Oh boy

Oh boy! What an adventure today….

I was trying to be productive and get a bunch done before Kellen gets here tomorrow. The universe had other plans…

Took an early trip into town with the scooter, which is like the best mode of transportation when cruising. Much smaller than a bike, can charge at a coffee shop or off the boat, and has about 40 miles of range!

Grabbed a coffee and a breakfast sandwich at a cute little coffee shop, then off to Publix to do some provisioning for the upcoming week with 2 on board. Decided I had so much on my list it was going to take 2 trips, so did all the meat and produce on the first run. Had a nice chat with the mother ship while shopping, then walked outside to find that Dorthy my trusty scoot scoot had gone on a walkabout. Or more like someone else took her on a scootabout…. Wonderful.

I stood there perplexed for a bit, calling the cops crossed my mind, but dealing with CPD in the past has always proved harder than just solving the case on my own so I didn’t. (Yes I had a lock on it, the joyrider defeated it.)

Luckily I had the foresight to discretely attach an apple airtag to Dorothy, so as long as our new friend was near someone with an iPhone I could see a rough location.

Well the perp was headed south on US41, so I called in backup (Uber) and headed that way. Bounus they were headed twoards west marine, which I needed to hit also.

No sight of the scoot or the perp on our trip to west marine. I got my parts, checkouted and called in more backup (another Uber). Being a frugal cruiser I was mad at this guy for adding $25 in Ubers to my shopping budget. C‘Est la vie.

The scooter was now showing a location in downtown near the Starbucks that has a large homeless population near by (I had already called 911 on Friday when I got to town and two gentlemen got into a physical altercation next to sbux). So I figured it would be somewhere near there. I was wrong.

At this point with a bunch of meat and cheese on my back I realized I needed to head back to the boat and make a deposit in the fridge. I had pretty much accepted the fact that my scooter was gone at this point. Some kind of cosmic retribution for something I had done in a past life. Could be worse, at least I still have my dinghy! Luckily the engine is such shit that no one can steal it because they don’t know how to magically coax it to life… The upside of a crappy motor.

Anyways. After putting my provisions on ice, I headed back to shore. Figured I would go file a formal police report. After a 40 min walk to the police station I was told I should go to where the theft happened THEN call, so they can pull security footage. Ugh Ok. I had almost walked inside to ask for the footage right after it happened, but I figured without a cop they were not going to show me anything. I was right. So I walked another 1/2 hour back to Publix. Called the non-emergency line, and sat on hold for another 1/2 hour. I decided I could at least get my second shopping trip out of the way, I’m here already…

Finally I hung up and just called 911. They sent a very nice officer who took a statement. When I explained it happened earlier in the morning they asked why I waited till almost 2pm to call, I explained I tend to be somewhat self-reliant and DIY. (See previous posts about sailing solo from Chicago to Florida 🤣)

I headed back to the boat and really accepted the fact I’ll never see the scooter again. But then, as I got into the dinghy “PING” the air tag pinged a new location. So I jumped on a rental bike and off we went to the bad side of town. I texted my new cop friend the address as well..

As I was rolling into the neighborhood my new BFF in the SPD rolled up with a very confused look on her face, “you really are DIY” she said as she got out of her squad car. We proceeded to canvas the neighborhood. Some local teenagers through acorns at me. I felt like Jack Donaghy in that 30 rock episode with the kids softball team.

PING new location a block over from where I am. Rode over and there she was, on someone’s front porch. I called Officer G, she headed my way and I figured I would just wait for her arrival. Well, someone exited the house, and went to get on the scooter. I decided I had enough detective work for the day and as I crossed the street I loudly shouted “THAT SCOOTER IS STOLEN AND THERE IS A COP CAR RIGHT THERE!” Bluffing about the cop car hopping she would show up in the next 15-30 seconds to make an honest man out of me. I thought it was prudent to employ the same tactic as you do with a mountain lion, don’t sneak up and startle it, make your presence known and appear bigger than you are 🤣. The gentleman stepped back and told me to take it. I merrily scooted away right as the squad car came around the corner. A perplexed Officer G got out, looked me up and down and just muttered “DIY”

We filled out some paperwork, the man said he got the scooter from another guy, it appears she was the village bicycle for the day and helped several different folks get to the store. Glad she had some utility.

Officer G gave me a ride back to Marina Jack where Gypsy is. We chatted about life, adventure, crime…. I explained my outlook on life. We only have one trip on this crazy blue marble, so don’t waste it being miserable. Being happy has as much to do with a choice to be happy as it does with your lot in life. I’m fortunate enough to be in a position to take this trip, so I choose happiness every day. When she asked why I didn’t want to press charges, I explained A. There is no way to prove that guy took it, and B. My property was returned, no damage was done, no one was hurt, and I have a great story to share next time I am at a bar. That is what we call a good day in my book.

So here we are, back on board Gypsy charging the village bicycle, making dinner and getting ready for the first of 2 visitors who is arriving tomorrow.

To quote Lin Brehmer “It’s Wednesday, Sunny, and it’s a great day to be alive!”

Hope all of you had a great Wednesday.