Watercolor Kapers
by Bob Kranich
The mangroves were thick, but someone had made a faint trail through them a little ways from the water. It was an old trail, with no new cuts on the undergrowth. It wasn’t far, and all of a sudden they broke out into a very small sand beach. There away from the water and tied to a gnarled pine tree was a rowboat, none-the-worse for wear, kind of like one of those early 50’s plywood wonders with faded and peeling green paint.
“Captain,” Manuel said to Hector, “here’s the oars, let’s get her down to the water and get across to yon far island.”
They dropped the food and oars into the boat and dragged it down to the water.
“This boat is a lot lighter than it looks,” Hector said, kind of surprised.
“Yes...thank goodness, it’s the plywood, lot better than planks.”
They got it in the water, and Hector got in and said, “Since I’m the captain, as you said, and I’ve got to row, you as first mate need to wade in the water and push me off!” They were both experienced fishermen, and this was not new to them. Hector hooked the oars in the locks and pulled hard toward No Name Key.
“We’ll put in next to the old bridge pilings. It should be clear there, and we can secure the boat and hide the oars,” Manuel suggested.
“Sounds good to me,” Hector agreed.
It was a sunny day, clear and still. There were no waves to speak of between Big Pine and No Name. In fact, it didn’t look too deep. They pulled up to an abutment of pilings and old railroad ties.
Manuel jumped out before the captain could issue orders and pulled the boat up on the sand next to the pilings. Hector got out, feet dry.
“Good work, first mate,” he said.
They dragged the boat up the cleared area and tied it to a stout, stunted, and bent over pine.
“I’m going to take the oars with us and then hide them,” Manuel said. “The best way for us to go I think is along this old Highway 4A. I know at the other side of the island, and at the end of this road is the old camp.”
They had to search hard at times to keep the deer trail in sight. The open area of what was originally Highway 4A soon turned into basically a trail. Overgrown at that! It appeared it was used primarily by the Key deer. Normally it wouldn’t have taken very long to hike the approximately one and one quarter miles, but since it was overgrown it took a little over an hour. The vegetation in semi-tropical areas grows fast. Finally they got to the end of the trail and came to a small sand beach.
“Look how the coral fill goes out into the water from here. That’s the old roadbed to the ferry landing. There used to be a fishing camp over there in the old days. There might be a house or cabin left standing.
The Freedom Fighters may be set up there,” Manuel said,
“Look over there.” Manuel again pointed north along the beach. “Just past that mangrove clump, there is a small house. It’s right next to the coconut palms.”
“It must be one of the old lodge buildings,” Hector said. “Let’s check it out.”
Manuel headed along the beach towards it still carrying the oars, which he had decided not to leave. When they got there they could see it was just a small beach cabin. The front had a slight overhang. There was a rusty metal roof and weathered brown wood siding with faint traces of a long-ago painted white-wash. A screen door hung on one hinge, and since it was open, it invited a look inside. Everything about the place said old, almost ancient.
“I’ll leave these oars out here against the building.”
They went in very cautiously. The darkness inside kept them from instantly seeing anything. As their eyes adjusted to the darkness, they could see that there were only two rooms. The inside wall covering was gone. There was only a wood frame skeleton with the outside boards showing. The room they were in was basically empty except for an old wooden chair near the opening.
“Check the back room,” Hector pointed.
“OK!” motioned Manuel as he moved towards it. He opened the door a little at a time. The room was partially lit up from the light shining in from the one remaining window.
“We got something!” Manuel exclaimed.
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 on Don Browne’s Southwest Florida Online, 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. Website: bkranich.wixsite.com/bobkranich
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