UNITED KINGDOM TRAVELS, JULY AND AUGUST 2002

THE MISCHIEVOUS ELVES OF THE ROMANY INN

After checking in to the Romany Inn in Bampton, we showered, and then Don planned to take a nap.  I was going to walk around the town.  So, I got dressed and went to get some money out of my wallet.  Where the heck IS my wallet?!? 

First I looked in my bike bag, where it should be.  Not there.  Then I looked in my handlebar bag, where I sometimes put it.  Not there.  Then I looked in my fleece pocket, my shorts, my biking jacket.  Where the heck is my wallet????  Now I was worried.

I checked my bike bag and handlebar bag again, taking everything out.  No wallet.  Then I took everything out of my suitcase, felt all of the pockets, looked on all of the table tops, etc.  I couldn’t find my wallet.

By now Don was too revved up to take a nap, and I was really upset.  I tried to think when I might have lost it, mentally retracing every stop we made, every town we were in.

Finally we went downstairs to call in to the credit card company.  Don ran down the street to get some cash at the ATM before I cancelled the card.   The innkeeper was very nice, very sympathetic.  He let me make the call on his bar phone, and I regretfully cancelled the credit card and the ATM card.  The bank agreed to mail me replacement credit cards, but they won’t send a replacement ATM card.  However, Don’s ATM card is still good, so we are ok.

That night I tossed and turned all night, retracing my bike route, wracking my brain, trying to figure out where I could have dropped my wallet.  I don’t think I slept a wink most of the night.  Finally I dropped off at about 3am.  At 5am I was back to agonizing over my wallet, with $300 cash and my driver’s license, Kaiser card.  Oh!  What a pain!

Then I rolled over, and full of dread for the day ahead, opened my eyes.  What was that hot, sticky thing pressed up against my cheek and the wall?  My wallet!  I can only believe the Romany elves were pulling my leg, and when they got bored with it, they brought my wallet back to me.

Once again we had our full English breakfast and off we went.