Wild Chase
Today's surf adventure was a wild ride, and not just because of the waves! It all started with Ashley's car getting slightly stuck in our driveway due to low tires. Following Luis's solid plan of "No fast turns, and I'll pump them up later," we headed to Hendaye to meet the Surfmamas. The weather was perfect, the water refreshing, and the waves? Absolutely chill. Our time in the 'mousse' practicing pop-ups had me grinning ear to ear.
However, things took an unexpected turn at the end of the session when Ashley's phone mysteriously disappeared from the locked van. Ashley and I, plus our surf instructor, Evayn, turned detective, became amateur sleuths, even involving the police in a chase that led us from Hendaye to Biarritz. The chase unfolded with a sense of urgency. Armed with a location, we drove to it, cautiously navigating the surroundings. Every passerby seemed suspect as we walked around, trying to spot any unusual activity.
Ashley and Evayn following the tracker location in an Hendaye neighborhood.
Just when we thought we were onto something, another message from Luis would arrive, redirecting us to a new location. The futility of the situation became apparent – with the frustrating realization that the phone GPS tracker wasn't providing real-time updates. The thrill of the chase was replaced by a growing sense of helplessness, amplifying the absurdity of our pursuit. In the midst of our crime-chasing escapade, I couldn't resist blurting out, "This is kind of funny, isn't it?" Ashley, not thrilled in the moment, managed a laugh, finding solace in the eventual retelling of our saga.
Reflecting on the whole situation, Ashley considered, "Maybe I should've left the black key card in the surf van instead of my phone." Well, shoulda woulda coulda. Fortunately, the thieves spared her watch, which proved invaluable for unlocking the car, communicating with Luis, and tracking her phone. We were hopeful that we may have found them as we pulled into a parking lot near Milady Beach. Sadly, they were not there and then Ashley's watch unexpectedly powered down right when the tracker indicated the phone's exact location – albeit 15 minutes ago. Is there a way to activate real-time tracking on Apple devices? Zut.
The "adventure" ended with the thieves in Spain and the bricking of Ashley's phone, taking 14 weeks of (not updated) photos down with it. Note to self: never trust a surf instructor's van with your valuables.
