"Travis McGee lives on a custom-made 52-foot barge-type houseboat dubbed The Busted Flush (after the poker hand, in memory of the game enabling him to win it), docked at Slip F-18 at Bahia Mar Marina, Fort Lauderdale, Florida. A self-described "beach bum" who takes his retirement "in installments", he prefers to take on new cases only when the spare cash (besides a reserve fund) in a hidden safe in the Flush runs low. McGee also owns a custom Rolls-Royce that had been converted into a pickup truck long before he bought it, and painted "a horrid electric blue" by the same hand that did the conversion. Travis named it Miss Agnes, after one of his elementary school teachers whose hair was the same shade.
"McGee's business card reads Salvage Consultant, and most business comes by word of mouth. His clients are usually people who have been deprived of something important and/or valuable (typically by unscrupulous (and sometimes also illegal) means) and have no way to regain it lawfully. McGee's usual fee is half the value of the item (if recovered) with McGee risking expenses, and those who object to such a seemingly high fee are reminded that getting back half of something is better than nothing at all. Although the missing items are often tangible (e.g., rare stamps, jewels, etc.), in several cases McGee was asked to locate a missing person; in one, the stolen property is a client's reputation. In several instances, he shows a marked propensity to exact revenge, usually for the ill-treatment or death of one of his few real friends.
"Physically, McGee is a tall, tanned, sandy-haired man with pale grey eyes. There are hints that he is a U.S. Army veteran of the Korean War. However, records are less precise about exactly when he served. There are implications that his military service was during the Vietnam War rather than Korea. He was a stand-out college football player (at tight end) but says in that he never played professional football due to a knee injury. Despite his age, he retains the quickness and agility of a professional athlete. He stands 6'4" tall and, although deceptively unimposing at his "fighting weight" of 205 lbs. he is much stronger than he looks, with thick wrists and long arms; occasionally, a more perspicacious adversary notes these features when deciding whether to tangle with him. McGee purposely cultivates an image of being uncoordinated, shambling, and clumsy, but has superb reflexes and muscle memory. He has a 33-inch waist, wears a size 46 long jacket, and a shirt with a 17 1/2" neck and 34" arms. McGee often discusses his fitness regimen, usually in terms of regaining his fitness after a lazy period: swimming and sprinting are frequently mentioned. As a martial art strategy, he often covers his face and blocks punches with his arms and elbows to lull and tire his opponent while studying that opponent's fighting style. McGee is also described as practicing the Chinese art of Tai Chi Chuan.
Sharon interupts Serge's speech. "Why did we stop here?"
"To pay tribute," said Serge.
"To what?" asked Coleman.
"Travis McGee," said Serge. "The Deep Blue Goodbye, The Busted Flush."
"Randy Travis? Where?" said Sharon.
"No, Travis McGee, errant knight of the John D. MacDonald classics! This is a #@!%ing shrine!"
Cachers are encouraged to track down the plaque and post a picture with it in the logs. You are not required to do this, but encouraged.
The cache is more then fifteen feet away from the water, no need to risk getting wet! Please be careful if walking along the docks.
Congrats to Nordendler on the FTF!!!