CHIPPER CLUB: Bank holiday boat fun without barriers at the Marine Festival

Greetings Chipsters everywhere! As you may have learned a couple of weeks ago, mum and dad are big fans of boat racing. That's why, last weekend, we all decided to go to Gosport Marine Festival.
Picture: Tim PiperPicture: Tim Piper
Picture: Tim Piper

Because I’d been extra good this week, mum and dad let me take along a friend. I decided to invite Barry the bassett hound – he’d been a bit under the weather after he had surgery on his hind legs.

Now he has to walk around with a pair of wheels. It’s a lot like being in a wheelchair, so it’s very hard for Barry to adjust.

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We went down to the marina and tried to help Barry forget about it. When we got there, there were loads of people getting involved in the activities.

Mum and dad had a go at kayaking – it’s like dragon boating but smaller– but I couldn’t fit in the boat with them!

I was having a really fun time, but I could tell that Barry was still really sad. Because of his wheels he wasn’t able to do a lot of the activities.

I noticed that someone was offering powerboat rides for disabled people, so I thought Barry and I could do that. As soon as we got out on the water and went really really fast, Barry cheered up right away, with his tongue and his big floppy ears blowing in the sea breeze.

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When we got off the powerboat, Barry turned to me and said: ‘Thank you Chipper, you’ve made me feel so much better.’

Remember to look out for your friends if they’re not having fun over half-term – whether they’ve been poorly recently, or just need a bit of cheering up, there’s so much you can do for them as their friend!

Chip chip for now, your old friend chipper.