The journey with Nigel and Sam from Paxton arriving in Caithness on a sunny evening for forestry meetings and deer stalking. A long journey with at least three breaks to stretch our legs and get fuel.
A treat to be able to use a dog kennel and run there, last used by their old dog Duke who died a year ago of old age.
I had bought Sam with a view to his use as a sporting dog and now I was to take him for the first time to Scotland. I was awake before 5.00am and, having had a bath and hair-wash last night, was able to quietly shave and dress to take Sam for a good walk for half an hour at 5.15am. This gave me fifteen minutes to load up the remainder of the car and be ready for Nigel who I expected at 6.00am. Of course, he was a bit late and so it was around 6.30am that we left with the car full and Sam in the back. but Sam did at least make the trip without too much difficulty. He was losing patience at the end, but we arrived at 6.00pm (after eleven and a half hours) on a fine and sunny Highlands evening.
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Ian McGregor, the hotelier, was in the garden to greet us and I was pleased to find we could have use of the dog run and kennel for Sam. This was last used by their old dog Duke who died a year ago of old age. It took him the evening to settle in whilst I had a fine dinner and then updated this last three days journal but by dusk (at 10.30pm here, an hour and a half later than in England) I had him settled and quiet. He had a large run to play in and a good view of the rabbits at dawn and dusk. As usual, he had taken his blanket out and I had to take it back and settle him down at bedtime but apart from that and considering his age and immaturity, he handled the car journey and strange kennel very well indeed.