Your passport please Sir,echoed again, I hauled out my licence, "See photo ID". It worked she accepted it and booked me into my room. The passport that's what niggled me this morning did I see it or not, cant remember actually packing it!

Carefuly every single bag was removed off the Triumph and taken to my room over looking the pool area. Those pools, yes this hotel featured the large pool in every brochure on the websities and in the lobby. What a view I had a very large hole in the ground with maybe 500litres of dirty water a broken pool light dangling against the pool side and the only furniture around the pool was rusted poles and the canopy over the deck which sprouted weeds growing in the folds. Yes ripped off again, book a four star hotel (pool) pay extra and get nothing. Must be a way to catch up.

Bag 1 no passport, bag 2 no passport, bag 3 no passport tank bag no passport! Rule 1 remain calm it's only paperwork and plently of people have lost their's before. Hold on its not lost just misplaced think, retrack,retrace & regroup. Last time Neda Hotel on check in. Goggle their phone number, phone using travelsim, answers straight away Hello Mr Pearson, we expect you call soon, we still have your passport! Thanks only 268kms back see you in the morning.

Now for dinner, by now at least 3 bus loads of tourists have arrived guess they liked the mountain scenery and those lake views on the mountain pass coming up to Preveza also.

I enter the restaurant no one at any tables then a waiter comes 1 person please I say. He looks distrubed which tour group Sir? No one only. Lost in translation he directs me to the function centre where some 150 tourist are enjoying a set menu self service. A lady approaches your tour group please Sir, I think quickly look around see a spare spot, "My friends I see them now" and walk quickly to an out of the way table with a vacant spot. Excuse me I indicate the vacant seat Ok to join you? A puzzled look "We not in tour group sorry"I respond that's ok I'll join you. Then with confidence I head off and serve myself, not a word is spoken between us. A waiter arrives asks their room number nods and commences a long conversation with the lady. Eventually she rises and I take the lead and leave. A restful night knowing the passport which had been removed from my folder for check in had not been placed back in the folder when they said "No safe in room we look after your papers"

Next morning I found a vacant table without "Reservee" and had breakfast. Joined by another man I soon worked out it's the bus drivers table. Waiter duly arrives and talks no idea what he wanted so pull out my key he looks and notes the room number in his pad. Little did I care for breakfast was included with room. Check out went with only a request for 1.50Euro room tax not included when prepaid. I happily paid and off I went back South to be reunited with my passport. Who needs a GPS when you travel the same route.

At the Neda passport waiting, so I say use WiFi again no problems,they reply. During the sessions looking at kms now some 500kms off target and time to get back to my intended port to Italy a email comes from Greg "You know you can catch the ferry at Patras! Wow only 96kms away so onto web Yes a ferry leaves at 6pm check in at 4pm now 1.15pm so lets see if ticket available. Yes all booked no address given which didnt help but did rememember seeing a car ferry sign so off to Patras and yes pass the city heading North a Porto road sign so a quick left and into the city, a large city, with very few signs to port but instinct takes over Mountains on left so water on right. Simple logic. Eventually see a ferry terminal so call in . Ask at my ferry ticket office where, sorry Sir wrong Port you need South Port. Like where lady, she waves arm long way. No lady calm down how many km's 5 Sir where ? South Port! I know but where turn right cant miss it. So dutifully I rode until I see 2 car ferry's and guess what it was not 200m from where I had lunch the day before if only?

I fronted up after running the gauntlet of refugees trying to get away from Greece and Police trying to stop them. They just climbed the fences at will and it was up to the Port Authority to stop them. Lovely German Shepherds soon sorted them out, look nice puppy knows me wants a pat,"nice puppy"

The Security Guard asks for ticket show him phone, "No good only booking go get ticket" So why didnt the lady at ticket office tell me? Where I ask, ok just ride down to que? Gee I'm glad at times to be riding a bike always parks so go to head of que. Approach window flash phone Nice lady, sure Sir come inside away from que. In no time I have my ticket, the bikes ticket & my room key. Then back to Security not interested in papers "You here before"screened well told to go onto wharf no refugees hidden on bike! Ok so now on wharf no signage so off to a ferry, then sorry Sir wrong ferry next one. Wonder where it was going?

Find other ferry tell them need Custom's clearance for bike. "No Sir you already cleared customs?"Pull out paperwork, they look, they look again please wait Sir No one worries about paperwork" Some 15 mins later he returns and points to a bus parked some 400m away. "That Sir Customs they stamp papers if you want but no worry of me" I have plenty of time so just ride over and park in bus stop walk back out past immigration and long que to open customs window. Fellow takes paperwork, "no need Sir" "but if you like lady stamp for you later?" I wait and I guess she eventually realises I am not leaving so she takes it and asks where bike, I point to other side on wharf,she says then it left no need for papers? Me please stamp so I maybe come back one day" Ok so off we walk avoid long ques again like we own place go out the in door etc she looks at bike "very nice"checks the VIN number then "follow me". Avoids ques out the in door etc stamps papers about 4 times then gives me a copy smilies "ÿou can go"

Guess what no I am not lining up again for immigration etc etc so just walk pass cue and officals most of whom had seem me about 4 times already and they were too occupied with people without papers . I get on bike and ride around the wharf well I almost owned it by now and back to car ferry where the original man "no show papers"waited and still "no need to see papers too much work"and so I rode into the hull of the ferry,parked and headed off to my cabin for the 16hr trip to Italy.

Food was cheap & a good variety even had Captain Morgan to keep me company. My 4 berth shared cabin was mine and mine only with only some 200 passengers out of a 1200 capacity and most elected to not pay for a cabin but sleep in chairs in the lounge.

So Mr Lane thanks saved me over 500kms, a hotel night, a long ride on bad roads and the fare from patras was even 1 euro cheaper.