Took a few pics then got back on the bike... 2 miles up the road was a better vantage point so I stopped again for pics.. Started chatting to a local who was broken down in his VW camper.. I offered help but he had a tow truck on the way . Then an aprillia and mutly stopped so I chatted to the German riders for five mins.. Time to go. I took my wet gear of and put in the pannier.. got on bike.. Something is missing!! My bum bag... FUCK!!!! Bum bag with passport.. Think... Fuck... Last stop I took it off.. So back on the bike and fly back down the mountain ... Gone... Ride up slowly looking for it.. I'd sat it on the pannier so It had fallen some where. Nothing..
I did the same in France cycle touring in 2004 in July. Bumbag with passport, cash, brand new mini disk player. I know exactly how you feel. Pedalled like mad down the big mountain idI cycled up that morning to the bench idI say on. Gone, no bag. No one around either as it was the middle of the day. Still makes me mad thinking about it.
Ok... No passport... Ok... Don't panic.. it is what it is.. So I carried on to cadaques with the intention of going to a police station and hoping like mad some good person may have handed it in .. I get into town and head to the beach for a beer and a regroup.. Lots of bikes.. I goes to the bar with the most bikers and take a seat... Next to a couple of German chaps . Same guys! I'm telling em my take of woe when they remember coming round a bend and seeing some guy in a car picking up a black bag from the middle off the road... Anyhu I call the embassy in Madrid and talk to a lady about emergency documents.. She tells me it has to be done online and i couldn't get em till Tuesday.. too late for boat... And if I start the process my old passport would be cancelled immediately.. Ok... Find cop shop... I ride the 800 mtrs there and on walking through the door, I'm greeted by a cop with a huge grin on his face . He was waiting for a biker to show!!! Black bag he asked... YES!!! But it is empty he says... Apart from some melted sweets and a British passport!!!!
Tbh I had kinda resided to the fact that it's was gone and was making plans to squeeze the Moto GP race in .. except for a few probs . Money, work and boat schedules... Anyhu, high as kite I ask if he has the name of the guy that found it... Ivano the Italian he says... He works at the casino cafe.. So I go in search (by way of a cash machine) and find the place.. He's not working today.. I try to explain to the staff that I need to see him but no English.. after a while of me making PHN signals and waving cash the make few calls and tell me wait 5 mins.. My hero rocks up on a KTM.. Takes off his lid kid and starts laughing insanely!!! He spoke no English at all but knew by the handshakes and big hugs he was having to put up with, that I was happy... I put £100 in his hand .. he went mad... I went even madder and I think he understood he was taking the money, by Force if need be.. We spent the next 20 mins telling each others tale by sign language and facial expressions.. What a great human .. A pic of the legend...
No, that is about all have in it.. there was more stuff but as i now have to wear my ruck sack, I'd put most of it in there for comfort...
What a day!!! A lil bit of an emotional roller coaster... All though I was thinking , it is what is is, now I have it back in my hand and thinking of the money and hassle, I'm more than a lil relieved... I honestly nearly cried when I met the italian... Strange eh? The drugs ya mind makes in moments of stress and relief...
Also what a lovely lil town this is... The road getting here was a lil lost on me due to the circumstances but was really cool... I'm staying here tonight and my knight in shining armour also gave me the name of an English pub that he says does great food... If an Italian says that, I think it's worth a butchers...
He’s pulled ? I left a handbag in a Egyptian taxi once - driver realised and drove all the way back with it - refused to take any money Most people are good . Karma chiz
