottom is at 128 ft.. The ship is sitting squarely on her keel in a near upright position. The steel superstructure of the wreck is nearly swept away, exposing the supporting I-beams. In her cargo hull, three vintage automobiles remain - a Hudson, an Essex and a Chevrolet touring car.
The Viz was great, temp at depth wa in the lo 40's F.

Afternoon dives were on the Lady Elgin:
Lady Elgin 55 ft. (Fort Sheridan) - The "Titanic" of the Great Lakes. On September 8, 1860, the 'Lady Elgin', a 252 ft wooden, sidewheel passenger steamer, with 393 passengers on board, was rammed by a lumber laden schooner. Only 98 passengers survived this terrifying disaster. Remains of the ship are located in 3 primary areas.
At these shallower depths the viz had shrunk to nothing and the water seemed colder. Probably after effects of the weeks storms.

Ally · 10-15-2007, 08:44 PM

I watched the documentary about the Lady Elgin wreck. Fascinating story of how she was lost.

Have to admit that at first I was very surprised that so many ships have foundered in the Great Lakes, some have never been discovered.

**MgicTwnger** · 10-15-2007, 08:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ally

Have to admit that at first I was very surprised that so many ships have foundered in the Great Lakes, some have never been discovered.

When I moved to the Midwest from the east coast, I had been away from diving for many years, and it never even occurred to me to get back into diving out here. I won an open water class in a raffle, did a wreck dive on lake Michigan, and was hooked.
I believe there are estimated to be about 10,000 wrecks in the Great Lakes, and most have not been discovered. I've got my work cut out for me!

Ally · 10-15-2007, 09:02 PM

I can't remember which wreck now, but on one documentary there was a body found on a beach that was a crewmember from another ship that was lost on the same night, but he was wearing a second wrecked ship's lifevest and it was all a bit of a mystery as to how he had the wrong ship's lifevest on when found.

The Great Lakes has an amazing history of shipwrecks. You just don't think that somewhere enclosed like the Lakes could have such bad storms.

I guess the most famous wreck in the Lakes has to be Edmund Fitzgerald. So many tragedies in one area of the world.

Are ships still lost on the Lakes or has technology managed to keep them from happening?

**MgicTwnger** · 10-15-2007, 09:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ally

Are ships still lost on the Lakes or has technology managed to keep them from happening?

Less and less all time, but there will allways be shipwrecks.

Ally · 10-15-2007, 09:22 PM

Wasn't there a train ferry that was also featured on 'Wreck Detectives' or similar programme?

How many Lakes wrecks have you managed to dive onto, Ken?

Must be quite an incredible feeling having them looming out of the murk at you sometimes