The "Duck" isn´t swimming yet
Monday, July 5th 1999, Manni and Matterhorn are already on board of the ship that is to take them from Russia to Japan (18:00 hrs.), but the emigratory authorities insist that they get back off the ship because Manni has not got his passport. Emigration back to Germany, yes, Japan, no! So, the "Duck" ( German nick for a 2 CV Citroen) isn´t swimming yet. Too much bureaucracy?
The next ship to Japan leaves on Sunday, July 11th at 18:00 hrs, and it will take 48 hours. So, how are the travellers gonna catch up with a loss of a whole week?
Same time, another place, the "Around The World" Management Team is working hard without a break to help the two, who are stuck in Vladivostok.
They go to see the Mayor of Bremerhaven Mr. Niederquell, who started the countdown of the departure on May 30th, and he is very cooperative. It only takes him a few minutes and a few telephone calls with some of his colleagues, and he has found a possible way out of the crisis.
He sends the man from the Team to different offices in town, and everybody there again is very cooperative.
A new (preliminary ) driver´s license, registration papers for the car, and a new passport for Manni, all within 15 minutes not counting the time on the run from office to office. Less time than the thief has had to steal the documents. An unbelievable act of obligingness, friendliness and interest in the trip around the world by the authorities and officials of Bremerhaven.
The documents are sent to the travellers in Vladivostok the same day by a courier service. Nevertheless, time is running short, and on top of that, the scrapbook, which had also been stolen in Oblushe, a small town in the Amur province between Blagowjeschtschensk and Chabarowsk, is not back in Mannis hands yet.
Will the two adventurers still be able to make the record within 80 days?
gbm...July 7th, ´99