It’s early Friday morning and today is the day that we will be attending the Boat Show here in Annapolis. I always look forward to the event but today will be even better as I will be able to look out into the harbor and see my own Pandora on one of the few moorings close to the show. Did I say that we were on a mooring near the show? Thought so.
Last night Brenda and I attended a reception for a rally that has sprouted up quickly in the last few years, the Salty Dawg Rally. This rally, similar to the Caribbean 1500, goes from Hampton VA to the Bitter End Yacht Club in Tortola. Unlike the 1500, this one is a free rally, and is associated with some very reputable folks so it’s bound to continue to grow. The reception was at a local yacht club and offered free cocktails and a supper all provided by a number of sponsors. There were also a number of brief talks from the organizers and other partner organizations. I do hope to do this rally in a few years. Who knows, perhaps Brenda will even join me (with other crew) for the ocean leg. Brenda says that me and my old dog Riptide are/were always “ever hopeful”.
I also found some time to clean Pandora’s bottom yesterday. It wasn’t too bad but seeing the “dings” in her keel from my earlier season grounding made me sad. Perhaps I will have her hauled when we are in FL to do some cosmetic repairs. Having her on the hard for the month that we are away will certainly cut down on the bottom growth as opposed to having her sit in a slip or on a mooring while we are north for the holidays.
Thursday afternoon we also found time to take a walking tour around the historic area in Annapolis and of the grounds of the Naval Academy. It was great fun. As I write this post it’s still dark outside and the football practice field is fully lit up with cadets doing drills. These folks really work hard every day.
The grounds are really beautiful and there are stately buildings everywhere you look. They say that when the Academy was designed the government was making a strong statement to England about how serious the navy was here in America. I’d say that they made their point very clearly. This is an imposing building and looks a lot like the college in England too. No accident, I am told. 
The chapel is particularly beautiful. It’s the large dome that shows from all over Annapolis. 
Inside is awe inspiring for sure. 
And, the view from the front steps is one of the best on the grounds. However, the fall colors seemed at odds with the 80+ degree heat that we are having. There is one consolation though that it cools down at night. 
The officers live well here. It’s interesting to note that each home is exactly the same. No favorites here, at least not on the surface. 
Well, no favorites except for the most senior officer. His home is quite a place by any measure. 
Of course, Pandora is an impressive residence too if a bit smaller. Here she is on her mooring off of the Academy wall. Not a bad spot to be. 
If she’s worth showing once, how about a bit closer? Works for me. 
I’ll sign off for now as someone is coming to look at my Side Band Radio today as I am still having some trouble getting good reception. He’ll be here at 08:00 and I need to have everything cleared out so he can look at all of the components. I’d love to get this resolved as I’d love to participate in the cruisers nets in the morning.
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