How I spent My Summer

[Kenneth Brewer]

PS> I just finished speaking with the reporter from the Halifax paper who is printing the retraction and clarification in Sundays paper.

Bruce[/QUOTE]

Please confirm that the retraction was indeed made, just to close this story, because it is a beaut. And tell us if you were indeed charged twice or not. Thanks again.

[0533]

Bruce,

Best bus story I've heard all month.

Hope this is the final chapter.

Mike

I think Lloyd and Pamela set this practical joke in motion as a Nova Scotia Prank, knowing that we were heading to Lunenburg Ns.

I did get a chance to respond to the Halifax Newspaper, they still did not get it right, but at least its in the Sunday paper today (see attached), maybe some of the kind Nova Scotia folks will clean their shotguns and put them back on the shelf.

I was going to tell the paper that I learned the art of stealing diesel fuel at a seminar given by Jon at a POG rally, but did not want to give up the entire group, I'll take the hit for all of us.

Pam and I have enough fun in the sun in Nova Scotia, plan on heading back to boring USA on Tuesday, should cross over in Saint Stephens NB on Wednesday will report back if we are successful getting back across the border.

http://www.thechronicleherald.ca/Metro/1071130.html

[0533]

PS> I just finished speaking with the reporter from the Halifax paper who is printing the retraction and clarification in Sundays paper.

Bruce

Please confirm that the retraction was indeed made, just to close this story, because it is a beaut. And tell us if you were indeed charged twice or not. Thanks again.[/QUOTE]


Pam has been checking our Citibank statement online and neither charge has hit the card. Unfortunately we have no proof whatsoever that we have paid, none.

But I have to say that If I was not a good natured person, I would start to get a little Pis... at the Sobey's folks who called the cops. I am starting to think that the nice young man inside the Sobey's station authorized the pump in an effort to make my pumping easier, and by doing so it might have over ridden my swiping of my card??? But I still have to believe that once I swiped my card that the information was stored somewhere and could have been retrieved?? Its over for now. No more diesel in Canada, have a full tank should be good until I get back to Maine.

[Will Garner]

Pam and Bruce,

I would go for making the paper pay you for that tank of diesel. After all you did everything right, have been harrassed by the RMCP, been embarassed in front of your camping neighbors, are now spending time and probably money too just checking your account making sure you were not billed twice for that one tank of diesel, and are now worrying about how to escape from Canada without any more troubles.

Suggestion, don't just look for the retraction, get a copy of the paper to have with you at the border crossing and then find a good attorney - well an attorney - and sue the pants off the gas station, the paper and the RMCP just for good measure. Who knows, you could wind up with enough cash to move up to that 2001 H-3 everyone has been posting about lately.

Best wishes for more smiles as you travel down the highways of life.

[0533]

Pam and Bruce,

I would go for making the paper pay you for that tank of diesel. After all you did everything right, have been harrassed by the RMCP, been embarassed in front of your camping neighbors, are now spending time and probably money too just checking your account making sure you were not billed twice for that one tank of diesel, and are now worrying about how to escape from Canada without any more troubles.

Suggestion, don't just look for the retraction, get a copy of the paper to have with you at the border crossing and then find a good attorney - well an attorney - and sue the pants off the gas station, the paper and the RMCP just for good measure. Who knows, you could wind up with enough cash to move up to that 2001 H-3 everyone has been posting about lately.

Best wishes for more smiles as you travel down the highways of life.

Pam had expected that Sobey's (large grocery Chain) would at least give us a certificate for a gallon of milk, I will not hold my breath.

I will say this, if I find out that Citibank has charged my card twice or even if they can show a hit for the transaction I will offer my thoughts to Sobey's.

It was the Sobey's gas station manager who filed the police report, he wanted to cover his backside when his boss asked where the $ was.

Frankly I am lucky I was not arrested and dragged away to court, I may have been given some slack by the Pony Police, as they were not exactly buying into the notion of a Silver Getaway Bus who escaped 40 miles down the road for 7 days either.

Its over, and we will never leave a station without a receipt from now on. I generally do not care about the receipt as I use my statement each month to verify charges.

[lloyd&pamela]

Hi Bruce and Pam,

Sorry for your gas experience, remember you are in the country and technology is still new in most of NS. We hope you are able to enjoy the Mahone Bay Wooden Boat Festival and the Lunenburg Folk Harbour Festival while you are there.

To set the record straight, we had nothing to do with this fiasco.

We wish you both the best, were you able to connect with any of the people we set you?

[MangoMike]

We have had various awards at previous POG Rallies in recognition of certain achievements.

Anal Awards, Viagra Awards, Whiskey Dent etc --

I make a motion for a new category: Best Bus Story

And I nominate Pam and Bruce.

Fast Roger,

Great suggestion. And although I think Bruce has it hands down I also know that you've got about 4,000 miles ahead of you this fall, which gives you plenty of time to create your own antics.

mm

[sawdust_128]

Sounds like you had all the characters. Barney, Goober, Aint Bee, Howard, etc. Don't wory, Andy finally showed up to straighten things out.

I've got a real good image of this:

isolated penninsula town, rich tourista's, townies, tough times, under-educated, evil baron in a rolling bling palace, etc.

It all adds up to the episode entitled "THE CRIME OF THE CENTUERY in Mayberry".

You are a shoe-in for the funniest story and I think you should run a POG rally workshop, --- maybe "Ways to avoid an international incident while bussing."

Please let us know how you make out running the border.

[lloyd&pamela]

Busted! You see we just have too many tourists, especially of the american variety buying up our ocean front properties, so ...

Aaah, the memories ... We could tell you a few, on both sides of the border.

A recent tidbit: do NOT use the "Truck" lane entering Montcalm, Manitoba from the U.S. or you may be scorned and given the evil eye and told where to go, never mind that you might be directed to that lane on most occasions. C'est la vie.

Also, re: border crossing, remove your sunglasses and don't offer any more info than that requested. If a simple "yes" or "no" will suffice, leave it at that. And, for God's sake, don't you plan on smuggling in an orange or an onion that's started to sprout!

Hope the rest of your NS journey was enjoyable nonetheless.

Our best,

Pamela & Lloyd

[Judi Brown]

Sorry to hear about problems with fill-up, but don't think a country should be bad mouthed over it. I am wondering how mounties knew where to find you.
Did you use same credit card to check in there. I think Nova Scotia tourism
and Pog should persue this further. You have a $6.00 a hour manager trying
to maybe cover his mistake and a credit card company that is not going to admit there machine made a mistake. In the mean time it creates bad feelings
on both side of the border. Hope the rest of trip is a pleasure.
Judi B.