I took a greyhound bus

[onethatcares]

from North Carolina to Florida.

It took 56 hours

Want to hear the story?

[sakabatou]

1. Sure.

[True Dough]

2. Can you tell the story

in less than 56 hours? That will influence my response.

[FM123]

3. Yes!

We used to drive back and forth from FL to NC a few times a year because 2 of our kids went to college up there and it NEVER took us 56 hours! WTH?

[BlueDawn]

4. Yes.

I would love to hear your story.

My nephew rode the bus from eastern Tennessee to Los Angeles about four years ago. He kept texting us along the way. There were many little stops; I think it took several days.

He was exhausted.

[Siwsan]

5. That's longer than my train trip from Flint to Los Angeles

[Ptah]

6. Are they going to make you give it back?

[okaawhatever]

40. haha good one nt

[panader0]

7. I took the greyhound years ago from Tucson to Colorado Springs.

Very interesting. Stops for peeing and pie. There was snow. There were drunks.
I had hashish and snuck behind the roadside eatery and got right. A long very
strange trip.

[CentralMass]

11. Strange trip...it's been.

[flying rabbit]

8. Yes

greyhound bus stories can be quite interesting.

[Sancho]

9. Cool.

What part of Florida

[democratisphere]

10. It is a great way to travel and meet people.

[IrishEyes]

12. I like taking long bus rides.

As long as you have lots of food, drinks, books, magazines and a cell phone. I did a 12 hour bus trip when I was in my early 20s once with none of those things.

[onethatcares]

13. It was a great plan, maybe

not as great as it could have been. but hey, What could go wront? Right?

Get in a car in Florida, Drive to N.C., drop said car off 10 hours later and return by bus 28 hours later.

People do it everyday without a problem.

What could go amiss?

Right?

[onethatcares]

14. Well, there should have been an inkling

when the bus stop is just that. An open air bus stop in the middle of nowhere 15 miles outside of town without a canopy,
roofed area, restrooms, food court, or any semblemce of a transportation hub.

Yes, it was feral.

A four way intersection.

For me, that's how it started

[onethatcares]

15. my bus was scheduled to arrive

at 11:20 a.m on a Friday.

Due to either a passengers heart attack and subsequent EMS response, an accident on the interstate, or inclement weather between Knoxville TN and Ashville NC, it was delayed 5 hours.

That is 300 minutes, or 1,800,000 seconds if you are counting. Trust me it's a long time.

But back to the beginning.

As I stood on the side of the road and the sky began clouding up with a hint of the rain to come, a car stopped and another traveler
unloaded his luggage. He carried it to a small concrete pad that served as a standing area.

After exchanging greeting nods, we discussed sports, health problems, destinations, families and finally the consternation of being in the middle of semi nowhere and having our bus pass by without acknowledging our presence. Little did we know how near to that we were.

After the scheduled pickup time went by, we began to check our phones for media updates as to the arrival of our coach. The times kept changing and increasing in length and the sky began to darken with storm clouds. Within a few minutes the rain began. Not a downpour, that was to come later, but the cold, misty wind pushed soaking drizzle one only experiences prior to hypothermia.

And there I was. A pair of cargo pants, 2 tee shirts, one pair of socks, and a wet pair of hiking boots. Thank gaud I didn't wear what I was originally going to. A pair of shorts and a tee shirt!!!.

See, I thought. What could possibly go wrong???

[onethatcares]

16. Ahhhh, the rain stopped

and out of nowhere a panhandler appeared.

"Got a smoke?" he asked. "Wish I still smoked" I thought but said, "Nah, haven't had a cig for 20 years now" to be countered with
"got any spare change so I can get something to eat?". Yeah, right! Like food was the priority as he eyed the butts lying waterlogged on the side of the curb. "Sorry", I quickly said, "I don't carry cash, only plastic". With that he squatted down and began his life story.

Only in America are people drawn to tell me when and where they were born and the trials and tribulations they suffered 29 years ago forward.

Do I possess some kind of psychiatric magnetism? I just don't understand it.

After an hour or so of idle chit chat he decided to go into the little gas kiosk/store where he apparently knew the owners and settle in while the rain began in earnest.. My co passenger mentioned it was a good thing we had the outside wall of the building for protection and should be grateful the rain was blowing away instead of toward us as the wind shifted into our faces and the drops became the size of golf balls.

Then, Hallelujah A bus appeard in the parking lot and grabbing our meager belongings we shuffled through the rain drops to it only to be told, "We're going west. Your bus is going east and it should be here within 2 hours". Words that lifted our spirits immensely as we walked back to the almost shelter of a wall.

[onethatcares]

17. at this point

I decided that a cup of hot coffee would be a good thing. No matter how much oily film was on the surface of it and opened the door to the kiosk.

The mid eastern woman behind the counter inquired as to how I was doing and asked if I was waiting for the bus. I told her, "No, I just like standing in the rain in BumFark NC" and could I use the restroom.

She asked if I had a key for it which I thought was rather strange as I had never been in this place before. "No problem". She handed me a key to a 1964 Oldmobile and said, "Please be sure to turn off the light and relock the door". Who was I not to do such a small favor?

After attending to business, I returned the universe to its natural state and looked over the rack of stale donuts. Choosing a bear claw pastry that had seen better days, I took my wallet out of my pocket and proffered a $20.00 bill to her when out of the corner of my eye who do I see but Joe the panhandler approaching down the aisle holding a 24 oz can of MoroLoco malt liquour. The food of the gods.



to be continued.

[Fla Dem]

18. It better be continued. Good story and I'm interested in hearing what Joe

has to say when he sees you with cash.

But question, why wait out in the rain when you could go into the kiosk?

[onethatcares]

24. antser

not enough room to turn around let alone stand around in this place. Plus the odor of incense gets really sickening after a few minutes.

[FM123]

26. yes, you must continue....

(I am making popcorn to get ready)

[akraven]

19. Please, because I once took one from Orlando

to Maryland and the horrors!

[DFW]

20. I can just imagine

I've had a few trips like that.

Not on a Greyhound bus, but the 13 hour trip from Dallas to Newark, NJ (was supposed to be 2 hours 45 minutes) was trying.

A few decades back, the 2 day trip from Gladbeck, Westfalen to Ilovik (Adriatic island) via Essen, München, Rijeka, Porožina, Ćres and Mali Lošinj almost got us a divorce and a miscarriage. I almost threw a corrupt old boat owner into the Adriatic (and later on, he was almost beaten to death later on by a bunch of Kosovar soldiers stationed on Ilovik, but I think they, at least, got their money back).

But go ahead. Give us all the gory details. Especially if they resemble the story about Ann Coulter's chauffeur.

[diva77]

21. K&R - I want to hear the rest of your story!

[onethatcares]

22. thankfully he didn't recognize me

and left the area for who knows where.


Winston - Salem ....................some good luck

Winston-Salem NC. Birthplace of two great cigarette brands and one of the worst greyhound bus stations on the planet although there are people that would disagree on that count.

Upon arrival I thought that since I was already 5 hours behind schedule, it would behoove me to verify what the future had in store.

Thank heaven for small favors. I found out my bus to Charlotte was delayed until 5:35 a.m. the next day and I would be sleeping in the station unless something changed dramatically.

Then a fellow rider struck up a conversation with me and we discussed our situation, wondering if we could get the bus company to help us out in some way, shape or form. Approaching a counter supervisor, we explained the reasons for our being late and that we had to skip a meal, and had not showered in a day. The super offered us meal tickets for all of $7.50, not a repast by any means but at least something to tide us over. Sadly, the resturaunt was not open that day and the tickets went in our pockets for future use.

I remembered a conversation I had a few years ago and wondered if I could get the company to spring for a room. Discussing it with my fellow traveler, we approached the same gentleman and asked, "what are the chances of a comp room? We did not plan on this delay and would be very appreciative of one". He then told us, "Look, I'm going to try to help you guys out but don't go spreading this around the waiting room, ok? I can get you a room at the local Laq Quinta motor lodge gratis, but you have to share it. Do you mind?"

Did I mind???? Hell NO!. Did the other guy mind? Ditto on my feelings. So there we stood as he wrote out a slip for the hotel van to take us there. Neither of us knowing if the other was a serial killer, mad rapist, or miscreant of another nature. We just knew we weren't going to be lightly sleeping on the dirty floor of the W-S bus depot while people wandered around and over us, coughing, and dragging their luggage hither and yon.

90 minutes later....still no van and Brian, my new chum is chain smoking marlboro reds sniffling like he's got a major coke problem, and racing around the parking lot like he's prepping for a race when the desk guy walks out to get in his car to leave.

"Whoa, what's going on with our ride and hotel room," I enquired to which he replied, "You guys should have been at LQ an hour ago". "Let me make a call". Somehow the desk clerk at the hotel forgot to send the van.

[onethatcares]

23. "My God, is this the world today"

I thought.

Finally the shuttle shows up and away we go. Surprisingly, the hotel is pretty nice. Clean and shiny the way a hotel should be. The night manager asks for I.D.s and that's when I find out that my roomy doesn't have one. Of any type. Great, here it is 10 at night, I'm getting ready to check into a room with a total stranger and have no clue as to who it is or what they might be wanted for.

I took the modern technological way out and snapped a pic of his face sending it to my wife just in case.

Onto the room which is very nice and one that I would have paid for in a pinch if needed. (sans roomy).Now comes the question,

We've been on the road for 2 days in from Knoxville TN. Who gets the shower first? Where do you put your things while showering?

Easy.

You take all those needed things into the bathroom with you, put them on the vanity top, lock the door and soak in that warm, hotel provided water.

That solution worked for both of us.. I get the shower first and while Brian gets his done I fell asleep in my bed with a 5 a.m. wake up call and a continental breakfast dancing in my dreams.

Van ride to the station at 5:30 and we parted ways. Some how Brian located a friend there and ended up taking an Uber elsewhere.
I stayed with the bus.

Next Stop

Charlotte SC

[femmocrat]

25. This odyssey has all the makings of a DU Classic.

Such wonderful writing! Thank you for sharing your adventure with us!

[underpants]

27. Has to be better than the midnight train we took to Georgia

Thanksgiving. Packed both ways. 50 people got on at Bout 2am in Spartansburg SC.
MAN, THAT WAS BRUTAL.

will read up on this thread later. Looking forward to it.

[Totally Tunsie]

36. Did it prove to be too much for the man?

[samnsara]

28. yes! you should have worn a go pro on a helmet and filmed it all...

...one of my fav channels on Pluto tv is out of Norway called Slow TV and its just a real time recording of trains going from point a to point b..the only sound is the real time train noise.

However...yours does NOT sound relaxing....but it would have been entertaining

[Anon-C]

29. Kick, Rec!

[onethatcares]

30. Next Stop, Charlotte SC

Whoo, whoo. Arriving in Charlotte SC, another armpit stop for the bus company. Thinking I would be pre-emptive, I proceeded to the customer service counter with my ticket destiny, Atlanta GA.

Presenting it to the woman behind said counter, she looked at it and said, "Oh no, this won't work. I have to re route you to Jacksonville FL and it will save you some time in getting you into St Petersburg FL at 8:00 a.m. Sunday morning.

Praise Jesus, someone is looking out for me and I gladly took that ticket. The schedule had me leaving around 5 p.m. so I proceeded to use my food voucher and wait.

At 4:45 the announcement to begin boarding the Jacksonville bus was made and while proceeding to the line a little voice in my head told me to go back to the counter again to verify this movement.

The woman, the very same woman, took my ticket and asked, "Who gave you this ticket? It is not the one you need". WOW, with a capital "WOW", I said, "Ma'am, it was you". "No, she again told me, "this is not the right ticket for you, and I did not give it to you".

My only pass to the highway was in her long fingernailed hands so I did what any red blooded American white male over the age of 60 would do when facing the wrath of a black woman of the same age who seemed determined to make a point. I said, "Ma'am, I might have been mistaken but it's the only ticket I have. Would you be so kind as to help me out?".

She began printing a new ticket, where else to but Atlanta GA. That ticket would require another 3 hour wait, but what could I say? That I would rather walk?

3 hours later it's time to go to that jewel of the south, ATLANTA GA.

[llmart]

39. Love you story...

however, Charlotte is in North Carolina, not South Carolina.

[onethatcares]

41. this is why

I need an editor.

Thanks

[llmart]

43. Well, apparently so do I since I left the "r" off of "your".

I used to live in Charlotte and you wouldn't believe how many people confuse the two states.

[onethatcares]

31. All Aboard????

Last edited Sun Apr 14, 2019, 12:23 PM - Edit history (2)

Ever wonder why they call it "Hotlanta"? Well, in March it definitely isn't and the bus station is a hotbed of interculture germs, infections, and what not with people sweating, sneezing, coughing, kids with snot running under their noses and babies crying. Not to throw stones, but some of the waiting passengers look like they are prime candidates for doctors without borders and they have been waiting a long time to get there. To add to the ambiance, it's across the street from the Fulton County Jail.

Oh Boy.!

Not much to do here, but I have a ticket with an "A" on it and that "A" allows me to priority board. With 87 people looking for a seat, you know I am my own personal priority, Women and children get outa my way.

8 hours after arriving that priority is put to use as I am the first to board a completely empty, new bus. Thinking I'd be smart, I head to the back of the bus, drivers side, last seat and settle in.

The bus loads, seats fill up and we're getting ready to depart when two young guys jump on and start looking for seats. There are no
two together so one grabs the seat next to me and the other gets one up bus.

Bus backs out and we begin the last leg of the journey through Macon, Tifton, Tampa to St. Petersburg.

Young man plugs his notebook in and begins surfing some kind of facebook porn and sharing it with his bud.

Aye carumba, it's going to be a rough time sleeping the rest of the way..





Thanks for reading this. The story is true without embellishment. It's been a long time since I'd been on a bus and don't plan to do it again. Again, thank you all.

[Phentex]

33. That's not the jail in Atlanta...

but yes, I know that downtown bus station. It was MANY years ago and I, too, have vowed never to go back.

[onethatcares]

34. I thought it was.

my mistake.

[Phentex]

32. THIS is how to tell a story!

I love the part where you snapped a pic and sent it to your wife just in case.

[ret5hd]

35. Just a question: Is there going to be a door buzzard anywhere in this story?

[BlueDawn]

37. I'm hooked. It's like reading a serial installment from a 1950s magazine.

You've got me hooked and I can't wait for the next installment of your Greyhound trip adventure!

I remember being a chaperone on a long bus trip to Orlando when my daughter was in junior high and the band was giving a performance at Disney World. Believe me, that was a long trip, but nowhere near 56 hours. I can't even imagine.

I am really enjoying your tale...thank you for sharing this.

[LNM]

38. Kick and thanks for sharing! nt

[MrScorpio]

42. I took a Greyhound from Detroit to Austin, TX once

Took two days.