Annapolis Boat Show, Oct 8th

We hadn't been to the Annap Boat Show in a few years. Time to head back to get new perspectives on wind generators, aft mast arrangements, solar applications, hardware, cookware, latest Passport news, and to meet up with a few friends.

What a great day. Did you know you can park at the nearby elementary school and your dollars go to the PTA? A few years back, they were buying band instruments for the kids; this year they had some projects and travel plans that they were funding. A worthwhile way to use your parking dollars.

And although VIP day has the extra entry fee, it's sooooo much nicer at the show with fewer crowds.
For one day of boat show, it really makes it easier to see everything and talk with vendors.

We left Minnie at the Greater Annapolis Vet Hospital. Very well rated and we were confident in leaving her in good hands there. After her excursion, when she got back to the boat, she was going to sleep anywhere even if her favorite donut (from Aunt Ellen & Uncle Barclay) was oriented vertically:

Great to see dear friend Bruce Schwab (Vendee Globe 2004 on Ocean Planet), and to brain-storm solar ideas with Stephens The' and Megan from Orca Green Marine (cool!). And hearing about South River Federation's clean up and restoration of South River MD from Sarah Giordano. What a thought to have Rachel Miller and Sarah join up for a Cleaner Ocean's project -- one for the river shores (and watershed) and one for the Chesapeake it feeds into.

Bob and Deb Gurwitz came down from LCYC and we met up with them after a show party for us and after they got out of a major traffic jam. We had a pre-arranged a meeting address but by the look of things, parking was going to be, um, interesting. We sat on a curb-side bench and waited while scoping out the whole scene when lo and behold, the Gurwitz's pulled into the spot right in front of our feet. It was such a weird coincidence that the spot had just become open, and that they just pulled in, and that we were sitting just 10 feet in front of them. Did the 4 of us really talk till midnight over dessert at Normande's? That's the first time Deb or I had seen lemon sorbet served inside a frozen lemon. Delightful.

In closing: Ern and I will likely not seek out pet-friendly hotels in the future.