Boat show
In 2 and a half weeks we will be off to Toronto to attend the Toronto International Boat Show. Having never been to such an event we are fairly excited. From a shopping perspective I am almost afraid to go there with our credit cards. We have so many things on our “needs and wants” list that there is just no telling how much debt we could get ourselves into!
In addition to the vendors displays there are also a number of hour-long talks and seminars being run by numerous well-known cruisers. We will be spending two days at the show and have already made plans to attend the following:
- Cruise the Eastern Caribbean and Explore Its Islands Beyond the Beach – Ann Vanderhoof
- The Intracoastal Waterway – Heading South from the Great Lakes to Paradise – Wally Moran
- Weather and the Mariner – Ron Bianchi
- Mandatory Safety Equipment: Things That Work – Boating University
- Cruising for Cowards – Liza Copeland
The last seminar, Cruising for Cowards, is the name of a book I purchased some years before we formalized our “plan.” And coincidentally, when we were quickly throwing stuff in a bag to take with us to our house-sitting gig, one of the things I grabbed was Ann Vanderhoof’s book An Embarrassment of Mangoes: A Caribbean Interlude. Both Rebecca and I have each read that book a couple of times, but it is kind of a feel-good, easy read for aspiring cruisers, perfect for the Christmas holidays.
There are a bunch of other seminars that we would like to attend, but sadly we do need some time to wear out those credit cards. 😉
The show runs from January 9-17 and we will be attending the first two days. Hotel rooms are already booked and work responsibilities have been covered!
Any local-area “boat people” who will also be at the show should feel free to give us a shout.
We went to it last year and stayed at the Royal York for free. (Free booze and food too). This year we are staying at a more reasonable place since we have to pay this time. It is a great show and we are buying each other our Xmas gifts there..You’l both enjoy it a lot…Allan
Free???
We are staying at the Harbor Castle. They have a boat show rate of 99 bucks.
Now don’t forget what you said once…. every dollar you spend now is a dollar less you have to go sailing with and thus will cut down how long you can spend doing what you really want to do. So no going mad at the boat show with the credit card!!! 🙂
Yes, Sandra… you are right. 🙂
We’ll certainly be shopping from our list to avoid being enticed by all the shiny new gadgetry.
Woo hoo for Embarrassment…. I love that book and I read it at least once a year. I wish she’d set sail again and come out with another book. Ask her when that will happen if you get the chance.
Will do Judith.