bad luck in Seattle newspaper story
09-29-06, 09:36 AM
#1
GATC
Thread Starter
bad luck in Seattle newspaper story
Cycling around much of Central and South America, Mexico and the United States, Monstad had arrived in one of the safest neighborhoods in one of the safest cities in the United States.
...
He had ducked into the store to call his host, who lived in a gray house next door. She didn't answer, having already fallen asleep, and when he got back to his unattended mountain bike, his bag containing his passport, credit card and $500 was open.
...
A funny thing happened, though. People came out of the woodwork -- total strangers -- and they started giving.
Kristina Southard opened her home to him on the recommendation of friends who were host to Monstad in Wenatchee. One of Southard's co-workers gave Monstad the money for a new passport. Others have come up to him to express their sadness this happened in Seattle of all places.
...
He had ducked into the store to call his host, who lived in a gray house next door. She didn't answer, having already fallen asleep, and when he got back to his unattended mountain bike, his bag containing his passport, credit card and $500 was open.
...
A funny thing happened, though. People came out of the woodwork -- total strangers -- and they started giving.
Kristina Southard opened her home to him on the recommendation of friends who were host to Monstad in Wenatchee. One of Southard's co-workers gave Monstad the money for a new passport. Others have come up to him to express their sadness this happened in Seattle of all places.
09-29-06, 09:40 AM
#2
totally louche
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sad, but what round the world cyclist leaves their money stash and passport on their bike when they 'duck inside' for even a minute? - leaving a passport in a handlebar bag? SHEESH!
i don't even trust country stores in rural areas anymore, the scourge of meth and perscription pain med abuse has turned even rural america into petty thieves' dens..... i bring in my handlebar bag, even in places like Forks, Plain, even the state parks or when i have to use the restrooms at a rest stop. the bag with the important, expensive stuff comes along with.
i don't even trust country stores in rural areas anymore, the scourge of meth and perscription pain med abuse has turned even rural america into petty thieves' dens..... i bring in my handlebar bag, even in places like Forks, Plain, even the state parks or when i have to use the restrooms at a rest stop. the bag with the important, expensive stuff comes along with.
09-29-06, 10:51 AM
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It's kinda nice that there is a town that still feels it can say "of all places". I do think it's unwise to leave valuable on the bike, but if one lets them spread out on the bike, and obviously all the panniers are too difficult to take at once, it can become a bad habit.
09-29-06, 10:59 AM
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That's why I always tour with a money belt. Shhh, don't tell the theives that!
09-29-06, 11:29 AM
#5
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I was following the story on the news last night - Seattle has opened up to this guy - money lodging new friends etc. It will take him 3 weeks to get a new passport. I'll bet it will be a great 3 weeks. Theft and dishonesty abounds everywhere, but I am proud how the cycling community in Seattle is making it right by this guy more over I am proud how the cycling community addresses people through out the world. The commonality of riding on new wheels at less than 20 miles an hour seems to do it. Grandmothers and kids seem to love us and will readily adopt us.
09-29-06, 07:51 PM
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No longer in Wimbledon...
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Originally Posted by Bekologist
sad, but what round the world cyclist leaves their money stash and passport on their bike when they 'duck inside' for even a minute? - leaving a passport in a handlebar bag? SHEESH!
i don't even trust country stores in rural areas anymore, the scourge of meth and perscription pain med abuse has turned even rural america into petty thieves' dens..... i bring in my handlebar bag, even in places like Forks, Plain, even the state parks or when i have to use the restrooms at a rest stop. the bag with the important, expensive stuff comes along with.
i don't even trust country stores in rural areas anymore, the scourge of meth and perscription pain med abuse has turned even rural america into petty thieves' dens..... i bring in my handlebar bag, even in places like Forks, Plain, even the state parks or when i have to use the restrooms at a rest stop. the bag with the important, expensive stuff comes along with.
This was always in rural areas. It's completely different for cities, which are full of casual theft. Perhaps the tourer was just too used to the countryside and decieved by the nice looking neighbourhood.
