Boating with Buster

Alison Alderton

Description

Amidst a crisis, Alison feels life's not worth living, but Buster, a Beagle puppy, will change everything...AcquiringLily, a Dutch barge, Alison and her husband, Roger, head for the calmness of the inland waterways. Boating with Buster, they learn plenty aboutboisterous Beagles and bothersome boats! Redundancy triggers a move to Ireland where the characters are larger-than-life, and the lakes so huge they are known asinland seas. They become custodians of a historical property, partake in milestone boating events, and go ice-breaking in the coldest winter for fifty years. A move toEurope seems to be the chance of a lifetime, but tragedy strikes when Buster develops a debilitating illness. Watching the world go by aboardLilyaids Buster'srecuperation, as they travel through the Netherlands and Germany: spending long summer days on the Mecklenburg Lakes and winter in the former Eastern bloc.Finally, they cross the Baltic Sea to enter Danish waters.Buster's story flows through the waterways of Europe in this colourfully portrayed, moving book of canine companionship. A memoir written in first person,Boatingwith Busteris a charming 'tail' that readers who enjoy animal stories, travel and boating will delight in.

Sujets

• Travel writing
• Boating

Informations

• Publié par: Troubador Publishing Ltd
• Date de parution: 13 septembre 2018
• Nombre de lectures: 0
• EAN13: 9781789012279
• Langue: English
• Poids de l'ouvrage: 3 Mo

Extrait

Copyright © 2018 Alison Alderton
The moral right of the author has been asserted.
Apart from any fair dealing for the purposes of research or private study, or criticism or review, as permitted under the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988, this publication may only be reproduced, stored or transmitted, in any form or by any means, with the prior permission in writing of the publishers, or in the case of reprographic reproduction in accordance with the terms of licences issued by the Copyright Licensing Agency. Enquiries concerning reproduction outside those terms should be sent to the publishers.
Matador
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ISBN 978 1789012 279
British Library Cataloguing in Publication Data.
A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library.

Matador is an imprint of Troubador Publishing Ltd
This book is dedicated to the memory of
Buster
And is for all those whose hearts he touched
Contents
FOREWORD BY WENDY HALL
FOREWORD BY BRIAN CASSELLS, OBE
PROLOGUE
SECTION ONE: ENGLAND
1 “A BEAGLE, ARE YOU MAD?”
2 THE BOXGROVE YEARS
3 A FIRST TIME FOR EVERYTHING
4 BADGER DINGLE, PADDLE AND RAIL
5 BROKEN BONES AT ANIMAL FARM
6 A BOAT OF OUR OWN
7 BETWEEN THE DEVIL AND THE DEEP BLUE SEA
8 RANGERS AND RAGAMUFFINS
9 THE TRESPASSER
10 A NEW HOME FOR LILY
11 TIME AND TIDE
12 LIVING WITH LILY
13 HALCYON DAYS
14 THE NORTHERN LIMITS
15 SWINGTIME
16 KEEPING UP APPEARANCES
17 IT WILL ALL COME OUT IN THE WASH
18 AS I WAS GOING TO ST IVES
19 THE FENLANDS
20 HOMEWARD BOUND
21 NEW DOG ON THE BLOCK
22 A SPANNER IN THE WORKS
SECTION TWO: IRELAND
1 BOATLESS IN THE CALLOWS
2 SETTLING IN
3 CONNEMARA CURIOSITIES
4 THE HOUSE IN THE WOODS
5 CÉAD MÍLE FÁILTE FOR LILY
6 CARNADOE AND ICE
7 SHANNON, TOP TO TAIL
8 RALLYING AROUND
9 A ROYAL AFFAIR
10 AUTUMN ON THE BOYLE WATERS
11 LOUGH REE EXPLORATION
12 A GRAND DEPARTURE
13 BANDIT COUNTRY AND BEYOND
SECTION THREE: EUROPE
1 TIME MACHINE TO DENMARK
2 IN HOT PURSUIT
3 LILY GOES DUTCH
4 FROLICKING IN FRIESLAND
5 TO THE LIGHTHOUSE
6 THE TURFROUTE
7 CROSSING BORDERS
8 FAR, FAR, FAR UP THE MITTELLAND KANAL
9 ON TO BERLIN
10 LAND OF A THOUSAND LAKES
11 EASTERN BLOC WINTER
12 MECKLENBURG REVISITED
13 TO THE BALTIC WITH BUZZ
14 DENMARK OR BUST
15 ISLAND HOPPING
16 THE ISLE OF INNER PEACE
17 SPIN DRYER TO COPENHAGEN
18 A SWEDISH DIVERSION
19 AUTHORS AND BARDS
20 THE SPITEFUL KITTYCAT
21 LILY MEETS THE VIKINGS
22 THE ANCHORAGE
23 ADRIFT
EPILOGUE
BARGE ART
CONTACT THE AUTHOR
BEAGLE WELFARE
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
GLOSSARY
Foreword

WENDY HALL
I was five years old when I had my first encounter with a Beagle; my father came home with a two-year-old dog called Buster. Being the middle child of five girls, my dog became my best friend; we would go everywhere together. Living in the country, he was never on a lead. He would trot alongside me when I was on my bicycle and, when playing with other children, if one of them pointed a toy gun or even a stick at me, Buster would knock them over and take it away; never aggressively, just determined.
Together with my husband, Doug, we have had our own Beagles since 1966. We got our first ‘show’ Beagles in 1968, two sisters whom we had a successful show career with. Our greatest achievement was in 2002 when Champion Cliffmere Quadrant won Best of Breed at Crufts. Doug and I are International Championship show judges and have judged Beagles and Dachshunds in Australia, South Africa, Japan and Europe. We have been Beagle Welfare Officers. Doug is currently President of the Beagle Association, serving on the committee for 30 years as Chairman and Vice Chairman. Currently I’m Chairman of Eastern Counties Dachshund Association. Our whole lives revolve around our dogs.
The first point of contact with someone who wants a Beagle puppy is usually on the telephone. I will spend up to an hour talking to potential owners about the pros and cons of Beagles, which was how Alison first contacted me. She was not put off by my frank conversation. A hound is not for everyone; they are hard work. It takes dedication and determination to train a Beagle and they are the most wilful of hounds. I shall always remember the grin on Roger’s face when he held in his arms this six-week-old bundle of trouble. I knew it was the right home for the puppy; they were asking the right questions, wanted to know as much as possible about the breed. Alison and Roger, her husband, took their own Buster home with them when he was ten weeks old and so started this little hound’s adventure.
I must admit I had some reservations when, some months later, Alison phoned to say they had bought a barge and were going to take Buster with them. I had visions of this puppy continually falling into the water but I was told he had a life jacket, which made me feel better. Buster became a celebrity in the boating world; his adventures of crossing seas and waterways are well documented. I would receive updates from Alison about his exploits; he always made us smile.
When old age and illness crept into Buster’s life, Alison and Roger tailored their lifestyle to fit in with their best friend’s needs, always putting Buster first. Thanks to this book, Buster’s adventures can be enjoyed by all.
Wendy & Doug Hall
Cliffmere Beagles Lincolnshire
Foreword

BRIAN CASSELLS OBE
W hen someone writes of the exploits of their pet, it’s useful to be able to say, “Oh yes, I remember them,” and this time I can really say I do remember Buster the Beagle! He and I met on the southern shores of Lough Ree, one of the large lakes on the River Shannon, when Alison, Roger, Buster and their barge, Lily , lived in Dunrovin, an idyllic nest for any waterway lover.
Personally, I’m a cat lover but I have been custodian for just over a year for my daughter’s black Labrador, Olive, so I can empathise with any who have parallel interests: boating and pets. It’s obvious how Buster became well known on Lily ’s waterway circuit; when spotted, he ran forwards to greet me with a constantly wagging tail. I’m tempted to say Alison was easily recognised when Buster was around but you know what I mean, his wagging form had appeared in so many waterway publications; as a pair they were easily identifiable.
I don’t know if this is fact or fiction but I can visualise Alison sitting at her computer desk whilst Buster was curled up contentedly at her feet, listening to the click of the keyboard. Alison is a gifted writer. When I asked her to contribute a piece for the IWAI Waterways book, she painted a word picture of Dunrovin and the gardens that conveyed the reader into that mystical place where even the birdsong could be visualised in the background. I’ve followed the exploits of Lily and her crew over many years, pottering about on the English canals, even tasting the salty brine before her baptism on the mighty River Shannon, then being transported to Europe where Lily began an even more adventurous career on the waterways of Holland before braving the Baltic and now resting in Denmark.
Knowing Alison’s gift as a talented writer endowed with a pleasant, affable personality, I look forward to her latest project, her long-overdue description of the many navigational adventures undertaken. Of course, there have been lots of canine waterway stories already written by numerous authors but I know this tale will be different because few writers have that special ability to paint a story with words quite like Alison Alderton.
Alison, it is my delight to be associated with your new book. Knowing your ability to depict pictures with your writing, it will be a success.
Brian Cassells OBE
Author and IWAI Past President Ireland
Prologue

ALL DOGS CAN SWIM
“ I ’m going in.” The words were clear, loud, to the point.
Knocking the engine into neutral, I turned and saw the soles of my husband’s boots disappear as he dived into the swirling grey waters of the river.
I waited.
And waited some more.
Turning back to the controls, it slowly dawned on me this was the first time I had been alone on our 48 foot (15m) long replica Dutch barge. I became aware of the background murmur of the Beta engine and the increasing breeze rustling through the tall trees on the furthest bank. The barge weighed in at a hefty twenty tons and I was alone on her in the middle of the river. Slowly we were drifting; it felt as if too much time had passed. A sinking feeling was beginning to develop in the pit of my stomach. How long should I wait?

Moments before, the sound of barking dogs seemed deafening; the black-and-white Collie charging up and down the towpath incessantly yapping now nowhere in sight, the owners having beaten a hasty retreat with the dog doing what Collies do best – circling and bringing up the rear in an attempt to bind its flock together. Buster, our ship’s dog, stood his ground. His reply to the teasing Collie was to raise his hackles, curl his top lip and growl before letting out the unmistakable, reverberating cry which only a hound possesses. Buster’s cry stopped the dog in its tracks but not for long. The Collie was persistent and back it came, bolshie, tormenting, thinking it was safe on dry land. Buster let out a bark so deep and powerful it raised him off his feet, causing him to momentarily jump on the spot. Landing heavily, he teetered on the edge of the steel deck before speeding off after the Collie. They ran parallel, the Collie on the bank, Buster on the barge. He circumnavigated the boat successfully on the first occasion but, on the second, he forgot the beautifully curving stern, running straight on to hit the water at speed with all the grace of a bouncing bomb. The enormous thud as his body made contact