A VISIT HOME TO THE DRY TORTUGAS

BEAU THE CEPHUS EXPLAINS HIS TRIP

Beau The Cephus has had a great time aboard ship on his travels to Fort Jefferson. I, Langston am here and now present and I have been called up to provide a proper feline version of his experiences.

Beau was standing watching the water ahead. He was trying to spot a 310 foot steel hulled wreck below. The ships captain had been talking about the ship for awhile. He said he had seen many fish swimming around the boat on his last trip. He knew he could not reach them by diving. But grand thoughts still invaded his head as he watched the clear water rush past.

At last he could see the Coal Docks in the distance. The supports looked like skinny aliens from another world standing in a formation like little soldiers not moving just standing with little thin arms sticking down into the water around them. He was sure that they would not have much meat on their bones.

He was here to even the circumstance with the sea gulls. With his fastest sprint, he could race forward around a dune and catch one of those smartly pants. He could jump a little higher at the end of his run, grab it by the lower leg and pull it back down to the beach. What a great meal. The big feathers would be easy to avoid. However those small downy feathers could be real chokers if eaten too fast or without a good quantity of water from his water bottle. Yuck, he just hated to get them stuck in his throat. They were a bit salty and that could make Beau’s legs swell up around the tops of his feet.

Beau does not like the gulls. He thinks that they are loud, offensive, assertive and clueless. They strut around with their clean white feathers as if they were not earth bound like the remainder of creation. When the ranking of gulls comes up, he is sure they are just spoiled children of the bird world, and should be treated as such.

When they pulled up to the dock at the reception hut, Beau The Cephus was the first down the gangplank and through the opening arch. He could hear the park Ranger telling the tourist about the history of the Fort. Beau had heard all of that lecture three or four times and could not sit still for another one of at least a 15 minute talk. He figured he had heard those lectures at Yellowstone Park and Carlsbad Caverns. They were all the same. Well at least he thought so. Mountains, Caverns and Sea Water they were all related how much difference could there be to learn?

He jumped onto the sea wall surrounding the Fort and strolled slowly looking down into the clear blue water on the inside. When he had visited in the past he had seen many odd fish and crabs playing in the sun.

Maybe today one of the hermit crabs will crawl out onto the wall and he would get his opportunity that day. They were a lot of fun to catch. He had to be fast and catch them when they were not looking.

Beau did not want to be the one caught. Those very sharp and strong pinchers could quickly bring tears of regret to his eyes. Eating a Blue, Stone or Gulf Stone Crab is always a pleasure on a warm evening. He was dreaming about that final spring  across the sand and jumping in the shallow water hoping to catch one of the she crabs as they mate in early Summer or Fall. The molting female, a sook, is so tender it can bring a tingle to the tongue. He had to be fast and had to be at the right time or the tears would seize his moment.

Watching the bottom as he went across the bridge and seeing so much in just a short walk around the Fort, Beau knows why he misses home when he is away.

After he has completed his loop, he strolls up to the bridge over the moat and walks slowly into the Fort.  Visiting the book store to acquire a few strokes from the Ranger at the desk is a must for every visit Beau has made. He is off, out the door and up the stairs to the second level. Patrolling all the way around from one end to the other. He is then onto the roof.

Must be fast around the roof to make the trip without those vengeful Sea Gulls and their sharp beaks. The roof tour is best done in the evening when one can watch the sun set to the west over the waters of the gulf.

When the Fort and grounds have been thoroughly checked, The Cephus starts looking for his ride home. He was very lucky when he spied a de Havilland Otter Seaplane resting near the shore.

He runs and jumped on the pontoon. Just then a kind blond lady from Germany  said, “poor katzen”. She reached down and plucked Beau into her arms. The Cephus rubbed his head against her jaw. Beau was in space and the plane had not yet left the shore. She placed him in the back seat of the plane. Beau recognized her by her great tasting hair. Hair that he had styled on the way from Key West aboard ship. In a few minutes the doors of the plane were closed and they were skimming across the water headed for the blue sky.

On the way back home they flew over Mel Fisher’s treasure sights of the Spanish Galleons the Atocha and Santa Margarita. Beau is not much for sunken treasure ships. The young blond lady seemed very interested. She even allowed Beau to set in her lap and gaze out of the window with her. Beau The Cephus loved her hair. The smell, the taste and the texture. Beau was a sunk cat, just setting there with her as they flew over the Gulf.

On the flight back Beau The Cephus rubbed his eyes and found sleep awaiting his arrival.

BEAU WIPING HIS FACE

About these ads