Beau at Bahia Honda and Key West

Beau Giving His Ideas

Beau The Cephus has a collection of unrelated thoughts and items he has gathered from the ether and vapors of his naps and musings.

I, Langston am here and present to try to explain his very private messages.

First, let me say that Beau has always felt that he has always had sentience and full thought processes. These have always been a part of the feline life. He said to me on this very issue, “Langston for goodness sake, we were worshiped as gods and are still held in very high esteem”. He then yawned and started searching for a good supply of slurping water. A bit testy I thought.

Griffin On His Way To See Bahia Honda

Beau’s father Griffin Phaedrus Montegue, came down from Saint Marys, Ga. for a bit of a rest. He was also wanting to check out the waters around Bahia Honda State Park in anticipation of the Florida Spiny Lobster Season, the last consecutive Wednesday and Thursday in July. Beau likes his lobster a little older. He prefers that they have a long time to marinate in the waters of the ocean, to absorb all of the flavors of the Gulf Stream after it flows through the Florida Straights.

Beau And His Father Griffin Drying

The Father and Son pair have a grand time playing in the water. They try to dive down to the large rocks and peer under the edge to spot lobsters that they think they could handle. Their diving abilities are so slim and short that neither one can dive beyond the length of their attached tails. Beau’s tail sticks above the water when he dives as to appear as a snorkel. They have a great time.

Griffin At Rest

After a few attempts they will get on the beach and have a “you chase me and I chase you” competition running up and down the fine white sand until they are out of room. They will strut off to the showers and do the drowned cat walk through the running water coming out the other side looking so much better. At least the sand is washed from their very short hair.

Then they race off to the end section of the old bridge.

They will stop and slowly walk out to the edge looking down at the water rushing from Atlantic side to the Caribbean side of the land.

They try to spy fish that, in their imagination they could take with one single bite. Given that they could land on one making the trip past the end of the bridge. The fish most certainly would not be aware of their landing and just drag them along through the water. They backed away from the dangerous bridge end and found a nice sunny spot for a bit of a Caribbean nap in the sun.

In the mid afternoon, the two would ride back down US 1 to the end. They would be strung out side by side in the back window of the car. When they arrived, Beau would hang out around mile marker 0 for hours just absorbing all of the pets and kind remarks that visitors were so generous to hand out.

There was always time for a jaunt  down to Whitehead Street and climb up the light house steps. They jump in one of the rounded windows on the sunny side to enjoy the view and the warm radiation from the sun. The glass in the windows was old and let in much more light and rays than the new windows in a lot of the homes and businesses. Beau thought that the people who put that new glass in their buildings. They were just shutting out the sun so that he, The Cephus, could have a larger supply of better quality of sun rays. They were so kind to sacrifice their sun just for him.

When days were cloudy and the persons on vacation were not out and about, he would mosey over to Flagler Ave. and hang out with the students at the high school. That is where Beau become fond of the more gentle female students. They were so kind. They would pet him and whisper soft sweet words. But then again, Beau always had an eye for the kinder humans.  He laid upon a board of the fence watching the guys playing games out on the field. Beau has often asked why they were called the Fighting Conchs. He was not sure how conch would fight.

He liked the girl with the lemon colored hair. She would wear a Sandalwood fragrance. That light scent transported The Cephus back to the days of yore. He would recall what he thought life would be like sailing around  the Caribbean on a 45 ft mono hull sailboat. Laying on the deck, just soaking the gentle sea breeze with ever so soft a touch of filtered sun.

When early evening would spin around it was off to the Tour Boat fishing line by the bight bridge. The Captains would bring in the tourist fisherman on their fine boats. They would take the fish and hang them from scales. The fishermen would line up beside their bounty for the catch of the day pictures. Pictures that could be bought and sent home by e-mail or snail mail to relatives and envious friends. They would clean the fish on tables that hung over the side of the dock. When the fish were all cleaned, the left over parts and excess bait would be shared with all of the feline that had shown up for the evening.

Beau would eat all of the Red Snapper he could find. Grouper was ok when there wasn’t any snapper. Beau fell in love with just the name Red Snapper and he would eat very little else. He would purr “Red Snapper, Red Snapper” softly as he ate. This was one those food items he ate solely because of the name he fancied.

This evening there was dinner for The Cephus. After consuming his fill, he hurried to clean himself. Then as his long tail waved goodbye in the breeze he was off and trotting for the Evening Sunset Performance at Mallory Pier.

Beau’s Trip Up and Down US 1.

Beau The Cephus wants his ventures from Bone Key to No Name Key offered for your consideration. I Langston, here offer Beau’s thoughts on this, his risky adventures.

Beau Gives His Thoughts

Beau travels up from the corner of Telegraph Lane and Green Street on Bone Key, 31 miles, to the No Name Pub for lunch after a party night of walking on the Wild side of Duval street. He would often hang out at the Kino Sandal Factory and just lay on the stones under the Palm trees waiting for early morning. He prefers to ride in the back of a large car. The large rear windows allow him to lay in the sun and warm his fragile soul as the car progresses from the south to the north. A car with a slight rumble from the exhaust and a rear tire that is a little out of balance is desirable. The rumble reminds Beau of his days in the womb of his dear Queen Mother Orie. She had an unusual diet of  Iron Rim Wooden rickshaw wheel with a light sheen of rust, fresh pressed Grey Lizard shoulder, and Slammed Latex Painted Door Jam, Green Tree Frog (aged over 35 hours). She would eat at all times of  the day. This would cause an excess of sounds from her internals. The movement of the car, as it would go up and down with the unbalanced tires, would act an a soothing massage for Beau. That massage was very much like the environment that Beau and his brother Momo would experience as Queen Orie went through her days of pregnancy.

Visits to Big Pine and No Name Key were always done with great delight. There was alway a chance to see and watch the Key Deer. Some smaller than a dog. Beau always viewed him self as a lion on the Savannah chasing down an antelope for a day’s meal. What a great thought. However running is not one of Beaus strengths. Things would be better if the deer just came up to Beau and laid down on it’s side for him. Beau enjoyed the deer so much he could never harm even the littlest one.

Beau liked the Pub’s Private Garden. A dining place where a human, cat, dog or deer could feast on 1/2 Lb. grouper lightly fried in crunchy bread crumbs. Beau always fancied that he could eat the whole thing. However, Langston would eat most of it and a Smoked BBQ pork sandwich as well. Beau knew that if he dropped food on the garden walkway that at night the deer would come by and nibble portions up and away.

Beau Before Arriving On Bahia Honda

Beau was then off to Bahai Honda to a rest on the beach before readying himself to return to the cool side of Duval. He would often walk out on the remains of the old bridge and watch the fish below swim from the Atlantic to the Gulf side. He would once again see him self as an eagle swooping down for a large snapper. Beau is not to sure of his ability too swim so he just sets there on the end of the bridge just looking down at the swirling water watching the fish go on their way to the Gulf of Mexico.

When Beau arrived back on Bone Key he headed down to Green Street going to the Cat House to check out any new evening collars or booties for his saunter back down Duval Street. After dressing and putting on a few swaths of saliva on his hair he would go to Captain Tony’s for a few throw backs. He would stop in front of Sloppy Joes at the water meter cover and just preen and glow for the internet cam over and to the right of the door. Beau is always looking for safe ways to show his great talents where he can not be criticized or caused to have negative feelings about himself. He likes good feedback but does not want even a hint of bad comments. A glance or roll of the eyes can ruin his week. Staying safe is one of his many mottos.

The corner of the busy streets of Eaton and Duval is home to a Church that Beau often visits. He has spent many an evening on the steps of St Paul’s Episcopal Church, cat and people watching. Some evenings he is joined by entertainers before the Sun Set Celebrations. They will warm up for small crowds of people and be given some payment for their efforts. He will then spend time on the grounds of the Curry House in the early afternoon sucking up all available head and back strokes with kind words from passersby.

Beau Before Leaving For Saint Paul's

Beau finds the streets in Old Town Key West safe to walk. There is never a speeding car. However during Spring break a sound like a hive of angry bees means students speeding on mopeds. Most students come from up North and have never ridden a moped before. There are many accidents when they are around. Beau will stay on the sidewalk when he hears their mad buzz. They do well until they try to stop in a hurry.

The time has come for Beau to head on down to Mallory Pier for Celebration. Tonight may be the night when Beau can claw up his courage high enough to attempt the feline show on the high wire. He is going down Front Street on his way. He just waved his paw in the air and started running. We hope this is a good time for him tonight.

Beau The Cephus Visits Cayo Hueso/Bone Key

Beau Ready To Ship Out To Cayo Hueso

Beau The Cephus has fond memories of his visits back to Bone Key. I, Langston have been assigned this  task of delivering his recollections of that visit.

Beau The Cephus usually travels from Big Pine Key down highway US 1 to visit his friends.  His route is down Roosevelt/Truman to Whitehead Street then right to visit his friend 7 Toes. Beau just calls him “7”. Beau swims in the back yard pool at the house where 7 and his family live. The whole group will swim in the pool and then bask in the sun on the suspended walkway from the house to the apartment above the garage.  Beau has had a few close calls when playing and running on the walkway. He likes that edgy sort of life. “A Little Danger Play” he says. He likes the Danger Play and yet is afraid of rejection from a group on humans at the pier. Beau is very confusing. He loves acceptance while fearing rejection.

The whole group will lay on the second floor verandah of the big house and look at the blue ceiling above with the little stars and moon painted in shades of white and yellow. After laying on his back looking up, the stars seem to move and soon sleep will arrive on a soft sweet breeze that drifts from the Caribbean to the Atlantic during the summer months.

Beau likes the warm temperatures both the highs and the lows year round. He is not too pleased with the rain showers. They are too frequent and last longer than is necessary. Beau says he likes to lay on Smathers beach in the warm sun after a brief shower. Just enough moisture to keep the dust down. Beau says that the Smathers beach is not as cushy as Bahia Honda Beach, but more convenient when visiting. He claims that the beaches on this, his Party Key are just ground up coral and from what I have seen he may be correct. He loves to chase the ghost crabs around the beach. He will try to get between the crab and it’s hole in the sand. Then play a game of keep away. He will play with them and let them go. They do not taste as sweet as the fiddler crab. They are a lot stronger and have faster pinchers.  He will lay in that warm tropical sun from 9 in the morning until 10:30 then he is off to the shade until around 4 or 4:30 until time for the Sunset ceremonies at the square on the pier.

Beau After Sunset on The Pier

Beau hopes to audition for one of the evening acrobat shows on the pier. The Cephus is a little backwards and thinks he can just stand in the shadows of people and by some miracle be discovered. The Cephus is fooling himself. I tell him he has to put himself out there to be recognized.

The evenings are a time for adventure. Beau and his group will wander down Duval street. Walking from one end to the other is like going to a carnival on asphalt. The warm pavement enlivens his every step from start to finish. He would never walk down the street in the heat of the day. There are people just walking and looking at each other. There are the ones who dress odd or act odd or smell odd. There are the watchers who like Beau want to be a part of everything by just watching. The good  people  are always ready to buy a cat a few shrimp, a bite of lobster or a little cut from their own corn-fed steak. Beau likes his steak just a little pink. They will also  give a few strokes on the back, little scratch behind the ears or under the chin. Beau loves it when they say how cute or unusual he or his friends may look. A soft gentle stroke  with a soften cupped hand starting at the front of the head running down the back is preferred. Patting the head or ruffling the hair is not friendly and may require a loud squall or hiss. Beau says they are all friendly but some act a little slow. He thinks they are just taking to his clowder’s ways.
Beau will work for several minutes with his precious saliva and the bottom of his front paws to get just the right hair look, Then some possessed person from a place called “UpNarth” will ruin his hard work with just a flick of their hand. He has a word for them but I can not tell what the word means to people. I, Langston guess it must just be a feline thing.
Beau The Cephus is pawing his bag trying to get inside for short nap and he has just gotten his head started under the opening. This ends his recollections for now.