@JERK:
If Chopper's bird got lured to the plant island wouldn't that just make Chopper trapped with Usopp?
While that seems like it would be the most plausible (and unfortunate) scenario, I find it suspicious that Oda mentions it attracts birds right before having Chopper leave on a bird. Also, and this could just be another coincidence, but Oda had Usopp use the grapple belt (Usopp AhhhHHhhHh!) for the first time since it's introduction in Skypiea. Likewise, Nami could coincidentally swing by someone's location as well.
@JERK:
There's a definite deliberate vagueness going on here on Oda's part, Greg noted it earlier. Oda seems to simultaneously hinting at delay and immediate departure with every one of the stories. FUCK YOU ODA ARRGGGH
Yeah, he's given us time frames and time skip hints, a sense of urgency and at the same time a need to slow things down, shown people with convenient means of travel and no travel at all… the hell, Oda!? Luffy being in an isolated area that the crew cannot reach throws another wrench in things, but Chopper and Nami's modes of transportation could be the resolution to that.
@TheNewtilator:
I thought this too… How exactly did Franky survive? Wasn't he at the centre of the epicentre of the explosion?
Wasn't he also hit by a train once?
@Mr.333:
Akianu with that tatoo looks like Yakuza.
Speaking of, @Aohige, does the tattooed knife on his other arm mean anything? knows nothing of tattoos