Canadian Bacon
A few years ago I had taken a year out after school and had decided to go travelling on my own.

Being a tender 18 year old Mr McGravy I hadn't got access to a credit card, but a Solo card - which was a kids version of a debit card, but thats OK because I had travellers cheques and was told by the bank that I would be able to use it abroad. How wrong they were!

I had just spent 2 days camping in Jasper, BC after hiking with a party I found on the interwebs. I hadn't slept for 2 nights because the temerpature dropped so much I had to wear all my clothes. I hadn't been able to eat because my card was alien and my travellers cheques were gone. I came to a bus station to wait for a bus that was due to arrive in a few hours. The only thing I had eaten in the last couple of days was a bit of cookie dough I managed to buy with the $1.50 I still had in my wallet.

In short, I looked a mess.

I spoke to a kindly lady and her daughters to pass the time and told her about my adventures (which were mostly positive). We spoke for hours about Canada, travelling and she asked if I needed helping. I was too proud to admit it as I wanted to prove to myself I could look after myself and told her I was fine. As I was leaving, she gave me a little envelope and said, "here's something to remind you of us". I said my thanks, thinking it was a picture of her and her daughers(?) and when I got on the bus, the envelope contained $100 Canadian Dollars.

She had no idea how much it improved my life. I was able to get a place to sleep for 2 nights in Vancouver, eat, shower, clean my clothes and organise getting replacement travellers cheques as well as buying some new socks. Without it I would have had to sleep on the streets and would have had to go for another few days without food or money.

Thank you Mrs Pagee, you have no idea how you gave a synical 18 year old faith in humanity.

Pop. First time. Be gentle with me
(Davey McGravy, Fri 3 Oct 2008, 10:30, 6 replies)

^
Where did your original travellers cheques go?
(powervator and NONE SHALL PASS, Fri 3 Oct 2008, 10:40, closed)

Dunno
I dont know. They weren't spent by me and nothing else was missing from my bag. They were of no use to anyone else because you needed ID to prove you were me to cash them.

My personal theory is that a bear with an eye for finances had them when I'd left them in my rucksack in my tent's porch while going for a midnight wee.
(Davey McGravy, Fri 3 Oct 2008, 12:50, closed)

Damn Canadian Bears
Always hustling.
(powervator and NONE SHALL PASS, Fri 3 Oct 2008, 13:19, closed)

Give me all your honey, eh.
(Hippo_of_Doom, Mon 6 Oct 2008, 13:43, closed)

Geography
Jasper is in Alberta ;)

Do you mean Whistler?
(kiwanotree Meh, Sat 4 Oct 2008, 0:06, closed)

Can I
give a synical (sic) 18 year old a dictionary?
( TGB checking Off Topic is still shit at, Tue 7 Oct 2008, 10:56, closed)