Mel Fisher

Aerial View of the “Arbutus,” Key West

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arbutus

“The Arbutus was an old 175′ to 180′ Coast Guard buoy tender that was owned by Mel Fisher’s Treasure Salvors operation and used as a ‘Sentry’ vessel over the Atocha wreck site following the capsizing of the tug boat North Wind, which claimed the lives of several people including one of Mel’s son’s and daughter-in-law. Later on, the Arbutus was towed to the ‘Quicksand’s’, west of the Marquesas, and was used as one of Mel Fisher’s tower ships. These ships were used as reference points in searching the wreck site. Once, while as the ‘Sentry’ vessel over the Atocha wreck, it was accidentally strafed and bombed by a reserve Navy squadron out of Tennessee. Remarkable, they didn’t hit the ship or its startled occupant. The vessel sank of its own accord at its current location in the Quicksand’s. It was also used by Jimmy Buffett for a back cover for his record album Songs You Should Know by Heart.” The photo above was taken by Dale McDonald in 1985. Source: Dale M. McDonald Collection, State Library & Archives of Florida

Schooner Wharf Bar

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schoonerwharfbar

A legendary Florida Keys singer-songwriter, Michael McCloud has performed at some of the best dives in Key West, Florida. McCloud knows more than 3,000 songs (his all-time favorite is “Somewhere Over the Rainbow”) and his own songs include such classics as “Tourist Town Bar,” “Conch Republic Song” (Key West’s Official “Secession” Anthem!), “The Hurricane Blows,” “Billy’s Bayou Barroom & Backyard BBQ,” “Today is the Day” (a moving tribute to the late, great treasure hunter Mel Fisher), “Peace and Quiet” (one of my favorite songs ever), “Just Another Song,” “Closin’ the Bars,” “Wild-Eyed Willie,” “Memorial,” “Most I Miss the Music,” “She’s Gotta Butt” and “Just Came Down for the Weekend” (which Jimmy Buffett has reportedly bought the rights to), among many others.

We first caught McCloud’s act back in the late 1980s. I believe he was performing at Sloppy Joe’s Bar at the time. I later heard that he had a falling out with Sloppy Joe’s management, which didn’t appreciate him hawking his cassettes. McCloud started referring to Sloppy’s as a “T-shirt shop that sells beer” or something to that effect. Then he moved on to Bull & Whistle, another great dive on Duval Street where he could sell all of his merchandise without any hassle. However, McCloud found his true home at the Schooner Wharf Bar (billed as “A Last Little Piece of Old Key West”), where he currently holds court Thursday through Sunday from noon to five (on Friday, Saturday and Sunday afternoons he is joined by talented musicians Captain Carl “Guitar” Peachey and “Professor” Pete Peterson on keyboards). So, if you’re ever down in Key West, take a little stroll off Duval Street and drop by the Schooner Wharf. Order some Tuna Nachos, which are simply amazing! Prepare to get a good buzz (I recommend the Rum Runner topped with a dark rum float!) and watch all your troubles slowly drift away …