Colliedays - Holidays - not for me, thanks!

I knew I should have gone to Gracie's place for the Bora Bora party.  Well, my humans and I were on holiday - they said it would be fun!  Someone had the bright idea to hire a narrowboat and spend a week going down the Kennet and Avon canal into the River Avon at Bath.  "Oh, let's take the dog with us!" says mum, "He'll love it!"  Shows how little she knows - poor mum.

watching one of my humans dangle a stick in the water from the bow

Boats, water; okay, so I guess most dogs like that sort of thing, and there were a fair few enjoying themselves, but I'm obviously not most dogs.  First there was this really loud roaring thing, an 'engine' they called it, and they would run it during the day, making the barge - and me -  shake.

 Bath deep lock - I was tied up inside for this one!

There were times when I did settle down in the bow to watch all of the interesting creatures - okay lots of them, like ducks and swans, were not so interesting - come and go.  There were the early morning walkies with mum along the Avon at Bradford on Avon, and Sydney Gardens in Bath where I chased and met other furry friends.  There were also those shady tables at the canalside pubs where water was brought for me to drink out of a little bucket.

finally - in Bath - boat gets tied up, I get untied!

I just never got used to the idea that I couldn't take myself for walkies anytime I pleased, or get away from the b-o-a-t!  Oh, I tried.  I jumped off several times when we were tied up, once pushing some pretty holes into the top of mum's foot with my claws in my enthusiasm. When the boat was tied up next to overgrown banks, we had to use the dreaded plank to get on & off.  Needless to say, I was much too clumsy to use that properly.  Mum developed some big muscles carrying me on & off the boat, and some good balance carrying a big collie across a foot wide plank - looked ridiculous, I'm sure.

Bath Abbeyview lock - the site of my almost-untimely demise

Once mum said I gave her two heart attacks in a row.  Before one of the Bath locks I decided I'd had enough and, just as the boat was pulling towards the quay, I jumped - and missed.  Yep, in the drink.  But the worst part was that I was between the boat and the cement quay, and the boat had headway.  Mum roared the engine into reverse and a passing jogger pulled me out, all wet!  After that they closed me inside the boat for the Bath locks, with a chewie.  Then suddenly, one of my humans comes up from below shouting to mum that Islay is missing!  Mum thought I had done another deep six trick.  She ran the length of the boat looking for me, but she didn't notice that I had found the cleverest hiding place - in the 2x2 ft shower under the curtain!  I think my nose poking out gave me away eventually, and then it was the leash for me!

relaxing in the bow after walkies

When we finally got home after a week I went to my favourite cave behind the couch and slept in my favourite position: half-upside down, for a few hours.  Maybe next time mum has one of these hairbrained ideas for a collieday, she'll leave me at home!