The Sponge Adventure, (Part 9, Excerpt 40)
by Bob Kranich
This is a story titled, The Sponge Adventure. Captain Bob and his two mates, Dave and Amos fish the Gulf out of Key West in Bob’s sea-going Trawler, Sea Breeze. Captain Bob and Dave are on Dave’s skipjack sail boat out amongst the islands around the Keys. They are about to experience two unusual happenings; one a turtle stampede and two, meeting some fellas they wished they hadn’t.
The Sponge Adventure
SCRITCH, SCRATCH, SCRAPE!
Suddenly two large sea turtles appeared…moving up from the small beach. David jumped up.
Bob took to his knees, “They’re Loggerheads!” Bob exclaimed. “Must be a couple feet across their shells! They’re big!”
The two turtles headed right towards the camp fire…crawling fast! Then just missing the fire, they went around it and past both men. They then disappeared into the interior darkness amongst the pines.
“It’s a turtle stampede!”* Bob yelled, “The storm has scared them in. I’ve heard about it but never saw one. Must have come up on the beach to lay eggs.”
“Well we’ve seen one now!” David said. “Sure scared me at first!”
“The wind is picking up…starting to blow. Let’s extinguish the fire and head out to the skipjack. We’ll ride it out,” Bob commanded.
They hurriedly gathered their gear, poured water and sand on the fire and rowed the short distance to the skipjack. The water was choppy, the wind blowing in gusts, and rain beginning to fall.
“Batten down the hatches, and let’s get inside, Bob,” David hollered.
Next morning…“How did you sleep Bob?” David asked.
David was up and cooking breakfast on the bottle gas stove.
“Well, at first it was like trying to sleep on a rocking horse! But after the storm passed, it was great! Just like the night before in the Nile Channel. I do like sleeping on a boat, but our big trawler makes it a lot easier.
Not as choppy.”
“What're we up to this morning, Captain David?”
“Well, first mate Bob, how about we take the skipjack out in the Big Spanish Channel for a couple of hours, and see what she’ll do?”
“That’s a good idea,” Bob agreed. “How about, let’s drop the sponge skiff at the next inlet towards the bridge. It’s where the old highway ferry used to dock. There’s a bigger sand strip there, and it’s protected from the waves and wind.”
“Good idea Bob. Let’s do it!”
They pulled the anchors, wound the ropes, and raised the sails. They were down at the next inlet in nothing flat.
“The skiff will be safe here on the beach and double safe with the anchor out,” David stated.
They waded out waist deep and climbed back into the skipjack. Then they pulled up the anchor, raised sails and immediately were heading out towards the Big Spanish Channel.
“What’s that heading towards us from the Bahia Honda Bridge?” David asked as he pointed.
“Looks like a pretty fancy cruiser, possibly a Chris-Craft. Now that boat costs a lot! It’s sure streamlined. Must be at least 70 feet.”
It was heading straight towards them, but then it turned left and headed in towards the cove Bob and David had just left. There were three guys on the deck and the captain on the flying bridge. One guy had binoculars trained on them. David waved. All four just starred, as they headed towards the beach…fast!
“Not very friendly,” Bob said.
“Think the skiff will be ok? David questioned.
“Yes, no problem. Now think, just why would they want our skiff? Take a look at that motorized runabout they have on the back of their boat!”
They sailed for about an hour. Each taking a turn at the tiller as the other fished...actually trolled.
“Well, we put her through her paces, and got a couple of snapper. Let’s go back, and pick up the skiff,” David suggested.
“If you want to, David, we can go under the bridge, jump on the Intercostal Waterway along the Hawk Channel, Atlantic side. We’ll be back home in Key West by evening!”
“You really think she’ll do ok in the Atlantic?” Dave questioned.
“Yep. I’ve been checking her out, and the old skipjack should do real good!” Bob replied seriously.
The brisk wind was pushing them in towards the cove at a steady pace.
“She is doing real fine. In a few minutes we’ll hook on the skiff and head towards the bridge,” Dave said proudly.
Bang! Thump! Thump! The left side of the boat picked up and leaned to the right about 30 degrees from 90. It was everything they could do to keep from being thrown overboard.
Then another Thump! The teller was yanked out of David’s hand and the rudder slammed against the rear of the boat, all of this in almost instant succession.
“What happened, Bob?” David yelled.
Bob was down on the deck and slowly starting to move. He scooted across the deck and looked back.
“I bet we hit a submerged piling. I’m sorry I missed it. I didn't think we were close to the old ferry pier. They also should have taken them all out!”
“Bob, the rudder is stuck, it’s jammed.” David shouted.
“Let me have a look,” Bob suggested, “You’re right. So we don’t go around in circles. Let’s counter act it with the sails. We’re almost to the skiff. Got any tools? We need a hammer and a adjustable wrench, possibly a punch and some bolts.
“Oh, Oh…Of all things I forgot them. I had a tool box at the boathouse but forgot to put it in,” David apologized.
“Maybe our friends with the cruiser will lend us some of their tools. Here we are. We’re close enough. We’ll drop anchor and wade in. They walked out of the water and headed up towards the old beach house.
There were three guys on some folding chairs. A fourth chair was vacant. They were arranged in a circle. A couple of shovels leaned against the side of the old shack. The men were so intent on four piles of shiny round yellow objects on the ground in front of them that David and Bob were right there before they were noticed.
“Excuse us,” Bob said.
All three looked up at once. Surprise registered in their eyes.
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
This is a story titled, The Sponge Adventure. Captain Bob and his two mates, Dave and Amos fish the Gulf out of Key West in Bob’s sea-going Trawler, Sea Breeze. Captain Bob and Dave are on Dave’s skipjack sail boat out amongst the islands around the Keys. They are about to experience two unusual happenings; one a turtle stampede and two, meeting some fellas they wished they hadn’t.
The Sponge Adventure
SCRITCH, SCRATCH, SCRAPE!
Suddenly two large sea turtles appeared…moving up from the small beach. David jumped up.
Bob took to his knees, “They’re Loggerheads!” Bob exclaimed. “Must be a couple feet across their shells! They’re big!”
The two turtles headed right towards the camp fire…crawling fast! Then just missing the fire, they went around it and past both men. They then disappeared into the interior darkness amongst the pines.
“It’s a turtle stampede!”* Bob yelled, “The storm has scared them in. I’ve heard about it but never saw one. Must have come up on the beach to lay eggs.”
“Well we’ve seen one now!” David said. “Sure scared me at first!”
“The wind is picking up…starting to blow. Let’s extinguish the fire and head out to the skipjack. We’ll ride it out,” Bob commanded.
They hurriedly gathered their gear, poured water and sand on the fire and rowed the short distance to the skipjack. The water was choppy, the wind blowing in gusts, and rain beginning to fall.
“Batten down the hatches, and let’s get inside, Bob,” David hollered.
Next morning…“How did you sleep Bob?” David asked.
David was up and cooking breakfast on the bottle gas stove.
“Well, at first it was like trying to sleep on a rocking horse! But after the storm passed, it was great! Just like the night before in the Nile Channel. I do like sleeping on a boat, but our big trawler makes it a lot easier.
Not as choppy.”
“What're we up to this morning, Captain David?”
“Well, first mate Bob, how about we take the skipjack out in the Big Spanish Channel for a couple of hours, and see what she’ll do?”
“That’s a good idea,” Bob agreed. “How about, let’s drop the sponge skiff at the next inlet towards the bridge. It’s where the old highway ferry used to dock. There’s a bigger sand strip there, and it’s protected from the waves and wind.”
“Good idea Bob. Let’s do it!”
They pulled the anchors, wound the ropes, and raised the sails. They were down at the next inlet in nothing flat.
“The skiff will be safe here on the beach and double safe with the anchor out,” David stated.
They waded out waist deep and climbed back into the skipjack. Then they pulled up the anchor, raised sails and immediately were heading out towards the Big Spanish Channel.
“What’s that heading towards us from the Bahia Honda Bridge?” David asked as he pointed.
“Looks like a pretty fancy cruiser, possibly a Chris-Craft. Now that boat costs a lot! It’s sure streamlined. Must be at least 70 feet.”
It was heading straight towards them, but then it turned left and headed in towards the cove Bob and David had just left. There were three guys on the deck and the captain on the flying bridge. One guy had binoculars trained on them. David waved. All four just starred, as they headed towards the beach…fast!
“Not very friendly,” Bob said.
“Think the skiff will be ok? David questioned.
“Yes, no problem. Now think, just why would they want our skiff? Take a look at that motorized runabout they have on the back of their boat!”
They sailed for about an hour. Each taking a turn at the tiller as the other fished...actually trolled.
“Well, we put her through her paces, and got a couple of snapper. Let’s go back, and pick up the skiff,” David suggested.
“If you want to, David, we can go under the bridge, jump on the Intercostal Waterway along the Hawk Channel, Atlantic side. We’ll be back home in Key West by evening!”
“You really think she’ll do ok in the Atlantic?” Dave questioned.
“Yep. I’ve been checking her out, and the old skipjack should do real good!” Bob replied seriously.
The brisk wind was pushing them in towards the cove at a steady pace.
“She is doing real fine. In a few minutes we’ll hook on the skiff and head towards the bridge,” Dave said proudly.
Bang! Thump! Thump! The left side of the boat picked up and leaned to the right about 30 degrees from 90. It was everything they could do to keep from being thrown overboard.
Then another Thump! The teller was yanked out of David’s hand and the rudder slammed against the rear of the boat, all of this in almost instant succession.
“What happened, Bob?” David yelled.
Bob was down on the deck and slowly starting to move. He scooted across the deck and looked back.
“I bet we hit a submerged piling. I’m sorry I missed it. I didn't think we were close to the old ferry pier. They also should have taken them all out!”
“Bob, the rudder is stuck, it’s jammed.” David shouted.
“Let me have a look,” Bob suggested, “You’re right. So we don’t go around in circles. Let’s counter act it with the sails. We’re almost to the skiff. Got any tools? We need a hammer and a adjustable wrench, possibly a punch and some bolts.
“Oh, Oh…Of all things I forgot them. I had a tool box at the boathouse but forgot to put it in,” David apologized.
“Maybe our friends with the cruiser will lend us some of their tools. Here we are. We’re close enough. We’ll drop anchor and wade in. They walked out of the water and headed up towards the old beach house.
There were three guys on some folding chairs. A fourth chair was vacant. They were arranged in a circle. A couple of shovels leaned against the side of the old shack. The men were so intent on four piles of shiny round yellow objects on the ground in front of them that David and Bob were right there before they were noticed.
“Excuse us,” Bob said.
All three looked up at once. Surprise registered in their eyes.
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
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