Two weeks after John Dewar was found alive in the Plumas National Forest, he doesn't remember much about his ordeal. On Tuesday, November 20, John's wife Marion says he went out to run errands, leaving behind his cell phone, and only taking his wallet and his white van. He didn't come home, and two days later, on Thanksgiving Day, search and rescue crews spotted his van near the small town of Inskip in Plumas County. The next morning, he was found.
Dewar only remembers his first day, driving up the Skyway. He says, "Driving out of Chico and up a hill, and it's not a hill I'm particularly familiar with." He doesn't know why he took off, or what made his take that route. He recalls finding a clearing, and pulling over to walk around. There were a few people in the area, and he says he took a nap. As night fell, he says he fell asleep. But the dim memories of his first day in the woods is all that he can remember. He says he wasn't particularly worried, or upset, or cold, or hungry. He says there were a few snacks in the van, and a water jug. Dewar doesn't recall being found and brought back by search and rescue teams, but he and Marion are grateful for all the help and support they've received. He's not driving for the time being, and he's reading to help with his cognitive skills. His family now calls him their "Thanksgiving Miracle."
