EP 58: The Western Flyer

Around the Buoy

In 1940 John Steinbeck was at the top of literary world, but fame came with a backlash. His depiction of migrant workers in 'The Grapes of Wrath' labeled him as a communist, and protests were held to burn his books. Wanting to escape, Steinbeck chartered a fishing vessel named Western Flyer for an expedition to Mexico; a trip recounted in his book, 'The Sea of Cortez'. Seventy-five years later, after a long fishing career, Western Flyer was found rotting away. This episode is about a complete restoration that will soon return her to Mexican waters. Listen in!