Eventually, the circus moved on, and Balthazar had to leave his aquatic retirement. He was loaded onto a truck, probably giving the barge one last, long, sad look. Witnesses say he “growled in a very disappointed way.”
But here’s the kicker: that barge still exists. It’s been restored and is moored near Harefield Marina. Some locals claim that on foggy mornings, you can hear a low, rumbling sound—just the wood settling, they say. But you and I know the truth.
It’s the ghost of Balthazar, still trying to steer toward the nearest honey shop. A testament to a time when a bear could legally captain a boat and nobody batted an eye. And if you ever visit Harefield, find the barge. Wave at it. Just don’t wave with a ham sandwich.
