The Race Home (Part 3)

Where in the World is Vinnie?

Vinnie set sail over two weeks ago from Paradise Island on his homemade raft. Everyone has been waiting for any news of his progress. We have reached out to our network of critter spotters across the globe. Some of them are uninvited guests aboard various sailing vessels and some are unofficial lighthouse keepers. Yes, officially the Coast Guard has “automated” the lighthouses but who do you think keeps the automation working properly? A very dedicated crew of critters.

The first spotting of Vinnie was a bit delayed. Apparently there was a bit of a translation problem. Vinnie was seen off of the coast of Spain by a Spanish Galleon. This can’t be good. Vinnie still has to cross the Atlantic ocean as well as come forward 400 years in time. Lets face it, Vinnie is the only one who could get himself into these conundrums!

Well a bit of progress. He was spotted by the schooner Alabama. He has at least progressed to the 1800s.

A short time later, we got a report from the schooner Adventure. So, it looks like he is still stuck in the 1800s.

He got blown a bit off course by an Atlantic storm. He was spotted off the Mohegan Bluffs on Block Island (southern coast of New England).

His raft was in need of repairs, so the crew of the Block Island lighthouse gave him directions to the nearest port.

He found a safe harbor at Mystic Seaport. You’re not seeing things, Vinnie is still stuck in the 1800s.

The good news is they had the skilled craftsman to repair his raft.

Vinnie must have been relieved to see this pile of rocks. It is the quarry at Halibut Point on Cape Ann. Less than 30 nautical miles from home. (Although we are not sure what century he is in. This quarry opened up in the 1800s.)

A local boater recommended a shortcut. Hmmm, is that modern wind turbine in the background? By some miracle Vinnie has returned to the 21^st century!

The drawbridge operator is so accustomed to raising the bridge for every boat, he automatically raised it for Vinnie’s five inch raft.

Fives miles from the Woodpile. This is the jetty at the mouth of the Merrimack River.

Look, a small group of fans showed up to cheer him on. No wait a second, they are trying to warn him about the rough conditions.

This can’t be good. A Coast Guard helicopter.

 

Who are they rescuing from the river? Imagine traveling over a thousand of miles across an open ocean just be sunk in your home port? This is the stuff the ancient seafaring tales are made of.

“A priceless moment” – The shocked looked as Vinnie found out he came in second in the race home. He lost by a mere three minutes. Who was the winner? The chipmunk and the duck? Nope, the last we heard the duck found the perfect spot in Rhode Island to spend the summer and refused to fly any further north.