Willow & Bella’s Shannon Adventure

Two Retrievers, One Cruiser and a Day on the Water

Morning started quietly in the little wooden cabin beside the Shannon. Willow stretched from nose to tail, Bella followed her towards the door, and within minutes both were outside investigating the damp grass, hedges and every interesting smell left behind during the night.

They had no idea what was planned. We did. Today, Willow and Bella were going cruising on the Shannon.

Back at the cabin, the harnesses came out and suddenly everybody was wide awake. Willow, the lighter cream retriever, wore her navy blue bandana, while Bella’s reddish-gold coat was matched with a purple bandana.

Then came their tickets.

Two little passenger passes were clipped beside their collars.

WILLOW — DESTINATION: ADVENTURE
BELLA — OCCUPATION: LOOKING OUT

The Walk to the Marina

The walk from the cabin to the marina was part of the morning. The path followed stretches of the river, with green fields, trees and glimpses of boats appearing through the branches.

Willow marched ahead as though she knew exactly where she was going. Bella had other priorities and stopped regularly to investigate hedges, gates, grass and anything else that might contain useful information.

Then the marina appeared And there, tied alongside the quay, was their cruiser. Both dogs stopped and stared.

All Aboard

Once aboard, every part of the boat had to be inspected. The deck was sniffed, the cabin checked and several completely unnecessary investigations took place beneath the seats.

Then Willow found the bow.

Bella joined her. That was it. The very front of the cruiser belonged to them. The engine started, the ropes came away and the boat slowly left Carrick-on-Shannon, heading north towards Lough Key. The town began disappearing behind us while the river opened ahead.

Wind in Their Hair

At first, the Shannon was beautifully calm. Green banks passed slowly on either side, reeds moved along the water’s edge and the occasional boat appeared farther downriver.

Willow sat upright at the bow watching everything. Bella sat beside her, occasionally looking at Willow as if checking that this whole cruising business was normal. Then another boat passed. Its wake reached us a few seconds later. The bow lifted. Dropped. Lifted again.

Bella immediately widened her stance. Willow looked back with an expression suggesting somebody should probably explain why the floor had started moving. By the second wake, they had it figured out. Then the breeze picked up.

Willow’s pale coat blew backwards and her navy bandana fluttered beneath her collar. Bella’s reddish fur lifted around her ears while the purple bandana bounced in the wind.

Their little tickets swung from their collars as they sat side by side at the bow.

They looked slightly windswept. But very pleased with themselves.

Following the Shannon

The cruiser carried them past fields, woodland and quiet stretches of riverbank. Ducks disappeared into the reeds, a heron lifted from the water and smaller boats passed in the opposite direction.

Every few minutes there was something new to watch. Neither dog showed any intention of giving up their front-row seats.

There was something wonderfully simple about watching them there. No destination seemed particularly important. They were perfectly happy just feeling the boat move beneath them and watching Ireland pass slowly by.

Lough Key Ahead

Eventually, the river began to widen. The view opened up, wooded shoreline appeared ahead and the islands around Lough Key slowly came into sight.

Willow stood first. Bella followed immediately. Two tails began wagging.

After the cabin, the morning walk, the marina, the moving boat and the wind blowing their fur in every direction, they had made it. For a few moments, both dogs simply stood at the front of the cruiser looking across the water.

Their tickets were slightly crumpled. Their bandanas were crooked. Their hair was a complete mess. And they could not have looked happier.

They had started the morning outside a quiet wooden cabin beside the Shannon. Now they were cruising into Lough Key with the river behind them and another adventure waiting ahead.

 & Bell

Two retrievers. One cruiser. And a very good day just getting started.