Dateline Mallory Square, Key West Florida. Your Intrepid Cancer Cure Rider received a bunch of suggestions about what to see while here and is prepared to make the sacrifices for the cause to try to see them all! However, although obligated to this noble cause, I think I shall make a strenuous effort to bypass the “Clothing Optional Bar”. No Mission Control! Really! I really, really will!! I promise!
Mission control recommended a big hit however, the Mel Fisher Maritime Museum. This museum is dedicated to Mr. Fisher’s discovery, submarine archeology, and recovery of artifacts from the Nuestra Senora de Atoche. She was a sailing ship that was one of a fleet of ships that left Havana in 1622. The ships were carrying tons of gold and silver, and of course cannon, dishware, and all of the other artifacts that were common among transport ships of the era. The weather was good and the crossing short, so the fleet left. They were hit by a hurricane and most were lost in the Florida Straights.
Mel Fisher, a diving instructor and shipwreck enthusiast, launched a search effort and after many tries found the wreck. This is a must see! Link chains wrought of solid gold, solid silver bars the size of a small engine block, cannon that are so big that they wouldn’t fit in your bathroom, silver coins by the hundreds….and the list goes on.
GOLD AND SILVER AS IT WAS FOUND ON THE BOTTOM
SOLID GOLD
SOLID GOLD AND EMERALD CROSS
And of course the federal government tried to take it all away. Fisher prevailed, but it went all of the way to the United States Supreme Court. The irony is that he had paid what he presumed were his taxes and fees upon making the recovery. When he won his legal case all of that had to be refunded to him! Chalk one up for the good guys.
THE STORY OF THE LAWSUIT
Oh, and there was a Harry Potter exhibit too. They artfully managed to weave this golden chalice into the recovered artifacts and Harry Potter.
And of course Your Intrepid Cancer Cure Rider had to see Jimmy Buffett’s Margaritaville. Good Mahi Mahi sandwich, but I have to say it was nothing special. But at least Yours Truly can say he was there.
Ride On,
C.C.R.
