WilliamBoyd
Hero Member
One of my strangest travel adventures.
In the summer of 1981 I was living in rural California and not working.
I decided to take a sightseeing car trip around the western US and Canada.
One night I stayed at a hostel in Missoula Montana where I met a guy who was bicycling around the country.
He needed a ride to Canada's Lake Louise and Banff National Park, and, as I was headed there,
I drove him on a share-expenses arrangement.
When we got to Banff, he left and I did not see him again.
In the summer, Lake Louise sets up trailers with restrooms in front of the large hotel "Chateau".
On July 13, 1981, I went into one of the cubicles, and found a dirty rag laying the corner.
I picked up the rag and found it to be a crude money belt full of American cash bills, 20's and 50's, later amounting to $2120.
I met another man outside, Lucien, and told him about the find.
We decided to turn it into the police.
There was a RCMP (Royal Canadian Mounted Police, "Mounties") station there, and we gave the money belt and our home addresses to a Corporal Taylor.
He told us that if nobody claimed it, they would send the money to the two of us.
I remember at the time being disappointed that the "Mountie" was dressed like an ordinary policeman, and not wearing the red uniform the Mounties wear in the movies.
I was staying at a hostel in Banff, and I mentioned what happened to people there, so the news about the find got around the area.
I later returned to California, took a long trip to South America, and went back to work in March 1982.
Somebody called me and told me that a Patrick was claiming to have lost the money belt, and if I wanted the money, I should hire a lawyer in Canada.
I was referred to a Canadian law firm and one of their lawyers.
I was advised to type up an affidavit, have it notarized, and have a Canadian consulate forward it to the attorney, which I did.
I remember visiting the Consulate in San Francisco, where a very attractive young woman accepted the paperwork.
(I wonder if she stayed with the diplomatic service).
Patrick's description of the money belt did not match the one I found.
In October 1982 Patrick dropped his claim and the Alberta Attorney General told the RCMP to send us the money.
In November 1982 I received a check in US funds for $929.74, Lucien got $929.75, and the lawyer got $260.51.
I saved some of the letters, affidavits, and legal paperwork from this adventure.
In the summer of 1981 I was living in rural California and not working.
I decided to take a sightseeing car trip around the western US and Canada.
One night I stayed at a hostel in Missoula Montana where I met a guy who was bicycling around the country.
He needed a ride to Canada's Lake Louise and Banff National Park, and, as I was headed there,
I drove him on a share-expenses arrangement.
When we got to Banff, he left and I did not see him again.
In the summer, Lake Louise sets up trailers with restrooms in front of the large hotel "Chateau".
On July 13, 1981, I went into one of the cubicles, and found a dirty rag laying the corner.
I picked up the rag and found it to be a crude money belt full of American cash bills, 20's and 50's, later amounting to $2120.
I met another man outside, Lucien, and told him about the find.
We decided to turn it into the police.
There was a RCMP (Royal Canadian Mounted Police, "Mounties") station there, and we gave the money belt and our home addresses to a Corporal Taylor.
He told us that if nobody claimed it, they would send the money to the two of us.
I remember at the time being disappointed that the "Mountie" was dressed like an ordinary policeman, and not wearing the red uniform the Mounties wear in the movies.
I was staying at a hostel in Banff, and I mentioned what happened to people there, so the news about the find got around the area.
I later returned to California, took a long trip to South America, and went back to work in March 1982.
Somebody called me and told me that a Patrick was claiming to have lost the money belt, and if I wanted the money, I should hire a lawyer in Canada.
I was referred to a Canadian law firm and one of their lawyers.
I was advised to type up an affidavit, have it notarized, and have a Canadian consulate forward it to the attorney, which I did.
I remember visiting the Consulate in San Francisco, where a very attractive young woman accepted the paperwork.
(I wonder if she stayed with the diplomatic service).
Patrick's description of the money belt did not match the one I found.
In October 1982 Patrick dropped his claim and the Alberta Attorney General told the RCMP to send us the money.
In November 1982 I received a check in US funds for $929.74, Lucien got $929.75, and the lawyer got $260.51.
I saved some of the letters, affidavits, and legal paperwork from this adventure.
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