The full days pics are through a click HERE

Day 6 - Another nice morning, but there was time for that to change. As you can see the weather was good, over night had not been so cold either, probably 6 or 7 degrees Celsius as the minimum. So what could be so wrong?

We had breakfast (the usual porridge for me, this time with just white sugar, which was OK) then picked up our bags and headed off down to Alladale Lodge. By now I figured that we had spent Monday and Thursday out with the stalkers, (I would have done Tuesday too if it was not for my knee) so surely today must be learning about conservation and the project for the estate. Mich, Carol and I went in to the conference room and started thinking about the Environmental Assessment (that we still have not got too far with) and then Chris arrived. He has a whole bunch of paper work to do, so we are off stalking again.

To say I was gutted is an understatement, it was all I could do to hold back from getting very upset about it. I was still reasonably anxious about my knee. At least I have now learnt how to keep all my lunch requirements in my pockets, so that reduces the amount of additional bits I have to carry to just my camera.

So the three of us volunteers headed outside to see where we would be assigned. Mich was to go off with Jeff (a kiwi stalker who is over for the stag season, which finishes on the 20th October 2005) so that meant they would be going up the middle ridge. Generally whilst it is still high and a good walk, the day is usually over quicker as the stags are more plentiful.

Carol and I would be with 'Poppy', Carol with the horses and myself up the hill, the only other person with 'Poppy' apart from the guests. So not only would I definitely be going up the hill, the chances are there would be a drag too.

Once we had been assigned to the groups it was off round to the shooting range for a half hour whilst the guests shot at the targets and the Stalkers assessed their shooting ability.

Then it was into the Land rover and up to Deanich lodge to pick up the saddles, then on up to the paddock for the horses. We left Ronnie and Carol there to sort the horses out and follow on behind whilst we headed up to our usual parking space at the bottom of the hill. There was one saving grace to the morning. We had two gents and two ladies with us who, whilst fit, 'Poppy' assessed would be better to go up the longer, but gentler route (Or maybe he was doing it for my benefit, I am not sure). As we headed up the hill though I was surprised to find that my knee actually did not feel too bad, just the odd twinge every now and again, but nothing too bad.

Once up to the saddle we carried on right up to the ridge and then up onto the top. We had seen a stag from down below, but unfortunately he had gone off nowhere to be seen. Once we got to the end of the ridge 'Poppy' looked out to try and find a good target and eventually spotted a Switch. This is a stag who does not have multiple points on his antlers, just one long point. This is very dangerous as it can do a lot of goring damage. Normally the stags just butt heads, get a few scrapes and part ways, but with a switch it is a very different story as they can seriously wound a competitor.

'Poppy' headed off with one of the gents, leaving the other gent and two ladies waiting with me. We waited. We waited some more and I had a chat with each of them about things in general, their family, their lives, what was interesting and they are very nice people. We then waited a little longer. We ate our 'piece' or sandwiches. We waited some more and the cold North wind started blowing over the ridge.

What was so frustrating is on a hill not so far away we could see lots of deer. (left picture)

We waited a little longer still - Just after two and a half hours there was a shot. At last we were expectant for 'Poppy' to return. He did and after all that the guest had missed.

This was good in one respect as it meant there would be no drag just yet, but also it was not so good as it meant the day would be longer still as we needed to get our two stag headcount. So we all walked on. I in my rush walked straight into a very boggy bit and sank straight up to my right thigh in peat. Fortunately with the water proof trousers on I stayed dry.

So now the chase was on to try and follow to see where the stag would go. The answer was over the top of the ridge, down a gentle slope, then out onto the steep glen side which fell away at a sixty degree slope to the glen below. So we followed. We followed him round the side of the hill, then 'Poppy' signaled to us to wait whilst he took the guest forward to shoot. So again we waited.

This time the wait was not so long though and we clearly heard first one shot and then a second.

Neither of them found their mark.

At this point 'Poppy' seemed resigned to the fact that we were not going to get a deer this day and headed back off to the Land Rover. This was good news as it meant that there would be no dragging. What I did not know was quite how far it was back to the Land Rover and also that we would be walking round a very big left hand bend on a very big slope. As it is my left knee that is playing up, this did not bode well.

I managed not too badly going down most of the hill and a reasonable amount of the way back, but with about half a mile still to go I jarred my leg on some uneven ground and there was a sudden stab of pain through my leg that I was not able to compartmentalise like the dull throb that had been there previously. I grunted a bit with the pain, not too much though, but my face was streaked with tears. Fortunately by the time the guests up ahead had decided to stop for a break and I caught up with them I had managed to gain control again and whilst I was hobbling I was at least mostly in control.

Finally we all made it back to the Land Rover, I am guessing 'Poppy' had probably been there for around a half hour before we arrived. I must admit I found it very strange how he just raced off leaving the guests, but later it was explained that usually there is an assistant who will be there with the guests. I suppose that was supposed to be me, but I was not a lot of use as I was too focused on my knee.

Finally we got back to the lodge and as Mich had been back for a while he already had the fires going in both the lounge and the boiler. Lovely!

Then we spent some time sitting around relaxing and chatting, whilst waiting to see when Chris would be back. We waited (there seems to be a waiting theme to the day) and I went off and had a bath, then Carol went off and had a bath... then we decided we may as well get started on dinner. I made a lovely steak and ale pie (it was frozen and just needed putting in the over) and then I really did make cauliflower cheese. Overall I was not too impressed with the sauce as I felt it was a little watery, but everyone else said it was fine, so I guess it was OK and the half a bottle of wine made my knee feel a lot better too!

I called home, a little later than usual as I had been so caught up with cooking, then after dinner we sat down and watched a couple more episodes of 'Firefly'. I guess we probably went to bed about 22:30.

All content on this site is ©Dominic Earl