The Rusty Chronicles: A New Ferry and off to Work

Saturday, March 22, 2014

A New Ferry and off to Work

This week has been one of those everyday, ordinary, run-of-the-mill type weeks for Rusty and me. Although that doesn't mean that I can't concoct some sort of adventure story for these pages; after all when you can't see properly and you have an overgrown puppy of a guide dog, simply going to the shops to buy some teabags can turn into something of an adventure.

I'm quite fond of my weekday commute, a walk or ride to Cremyll to catch the ferry over the Hamoaze to England and then a gentle mile and half or so through Plymouth's backstreets to the station. I might not be quite so keen on the actual stuff I have to do when I get there, but I do quite enjoy the walk and the ferry ride.

Over recent months after the lovely and much lamented Northern Belle was holed by a Royal Marine landing craft, us regular Cremyll Ferry users have been lumped onto the Island Princess.

Here's the Northern Belle (built 1926 as The Armadillo at Mashford's Shipyard) back in the day.

And this is the Island Princess that saw us through the winter months. I did ask Chris the skipper to turn the heating on once as we crossed the water with a bitterly cold easterly blasting across the all-but open passenger deck. His response was "Don't ask for heating on this boat - the only heat is a cuddle from Max", Max being the deckhand. Nice fellow, don't want a cuddle from him, though.

And now, at long last, we have the Northern Belle's replacement - the Edgcumbe Belle, which Rusty and I happily waited for after a good old trek from Millbrook. (That's Max the heating engineer from the Island Princess on the prow in the second shot below).

The ferry is one of Rusty's favourite things - he gets a good old fussing from Max and Chris once his harness is off for the seven or eight minute crossing and he loves the smells that waft around from the river and open sea just beyond.

After we've sailed across the water, and after we've arrived at the office, it's just an ordinary day's work. But sometimes our fellow railway people find that their cash-handling and retail machinery looker-afterer has popped out of the office for a few moments. Perhaps he's had to go to the loo, leaving his companion to hold the fort for a while. Rusty is very good at the old "How may I help you?" routine from behind the security glass.

*****

photo credits

all photos by me except:

Island Princess shamelessly nicked from http://ptotpa.blogspot.co.uk/2013/07/eyeing-up-island-princess.html

Edgcumbe Belle - from The Cremyll Ferry's facebook gallery.

Rusty in the Office - S Yeo.

2 comments:

JudithMarch 23, 2014
It may be ordinary, run-of-the-mill and everyday to you, Joshua, but it's really interesting to me on this side of the planet. And I love the photos, especially the last one.
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Some Useful(ish) Tips About Guide Dogs

I gave these "rules" to some of my friends - perhaps they're helpful. I hope so.

Rusty is a working guide dog and not an ordinary pet so there are a few simple rules to follow, some of them might seem odd or difficult - but it's all to keep Rusty working well at his job.

1) If Rusty has his harness on, then he is working - please don't talk to him, catch his eye or have any interaction with him at all - even if he approaches you.

2) Once the harness is off - he's a simply a well trained dog and should behave like one. Most of the time he'll just lie down close to me, but he might decide to say "hello". It's absolutely fine to pet him, tickle behind his ears (he likes that) or anything else you might do with any other dog.

3) EXCEPT! He is not allowed to lick people or do the "shaking paws" or "putting paws up to you". He only knows one negative command which is "NO". If he does try to lick or paw you, please just gently say "no" and replace his paw on the ground or move away from the licking.

4) AND - he is not allowed any food treats of any kind - at all, ever. No matter how much he gives you the "RSPCA eyes" look. He's on a strict diet and gets low fat rewards occasionally from me to encourage or reinforce correct behaviour.

5) I am absolutely aware that I'm just the bloke who hangs around with Rusty and that's he's the star of the show, BUT - he mustn't think that. So please, even if all you say is "rhubarb rhubarb" for two minutes, talk to me without looking at Rusty first. After we've ignored him for a minute or two, providing he's off the harness, fuss him all you like.

6) Last rule! If you're going to leave the room/tent/bar or wherever we find ourselves, please don't make a fuss of Rusty as you leave. It's far more comfortable for him if you just leave without even acknowledging his presence - a bit like the previous rule, but in reverse!