Way shorter day today. Only 30 miles and still a 15-20 mph tailwind. It was agreed that breakfast would be delayed by an hour, because people were so tired from yesterday and everyone realized how short today would be. Dwight and I were still responsible for breakfast, which was really just boiling water and making coffee, but we also had to get out all the food for breakfast and lunch from where it was stored in the bathroom last night. We were the very last to pack up our own things, but surprisingly not the last to leave. The trail continues to be difficult to resist, but we pretty much get screwed every time we get on it. We got into the campground first, and way earlier than I had expected. After dumping the common equipment, we pitched the tent, in part tying it to tree to keep it from blowing away. No mosquitoes!
I voted that Dwight and I take a Lyft into Key West to meet up with Rachel and Katie, who have come down in the ferry, a mere 5 miles journey for us. I didn't regret that. Between the campground and the far West of Key West, riding conditions were pretty lousy. Rachel and Katie met us at the Cuban Coffee Shop near the waterfront. We shared Rice and beans and poppers (and Cuban coffee) and wandered around the oldest part of town, before getting on our dolphin cruise. The captain warned they hadn't seen dolphins, due to the rough nature of the bay from wind, but the many tour boats share dolphin sighting information and we had many cool sightings, pretty close to the boat. At one point, something jumped out of the water, but one of the crew noted that that particular jump was more likely an eagle ray. Apparently they jump out of the water to dislodge parasites. We also saw jellyfish (and a Cassiopeia jellyfish at the campground)!
There are also many, many abandoned boats in the bay. Apart from hurricanes, many people abandon boats, because it is cheaper than scrapping them. I had a long convo with a crew member re sailing, cycling and his efforts to canoe down the entire length of the Mississippi, over a period of a few years. Beautiful sunset over the bay. Rachel and Katie went back to their hotel, but Dwight and I went to a bar called the Retro Room that someone had suggested to Rachel. We got to watch part of a Godzilla/ Mothra movie and drank yummy beers. Lyft back!
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