Badlanders MCC Website

Well. I’ve hit the wall- mentally and I suppose physically. I have this constant strain on my left thigh, which needs looking at. Not helped by empty heads in credit card companies................I’ll explain!

Today I left Valdivia after an hour speaking to my credit card company who decided to block my card because of a possible fraudulent use. They were good enough to send me an urgent email informing me of the fact and that I was to contact them urgently. To my girls at CMBC First Call, urgent to you is different to urgent to my credit card company........ But then they agreed to accept the call and pay for it!

After the torture of twenty questions, I was informed by the young lady that answered my call that my card was used at B O Higgins at 2.30 am, which would be 10.30 my time. “Yes that would be a withdrawal from the bank, which I made at 10.30.” “ No, it was from , Red Banco, B.O. Higgins calle and it was 2.30 am. “Yes”, I said, “that would be the Red Bank on Bernard O Higgins Street and taking into account the time difference, 2.30 would be about right”. “So you are saying that this is a withdrawal from a bank?” “Yes” that’s exactly what I’m saying.” You will know the story from here.”Hold on a minute sir, I will just have to talk to” and it cut off before I heard who. music......................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................An age as you might expect!

“Okay Sir! I just need to go back through some security questions; mole on which part of your body?” Only joking......but you can guess what my response would have been!

Anyway, after a few minutes we managed to get to the point that I’d called them a few months ago to let them know that I’d be travelling through South America on my bike, so would be making purchases in South America. You know; the sort of thing that you are expected to do!

“Okay sir, yes I’m going back through your details, you called in May to say that you would be travelling through South America. Are there any other countries that you will be travelling through?” “Other than what?” I said. “Other than South America- you see this withdrawal was from Chile”.

This was followed by a period of silence, for effect of course; after all, they were paying for the call, though it was taking up valuable cycle miles! Now, can someone tell me whether it is reasonable for a customer to be expected to give his/her credit card company’s staff a very basic geography lesson; in his time, from el fin del Mundo or close as? Rhetorical question only!

My polite response was..... well let’s just say nearly all, except Uruguay, Paraguay, Brazil, Venezuala and the Guianas!

Okay. Pleased to say that that has been resolved. If you could give me second Mr Dunbar, I will just have to send a form out! NOOOOOOOOOO STOP. Too late, more music ....................................................................................................................................................................

“Hello Mr Dunbar, sorry for keeping you holding on again” In frustration, I gave her no time, I said. “There will be no point in sending out a form, because I am cycling through South America for 8 months”. “I know that Mr Dunbar, I didn’t mean send a form out to you, I meant to security. ...After all it would have been stupid to send a form out to you while you’re travelling for 8 months”

Yet another period of silence........for effect!

“Well that’s it all dealt with. Is there anything else I can help you with today?”

It was very tempting to ask if she could find a way of making up an hour of lost cycling time, which in revolutions, equates to 10- 14 miles with a fair wind! I didn’t fancy having to do another geography and possibility maths lesson!

Got to San Jose de Mariquina, after a reasonable cycle through pretty tame terrain. Found some cabanas and a restaurant. At £10, I decided it was a good place to stay the night, even though they could only offer a cold shower. Pity I didn’t have this facility a few hours before. I could have done with a cold shower to calm down!

Good news is its only 10 days before I meet up with my sweetheart in Santiago, where I will be taking a 14 day period of rest: no bike, no trailer, luxury hotels, the second best jazz bar in South America.... in La Providencia- Santiago. Will have completed 2300 miles! Roll on Santiago.................better get a move on!