Annapolis is sailboat paradise!!! From the moment you get even close to the city you see sails on the horizon. From the sleek blue sloops of the Navy Academy racers to the tiny one-designs of the sailing schools there are sailboats. No one appears to be interested in putting the boats away for the winter.

We spent our first three days in the area in Weems Creek, up the Severn River from Annapolis. There we poached on a Navy Academy mooring ball (guidebook said this is OK as the Navy only uses them for hurricane anchorage). This was a great place to regroup, clean up and rest before the boat show.

We docked at the Eastport Yacht Center in Back Creek for the four days of the boat show. Docks were fixed and rickety and expensive, but the staff was outstanding and the marina facilities more than adequate. A short walk took us to a great little breakfast deli. We took the Water Taxi right off our dock each day for a ride to and from the show in Spa Creek.

The show itself was amazing. Most of the stalls, tents and booths are supported on extended docks. We checked out solar, purchased charts for the Bahamas, and wandered among the fabulous new boats for two days. Luckily we were advised (thank you, Tom) to visit Middleton's for oyster shooters and beer to negate our midday meltdown.

Nightime was spent in several parties with our Milwaukee friends. We were treated to a spectacular thunderstorm while on Uproar the first night, and a marvelous dinner at Mark and Cindi Duhmig's the second. So good to see you all... there were over a dozen of us!!!

The last day we moved the two boats (Whisper and Uproar) to the city moorings in Spa Creek so that we could be close to the show. We dinked in mid afternoon to be onhand for the show tear down. With Pusser's Painkillers in hand, we cheered as the docks were disassembled and the boats freed from their moorings. It was a huge party and it took it's toll. Last that night we had a difficult time finding Whisper on her mooring ball out in the harbor. We need to purchase some distinctive lighting to put in the rigging for future shore expeditions.