Police Encounters

I've seen the inside of five cells. The last time, because I kicked, spit, and shoved a police officer, I saw the city jail cell and the county cell. The assault charges were dropped and that officer was later fired. That was the only time that involved drinking.

I also saw the inside of a Thai cell with my Swedish lover. It was only for a couple of hours. We refused to pay the ferry owner some outrageous sum so they took us to the jail. The police were on our side and eventually got rid the owner and let us free.

In Canada I didn't have a green card and was working illegally. I once refused to pay some past ticket I got in Southern California. In Arcata, California that ticket caught up with me. I came away that time with a Humboldt County Jail T-shirt souvenier.

Needless to say I'm wary of the police. So here I am in Mestia. The evening before I took my first day hike I looked around to find the various trail heads I would be taking. One involved a security check point. Although it was 8 pm the guard wouldn't let me go an inch past him without my passport. Fine, I'll be ready tomorrow.

When I get to the security point the next morning I have my passport. Unlike last night no one was waiting outside. I should have just gone on but no I went inside to show them my passport and stamp. Everything seemed fine and I take off down the road. After probably 30 feet the two men come running out yelling something. I ignored them thinking they probably wanted to know where I was staying and if it was so important they would taken care of it when I was inside. I keep walking.

I have to follow the road for awhile and just before I get to the glacier run off, and four wheel drive material, a big man and a SUV pulls besides me and yells. He wants me to get in with him. What's with these guys wanting me to get in a vehicle with them? This happened in Batumi also, where this man followed me down the narrow streets, even backing up, until I ducked into a cafe to escape. Didn't their parents tell them that you don't ride with strangers? Of course you all know I don't take that advice but they don't know it.

We get in a screaming match. Two different languages saying things neither of us understand. He says, "Police". I say where is your badge? I'm not getting in anyway and he's wasting my time. I'm hiking today and no one is going to stop me. Shorena, at the trekking agency, okayed it and that's all I needed.

I say fuck a lot, along with fat slob, asshole, etc. I think fuck is another universal word. He's thoroughly pissed off but he doesn't get out of his SUV - probably knows he's too fat to keep up with me. Finally he yells, "bye bye" in a menacing way and leaves.

I'm shook but keep going faster. I thought at the glacier run off I'd be home free, at least, until I returned. Well, I'd deal with that later after I saw the glacier.

Up ahead I see a wooden bridge crossing the river. I know I'm coming to the fun part. I can see a narrow trail going up into the woods. Then suddenly I see a guy. He stops me. "Passport", he says. I show him but keep it in my hands. I'm not going to give it to him. Another guy appears. He had driven up in a four wheel drive just to get me. They both say "No".

I have an absolutely huge hissy fit, cussing big time. All the same previous words plus more involving the name Georgia. I start to leave. I stop and drink some water. I see my camera. I'm not done yet! I run back to the guy sitting in his 4WD and take his picture. "I'm telling everyone in the U.S. about you fucking assholes!" He makes a motion that he's just a small man taking orders. There's shame in his cherubic face. I got him now. I don't know what came over me. Have I been listening to Jimi Hendricks 'Machine Gun' or watching reruns of 'Apocalypse Now' too much?

Atttttattttt I suddenly have an imaginary machine gun. Atttttattttt. "Shoot me if you want to stop me." Atttttattttta I walk backwards towards the bridge and the other skinnier guy. I shoot at him, too. He says his first English words besides passport. "Go on, go on" he waves towards the bridge. For the first time I smile just a little smirk. Yes, I got my way. I can tell you a man would never get away with this. The trail is beautiful and the glacier fine but not as much fun as my scene.

On the return I'm paranoid. I unzip the legs on my pants to make them shorts and take off my baseball cap as if I could go incognito. At the wooden bridge I see the 4WD but the two guys are no where in site.

Just before a stream I see two men outside their SUV. I shoot at them with my imaginary gun. They put their hands out, not up, and shrug their shoulders. "Car stalled" I don't trust them. I'm sure they think I'm a nut case.

When I get to a military post I see the SUV that the big man was driving. The men there see me but do nothing. At the security check point no one is around. I feel like I've escaped.

Bozcaada, tiny as it is, is a metropolis compared to Mestia. Since this episode the police have eyed me.Everyone seems to eye me but maybe because I'm a tourist. Anyway I know the police think I'm crazy but I don't care. I've have now learned that they didn't think a woman should hike alone.

Next I have to tell you about my five day trek from Mestia to Ushguli.