Thanks Mountainfain, Pete and madasa mongoose...
electricfly wrote:Was up again on Monday afternoon and made a thorough search of the area by layby 79 where the path turns south at the Coire Dhomhain.
Checked the railway fence which is pretty unpenatrable. The gated tunnel has enough room for a wilful dog to crawl underneath the gates and gain access to the tarmac track to the A9. The gates to the main rd are dog-proof however there is a water underpass which goes under the main rd. On checking this, I was hoping that the eastern side would be well fenced, however there is a few places where a dog could easily make progress eastwards from the A9 instead of being forced to head south to Dalnaspidal as I had thought before.
Might be a good idea to poster Blair Atholl and Bruar areas if not already been done as the hills on this side of the A9 eventually lead to water sources which drop to these areas.
Still hoping that Benji is mobile, there is still plenty of water to be found in the glens and drainage areas which would sustain him.
Thank you Electrifly.... you're a sweet soul for going out again... we've postered the Bruar and B.Athol areas as well as loads of others from The Hermitage right up to Aviemore including in the bus stops which total strangers (kind folks) we've spoken to recently have photographed on their phones and shared on their own face books. We've got posters down and along the Rannoch road also and the hill folk and estates all know too. We are going to go major with the poster even more so now. Benji may well have gone over the road, he could be wandering the other side but they're not hills we're familiar with, but will be looking at our maps now to see what is there and see where we could go...
Again, thank you
CelticSmurf wrote:Don't know if this has been done...... How about making the poster of Benji with contact details available to print, so that anyone can print a few copies and post in different areas they are passing through. I have been up and down the A9 a lot in the last few weeks all the way to Forres and thought it would be handy to have had posters to stick up on various pit stops.
We've still got posters left so if any one wants any posted out to them and they're travelling that road and could post or hand out to any one up that far up, we'd be very happy to post them out, obviously, we'll pay for the postage. Or, we could leave a load at Dalnaspidal and Balsporran as there's still bags of scent cloths still there where we left them two to three weeks ago and no one has moved them. The estate guys have been great in letting us leave them there...We've no been up as far as Forres but any suggestions are very much appreciated.
Thanks CelticSmurf
Holly wrote:Oh gosh, I have been thinking of you both and hoping you have been managing ok.
That tent is light in comparison to most as is the wee stove attachment and thermarest BUT,,, I know ,,,, heavy to two people who have been giving their all and more and with your health issues. I so feel for you. xxxxx
Dont you two give up but you also need to look after your health.
Benjii would not want this and I agree that it is better to look to the net for publicity. Try again to lost dogs Scotland? Get them to re raise the photo again?
I personally cannot see anyone nearby with a motive to keep him but can see a motive where folks from afar have been travelling and maybe have picked him up as a stray well beyond the beaten track of the A9.
That is where the Net becomes invaluable.
BUT, if you need to do what you need to do, then fair play to you. Get that pack a bit lighter ( I know you can!) and get out there again for another look.
My thoughts are with you and every bit of me wishes him safe xxx
Many thanks Holly, for lending us your stuff and giving us so much advise re wild camping. We did have to buy some extra stuff as the thermarest wasn't enough I'm afraid and Ronnie needs the extra padding too. We got extra ones for comfort and had to get new sleeping bags as our old ones were too thin and we were freezing the first night. We will have to get our packs lighter as I just can't carry such a heavy load personally despite it being the advised maximum fifth of your body weight ratio thing (???) we been reading about (read it in a different post) and my own weight has dropped more again. We'll get them lighter and get more publicity out there on the web. I've another blummin' appointment tomorrow at the doctors but we are going back out up there some where as soon as I'm finished there (don't know where yet) but will drop off our other dog Mez first at my son's house as it just makes things a wee bit easier not having something else to worry about as all she does is run about like a mad, wild thing and is no sniffer dog. When ever we're shouting "Ben" e.t.c, all she does is just stand and look into the distance... dozy thing.
Any news at all, we'll keep every one updated.
Thank you Holly, and every one for your very kind thoughts and help
xxx