Why did we name the dinghy Henry? Amongst cruisers it's well known that dinghy's go AWOL at the first opportunity. I think Houdini, the escape artist, learned everything he knew from a dinghy. Anyway, Nellie and her first husband Henry, my great grandparents, had their own parting (when divorce was scandalous!). Naming the dinghy Henry reunites the star-crossed lovers and, just as importantly, reminds Nellie's crew to keep a constant vigil less Henry wander (again).
The strong NE wind pattern that chased Nellie all the way to Key West is still blowing. As the upper yellow line in today's picture shows, it's a 10 mile down wind run from the Key West Naval Air Station (NAS) to downtown. The winds make the seas lumpy, at least for our 10' dinghy. A little damp but undeterred we arrive in Key West's main Harbor. Downtown Key West is an R-rated Disneyland. On Duval street we watched bed races--basically four scantily clad people pushing a bed on wheels. In the bed was another scantily clad person. Best I can figure, the point of the race was to make the 'athletes' thirsty as they all ducked into a bar seconds after crossing the finish line. Back in the dinghy it was time to figure out how to get home, upwind the whole way, without getting soaked. On the chart was what appeared to be a drainage ditch that bisected the Key and then paralleled the runways of Key West International (the lower yellow line in the satellite picture). In retrospect calling our route a drainage ditch is unfair. It's actually a mangrove lined drainage ditch. Lest you think I jest here's a picture as proof.
The good news was we made it back to the Naval Station without getting soaked. The drainage ditch jungle tour was an added benefit. 20 mostly dry nautical miles in Henry while Nellie remains at 195nm for this adventure.
