by spiderwebb » Wed Oct 26, 2011 3:51 pm
To confirm Daz is safe and well and reunited with Angela
I set off at 0830 up Glen Tilt and was about 3-4 miles up the Glen when I saw Daz running down the road on the opposite side of the river to me (I was on the track north side) at about 1015 hrs.
I called him and he turned his head but carried on running disapearing along the road behind trees. Unluckily for me he caught me coming down a slight hill going in, which meant an uphill run (did I say run-well brief run) back up. This soon reduced to a brisk walking pace, clear in the knowledge I was not about to outpace a dog even after 5 days and nights out in the wilds !
I met the shepherd in his pick up by Gilberts Bridge where he confirmed my sighting and that it must be the missing Daz ! He drove down the road while I went up the Glen towards the cottage as we couldn't be sure if Daz had doubled back. Met again at the bridge with no further sighting.
I came back over the bridge in the belief he must have crossed and carried back towards the car park not least to phone in where I could get a signal, which turned out to be correct as I met two groups of walkers the second about a mile from the car park, and they had seen him in the car park itself.
They had contacted the owners who were on their way so I waited in the car park myself in case the dog came back.
He was caught by someone at the Blair Atholl caravan park and held for the owners to collect, who then met me up at the Car park having called ahead. Owners having been to the caravan park a few times clearly familiar ground (as with Sam finding him on a route I'd done many times).
Turned out the first sighting was people staying in Marble Lodge who saw Daz outside when they looked outside just after 0900 !! He must have legged it and that's when I saw him (looking fit and well) sprinting down the road.
All I can say is brilliant news knowing exactly how they felt !!! and talking of news I was being called numerous times by the press wanting my own story of losing Sam two weeks ago. Numerous VM's as the signal in Glen Tilt was nill !! Check BBC Highlands and STV I believe. Fame at last, maybe I'll take his up full time !