Thanks to a News of St John blog little story by Hillary Bonner that featured leather back turtles it brought back a flood of personal memories – bear with this ole coot and listen. See I grew up in much simpler time, my parents were divorced. In fact, they made the announcement Christmas Eve of my seventh year. That was the last time I believed in Santa! And thus, I was shipped off to live with my grandparents.
Anyway, I was poor but didn't know it. Pretty much everyone where I lived was poor. Oh, we had electricity, a party line phone but used a wood burning kitchen stove for cooking, had a two “hole” out house and water came from a pump cause we didn't have plumbing and no damn tv!
Anyway, my grandparents were poor but each Winter they went to their little shack on Daytona Beach with kerosene lamps for light, and a one “hole” but God Damn it was right on the beach long before Dayton had high rises and crowds. Just miles and miles of deserted beach with seashells and clean warm ocean.
Each morning at dawn my grandfather would wake me saying “Sonny, it's another beautiful day in Paradise and time for a walk.” Yep, every single day he would say the exact same thing. I'd wipe sleepy eyes and stumble into the kitchen for a breakfast of bread, cream, topped with sugar. Then we'd head out for an hour on the beach.
On one particular day I saw a great mound on the beach about a half mile ahead and broke free from granddad running ahead to explore what it was?
Yep, a leatherback turtle had washed up in the night. Damn! It was the biggest creature I had ever seen and until this day, except elephants, still is. See, I had never been to a zoo as a kid. Granddad caught up with me and of course, I had a million questions like any kid. He told me it was easy as big as top of his 1948 Dodge if not bigger! Anyway, Hillary you brought back a lotta personal thoughts.
So, I did research and think you might just be interested in what I found out:
They are the largest sea creatures – one was 9.5’ long and weighed 2,000 pds.
Leathernecks lay 80-100 eggs on beaches up to seven or more times a year.
They swim 10,000 miles a year from nesting to foraging areas eating jelly fish.
They can dive to a depth of 4,000’ and can stay underwater up to 85 minutes.
It is estimated they easily live to 100 yrs but may live up to 400 yrs.
Natural predator is sharks but biggest enemy is man’s fishing nets.
In 1980 there were 115,000 now there are fewer than 25,000 worldwide.
They are protected under the Endangered Species Acct.
I’ll be seein ya real soon! Meantime - I’ll “Leave The Lite On For You” at your island home – Bordo Mare or Sopra Mare.
Mike Mullen (972) 679-9937
But you can just call me “Mulley”