F wanted to go without me because they were both paddling boats like this with no seat for me.....so I scrambled onto the back of hers as she was climbing into the little hole. It caused some human consternation and I was eventually dragged into the hole in the middle of Mr B’s boat.
It's called a cockpit.
Mr B is useful for kicking my tennis ball (games with 'puppy') and paying cheese tax but I kept my eyes on F. I only venture out to sea with her. She started to get away and I had to fight my way out and chase her.
(I hadn't thought that one through.)
Mr B called her back and we arranged what she called an STS - ship to ship transfer. Right out in the main channel.
(It wasn't entirely dignified. There is a handle on the back of my red water coat, and the humans used it to sort of 'crane' me across. Bah!)
F's cockpit is deeper and I couldn't see out. We had to come to an arrangement about her raising her knees so I could sit high enough to put my front paws on the forward edge of the cockpit, rest my head on my paws and look at where we were going.
She called it awkward. She has no idea just how awkward that was but no one is leaving me behind.
So there.
Across the Sound we chatted to a boy fishing from a jetty about what he was catching - spotties and kahawai he said.
Mr B pointed out the wind was rising and we headed back paddling a bit less lazily. From my perspective the waves were enormous and I got more than one face full of sea water. F noticed I started shaking and kept suggesting I should 'do calm'. Arggggh. Doing calm requires solid ground. Impending death by drowning is NOT A CALM situation.
By luck (and good look-out and navigator skills on my part) we survived another channel crossing and reached calmer waters in the lee of a headland to our bay. I perked up enormously when I saw a 'stranger' dog doing stick fetching off MY jetty but it was too wrapped up in its stick to accept my invitation to play.
It's tough work being a navigator dog. Not every k9 could do it.
Yours
Scully
you're doing a sterling job Scully xx
ReplyDeleteI am seeking a pay rise. xxx Scully
DeleteOnly the finest water dogs are capable of navigation and aiding humans in their folly. Champion dogs take on the most adventurous humans- you are that champion. Thank you for keeping them afloat!
ReplyDeleteI got champion dog on school pet parade day xxx Scully (NB from F - small rural achool, about 30 pupils aged 5 to 13 - even so Scully has been champ about 5 years running)
Deletenot every canine indeed and also not every woman could do what she did.. love the story glad you did not drown
ReplyDeleteScully. you are a proper sea dog.
ReplyDeleteI'll be wanting a tricorn hat next.- xxx Scully
DeletePS - I've got the eye-patch
DeleteOh Scully, you had our Mama giggling at how well you have your humans trained!
ReplyDeletexoxo,
Rosy & Sunny (and Beth too)
Taking lessons from you guys xxx Scully
DeleteHari OM
ReplyDeleteScully, mate... will, in this case, the actual Ship's Mate... I can't imagine what it would be like if F and Mr B tried such a trip without you as their guide! You are certainly experiencing a great deal more in life since you decided to take them on as extra family! Hugs and wags, YAM-aunty xxx
They said they would probably fare better - thank you for asking (don't go giving them ideas) xxx Scully
DeleteOh scully You definitely are a very good navigator.
ReplyDeleteAlthough I’d be very hesitant to do a canoe to canoe swap. I did do a boat to boat once out in the bay. But I was much younger then and less worried about my mortality
The STS might have been more an SOS - sink or swim - had I actually managed to climb out of Mr B’s kayak.
Delete