I was checking in at Alicante airport on my way back from one of my Costa Blanca cycling holidays. I knew from previous holidays that my large Scicon bike box would not fit through the X-ray machine but the security guys insisted on trying. I don't speak Spanish. They didn't speak English. I watched them faff about for 2 or 3 minutes before they gave up...
A big, very stern-looking security guy said something in Spanish. I shrugged. He tapped the lock on the box with his baton. Ah, the usual thing... Unpack the box, x-ray the contents, repack the box... The frame went through, the wheels went through, my clothes... Then we came to the large blue container with the screw-top lid. The one with about 1 kg of maltodextrin carbo-powder left in it. Maltodextrin, a white powder that might very well look like... Oh crap!
Baton guy rapped the lid with his stick. I unscrewed the lid, revealing the coke-like powder within the container...
The guard leapt back, muttered something to his colleague, and tightened his grip on the baton. He pointed to the powder and barked out a question to me... I didn't need to speak Spanish - basically "
WTF is THIS!!!"
My legs started to shake. Then I had a moment of inspiration... I mimicked getting on my bike and riding along. I wiped imaginary sweat from my brow, my tongue dangling down. I pointed to one of my empty bottles and pretended to scoop powder into it, add water, and give it a good shake. Then I guzzled half of the imaginary contents down, remounted, and rode off...
Security guy glared at me, then slowly broke into a smile. He turned to his mate and laughed... "
Ha ha, it's only maltodextrin carbo-powder for his rides, innit!" Or the Spanish equivalent of that...
He tapped the side of the box and indicated that all was ok. Pack up, and finish the formalities.
Thank goodness that Spain is a country that understands cycling!
