Friday after work I decided to take Sandy (my dog) to Knight's Ferry for a trail run. The place is amazing. We've been there several times before. It's on the way to Yosemite, about 45 miles from Manteca. There's a trail on the North side that I always do. The last time we were there I noticed people on the South side and was pumped because I didn't know there was a trail over there so on my way there this past Friday I decided we'd try the South end trail. We pull up to the parking lot, we were the only ones there which is good so she can go off leash, and parked right by the bathroom since hello had to go...I locked it up and we were off.
It was tough to find where the trail actually started so we just began on our own and found it about 1/8 mile into it. This wasn't just a trail run this was a hike. I'm talking balancing, using your hands to grab onto rocks so you don't fall, jumping over creeks and making your own trail since this one isn't marked as much. Sandy and I called it a day about an hour later. She loves to swim so we went down to the river before we headed to the car. On our way back we followed the trail to the parking lot. I looked around and my car wasn't there. I thought okay Kellie where did you park...I looked at the bathrooms and knew that I parked right in front but no car. There weren't any cars. CRAP!! There's a bar/diner up the street a bit so Sandy and I hauled tail up there. I roped her off outside and asked the bartender if I could use their phone since someone has just stolen my car. She said of course and was telling all the customers and other workers about my situation. This is a small town and things like this does NOT happen. Everyone was so apologetic and baffled. I called 911 and let them know. The dispatcher said an officer would be on their way. I told the employees I'd be outside if they got a call back from the police.
I stood there, in the middle of nowhere, and thought about what was in my car. My purse, my chapstick (my lips were dry at the time), wallet, crap both my work phones, my personal cell phone, my GPS, oh man my bike rack, my stereo, all my CD's, some homeowner keys, HOLY CRAP my escrow papers under my back seat that included everything. I'm talking SS#, checking/saving account# all my credit card #s, and even my parent's account #.
Okay I hadn't started to cry yet and thought I'm NOT going to start now I had to get things taken care of. Just then a man came out to check on me who was sitting at the bar. He told me the cops around that area were worthless and handed me his phone. He said it was his company phone so I could call who ever and place all the calls I wanted. I thanked him and was on the phone for 45 min. I called my bank first off and cancelled my debit card and tried to block or cancel my checking/saving accounts but since it was after working hours that couldn't be done until Sat morning at 9am when the offices open. ARGH!! I called my parents, called my insurance company and Mike Moore (I needed a ride home and his number is the only one I have memorized that lives in Manteca, lucky him but kept getting his vm).
Between calls I was telling myself this is why I didn't buy the condo. I would have to buy a new car and an empty bank account. DANG IT!
During my "cell time" folks from the diner would be leaving and everyone that left said how sorry they were to hear about my misfortune. Very nice. The nice man who's phone I was using came out again to check on me. I gave him his phone. He was now pretty liquored up but he said that him and his wife had an extra car that I could use until I got situated. I thanked him and just asked him if he could take me to parking lots again. I wanted to make sure that the people didn't just take my car, grab the things they wanted and ditched it. He said of course. Granted he was driving under the influence but please I was desperate and under some serious desperate measures. We drove past the top parking lot for the South trail and I asked him if there was another parking lot for the South trail he said yeah, we just have to drive a bit further and it looks just like the first one. We then looked at each other and he said oh honey I hope for your case it's not there. We pulled around and sure enough there was my Jeep. I began to cry. I've never looked at that car with pure love before now!
I'm still not sure if they were tears of joy or of embarrassment (both I'm sure of it!) but he started laughing. "You're in trouble", he said. You've called 911 and everyone else. Oh my gosh I had some serious back peddling!! I thanked him and got out and jumped in my car. He took off and yelled out the window, hey don't forget your dog at the diner. Right, I remembered where she was at least.
I called 911 very first. They asked where was the car found and all I said was the next parking lot over. She confirmed that everything was okay. I wanted off that phone so bad because I didn't need to have the CHP find out that I just went to the wrong parking lot and thought someone had stolen my car. I called my bank, parents and Mike Moore (who finally answered his phone).
When I drove back to the diner to get Sandy I noticed that the nice man was parked at the diner once again. I looked into my wallet and all I had was $7, enough to buy him another beer since my debit card was now cancelled. Not that he needed another one but this man was an angel in my eyes. As I was getting the money out CHP drove right by me in front of the diner slowly. Nice! Where have you guys been...hour later...okay forget about that. I was hungry now and thought I'll sit down and have dinner here. I've always wanted to. I enter and all eyes were on me. No lie! Conversations stopped. I walked in awkwardly to the bar and the man and his friend looked at me and just started busting up. He laughed yelling here's the dumb blond. Oh my gosh, okay I deserved that but straight to business. I said hey I only have $6 but thought I could at least buy you a beer. He said no, you've cancelled everything you have so you'll be needing that more than I will. I said no, it was the least I could do for him. His comment to me was honey you have given me a story to tell for the next 20 years about this dumb idiotic blond that parked her car and thought it was stolen because she went to the wrong lot. I got a flash of humiliation and began to tear up again. I decided that I would get the hell out of there before my self-esteem was crushed any more. I asked if I could take a picture with him. That's right...I knew that you'd all appreciate it and it would make it more real. Cheese! Here we are.
I grabbed my camera put the money down on the bar and walked out of there so fast everyone was a blur. I grabbed Sandy and got the hell out of dodge!
True at first the onlooker may say why would I want to look at Lance naked on a bike or you know that's got to be uncomfortable but I can guarantee he's not. Just like a shark needs water to survive and makes it who it is Lance needs his bike. It's who he is. As mentioned here in the office he has sold out to the whole...I'm going to date famous people...Sheryl Crow now Kate Hudson...blah blah blah but has an athlete, the man is downright amazing! His drive, determination and need to fulfill this life could be called contagious. Well done!
