The route crossed one of the major thoroughfares into town, Rowe Blvd, and then past the Navy Football stadium. Looping around the Tawes Office building, we turned onto Rowe Blvd this time and headed into town. Crossing College Creek on a relatively long bridge, this transitions the environment from light business/residential to the downtown government area. We turned a sharp right onto West Street at Church Circle, and headed onto a nice quaint old business district for a few blocks. Turning on City Gate Lane, we then entered a nice residential area with lots of turns that kept my attention to the well written directions. We headed up some steps at one point, and looped around the Maryland Hall for the Symphonic Arts at another.

Just before the one and only checkpoint on Lafayette Ave, we got really close to Spa Creek, and so just a slight jog off the trail allowed us to get the pooches a cooling dip in the water off some small fishing piers. They really enjoyed it and the dip really revived them! Even though the temperatures were in the relatively cool 70s, the sun is still hot, especially to the black coated India! Nevertheless, the one and only checkpoint helped Robin and I get some refreshing cool water and candy to revitalize.

India and Peaches managed to see a lot of their fellow canine cohorts out on the trail. Soon after the checkpoint after a few more quick turns as we approached the very busy waterfront area, two loose dogs greeted all of us, and hung with us for a few blocks. They must have been locals; they really seemed to know the territory. They were friendly and my dogs enjoyed the canine company.

Eventually we turned onto Duke of Gloucester Street and then a sharp left onto Compromise Street and into the downtown waterfront area. The Annapolis in the water Sailboat Show was underway, and plenty of people around from it. We walked along the edge of it, with lots of temporary vendors set up along the street. More and more people out and about as we turned up Main Street and the main downtown area of the City. What a busy sight! We had to slow up our pace, and the going was tough to get through with the two doggies on leashes. Peaches was quite nervous from all the close in navigating and the hundreds of people. Lots of quaint shops in older row houses that make Annapolis a very special, unique place. Mostly all upscale, too, with plenty of money in evidence. That was also true in most of the residential areas we walked in earlier; definitely some classy old traditional homes.

After a gradual walk uphill along Main Street, we turned right along Church Circle and onto School Street for a very short block to State Circle, which surrounds the Maryland State Capitol. Then a left turn off State Circle through Thurgood Marshall Mall and we started heading back to the finish. Crossing busy College Ave took a few minutes, but we managed to do so then followed Bladen St which turns into Rowe Blvd. Crossing College Creek once again on that long bridge, the beauty of the day continued. A few more turns on Taylor, Ridgely and Giddings and we were at the finish. We got the pooches some water, start cards turned in, and books stamped. We thanked the sponsors for a great walk but noted that they only had a bit less than 200 walkers for this one day event.

We took the pooches back to the car so we could enjoy the festivities at the Oktoberfest. Unfortunately with my tendency to lateness we had to work with the last of the fest, and the good beer ran out, and the pickings at the bratwurst line was pretty thin as I got the last two without a roll and Robin got just about the last Crabcake. Lots of merchants out on the closed-to-traffic Annapolis Street; crafty, homesy-type things. We interacted with many of them and had a good time over the last few minutes of the fest. An all outdoor affair, it differed quite a bit from yesterday's indoor Fest in Baltimore. But there still was plenty of Gemutlichkeit, traditional German live music and food, and those important traits were in common at both events.