Florida Keys’ Watercolor Kapers
by Bob Kranich
Robert’s Best, (Part 7, Excerpt 92)
This is a new story. Robert’s Best is a sail boat. Grandfather Roberts is going to sail it on the Intercostal waterway from Texas to Key West, Florida. That will be an adventure. Then his grandchildren and their parents will come to Key West on a visit. There will be a lot of funny happenings until the criminals from a previous story get into action. A side note is that a 1935 antique Chris-Craft Model 557 Cabin Cruiser is going to play an important part in the rest of the story. Grandfather Roberts is on his trip to Key West, Florida in his sail boat via the Intercostal Waterway. Getting ready to start his third day.
Roberts’ Best
“Why thank you, Jack, Mary. There is one thing I want to ask you. Where is the best place to get fuel?”
“That’s easy. Just go up river under the railroad bridge. It’s on the same side as we are now. You can’t miss it, about a quarter of a mile. We’re going to turn in. Have a good night, Tom,” Jack said as he extended his hand.
“Thanks for everything,” I replied.
The next morning I didn’t wake up as early as I usually did. It had been a long day sailing the Gulf. It was morning, about eight, when I finally stirred. I cooked up some breakfast, cleaned up, untied, and slowly moved the Roberts’ Best away from the dock and out into the river. Jack and Mary came up out of their cabin as I went by. I waved, and they acknowledged.
The fuel station was just where they had said. Under the railroad bridge up the river a quarter of a mile, and on starboard side, there it was, “Fuel and Supply.” I was in luck. No one was at the pumps, so I eased right up to the dock.
A young man came out from the dock office and over to the pump,. “Need to fill’er up, Sir, I know it won’t take much. Sailboats never do.”
“Yes, thanks,” I said.
“It only took eight gallons, Sir. That will be four dollars and twenty cents.”
I counted it out, “Thank you, Sir,” he said. “If you want to come up for supplies you can tie up to that dock right there. Sir, if I may ask, where you heading?”
“Well, Sonny, I’m new to this Intercostal Waterway, but I left Galveston two days ago. I’m heading to Key West. I came by way of the Gulf. Now I would like to turn up the Waterway and miss the lower part of Louisiana's Delta,” I answered.
“Sir, ever considered a guide? I’ve been around these here parts all my life. Been on boats since I was twelve. I could guide you to New Orleans. I want to go there to visit my Grandma.”
“Got any references? How much you charge? I never thought about it, but it is an interesting thought,” I said.
“Yes, Sir, my boss said he would vouch for me and give me some time off. He will refer me. Tie up over there, and let’s go see him. He’s right there in the main office and store.”
I moved the boat over to the other dock and tied up, then walked over and took a good look at the kid. He was clean-cut with decent clothes, blue jeans and t-shirt, average height and good build.
“Ready to go up and talk to my boss, Sir?”
“Son, what’s your name? I’m Tom Roberts.”
“Nicolas LeBlanc, Sir.”
We went inside the office and store. It had some of everything… snacks, literature, and lots of boat accessories, even a VHF radio section.
“Boss, this is Tom Roberts. He might let me guide him up to New Orleans. Then I can visit Grandma. Can you give me a reference?”
“Nice to meet you, Tom. What you traveling in?” he said as he extended his hand.
“Got me a twenty-eight foot sail’n sloop. Wife and I used to sail on Lake Houston. This Gulf and Intercostal is new to me. I’m heading to Key West.”
“So you want a reference for this young feller, hun? He’ll probably get you lost off’n some bayou!”
“Now, Uncle Louis, don’t say that. Tell him the truth.”
Nicolas’ Uncle Louis broke out in a big spasm of loud laughter. When he finished he said, “Tom, he’ll do you real good. He’s my nephew and he’s been around boats since he was little, probably twelve I would guess. In fact he’s guided about three different trips this last year. If he keeps this up I may start a guide service.”
I said, “I thought there was something unusual about both last names being the same.”
“ Yes, I’m his uncle.”
“Well Louis, what should I pay? What’s the going rate?” I asked.
“What do you charge Nicolas?’ Uncle Louis asked.
“Not much, fifty dollars a day and feed me. It shouldn’t take us mor’n two, three days to get up to Orleans,” Nicholas answered.
Louis broke out laughing again, “The fifty dollars a day won't hurt you, Tom. But he’ll eat you out of house and boat!”
“Uncle Louis,” Nicholas scolded.
“It’s a deal,” I said. “When can you start?”
“If it’s all right with you Uncle Louis, right now. I’ve got a suitcase packed in the back of my car.”
“Yes, kid. It’s ok. Go on. Get out of here. But hurry back, and say hi to Grandma for me.”
“Tom, I’ll meet you at the boat. Got to get my suitcase,” Nicholas said excitedly.
As we went downstream under both the railroad lift bridge and the two highway spans, Nicholas said, “Just as soon as we turn to port into the Waterway, keep a sharp lookout. There is a ferry crossing coming up. They will give us a visual signal or a horn if we can proceed.”
Blat! Blat, Blat! Three high-pitched blasts emitted from the ferry at the dock on the port side.
“That’s the all clear, Tom. Let’s move!” Nicholas exclaimed.
“Nicholas, thanks a lot! You’ve already helped me. I would have never known what to expect next.”
“Tom, next we’ve got the Bayou Boeuf Locks in a half-mile. They're twelve hundred feet long! We better hang our fenders over the side because the sides of the lock are rough! Let me contact the lockmaster on VHF, Tom.”
“Lockmaster, this is Roberts’ Best, twenty-eight foot sail’n sloop.
Request permission to enter locks.
Await instructions...over”
“Lockmaster, Bayou Boef, proceed.
Ready for you, float the chamber...over.”
“Lockmaster, thank you. Roberts’ Best proceeding...over.”
“Tom, we’re to motor through.”
“Nicholas, what is this lock for?” I questioned.“We’re not going up or down in water elevation.”
“Tom, it’s to keep flood waters out of the Waterway at certain times of the year.”
“Well, that‘s two you got me through. What’s next, Nicholas?”
“Tom, sit back and prepare to enjoy the most scenic section on the Louisiana Waterway. We’re entering majestic nature at its best, cypress trees with Spanish moss, and for the next ten miles have your camera ready for our nation’s bird, the eagle.”
From the Author:
My second full-length book , Florida Keys’ Watercolor Kapers is composed of 336 pages. There are 12 stories running from 6 pages to as many as 72 pages. It is fully illustrated with 88 watercolors and sketches. The watercolors I made roaming around Key West after I finished my 750 mile hike from Georgia to Key West. (See book or Don Browne’s SouthWest Florida Online News records, A Walk Across Florida.) As you read these stories you will experience Key West, the Keys, and the Caribbean. These stories span the time of the early 1800’s to 1969.
bkranich.wixsite.com/bobkranich
