5000 Miles Is A Long Way
Just got back from four road trips that started in Miami, Florida and ended in Miami, Florida with a round trips from Altoona, Iowa and Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.
Leg one from Miami to Altoona. The trip started on a Sunday Night. The trip was mostly uneventful except for a passenger in a wheel chair. Taking the bus for any distance is arduous, taking a six hundred mile trip in a wheel chair is kind of hard to imagine. I'm sure the drivers kind of dread this kind of passenger because of the extra work it requires and all the complications possible. There are lots potential problems and the only thing I had to say to my self over and over was: "I'm glad I'm not in that chair. And in a related matter, mobility for the disabled is something a lot of folks would just like to ignore unless it applies to them.
Bus stations are multi modal transportation hubs but sadly they are not very comfortable and can be kind of scary places if you don't travel by bus often. They are what they are and oh by the way, traveling by plane isn't what it used to be.
Bus passengers come in all shapes and sizes. If you are lucky, or look truly evil you might have a vacant seat and some space to spread out. I was mostly lucky except for the last six hundred miles of my voyage. Those two folks were quite the couple. One older fellow managed to spend quite a bit of time with his head kind of bowed and wedged into the chair in front of his seat. He also managed to sprint out of his seat to the front of the bus at every stop. He spoke not a word. You kind of wonder about folks like that.
The second passenger who I had the misfortune to sit next to asked if the open seat was taken. In some ways this trip was sort of like hitch hiking because of the uncertainties involved. She looked normal, about my age, but when she took out her light canceling blindfolds and then popped in her ear plugs, I figured I'd better try to get some sleep.
There were other interesting passengers like the Amish family going from Champaign to Burlington, Iowa and at least four other passengers who had difficulties dealing with the rigors of bus travels. One gentleman decided to voice his displeasure with the driver in Iowa profanely for cutting short a smoke break. The police were called, the passenger left the bus with his bags to discuss his issues with the officers, and almost as quickly as he stepped off the bus, the door was shut and we were off.
And then there was a young college student traveling with a black mask with BTS lettering. This seemed really different because all other visual cues lead me to believe she was not covering her face out of shame or for some weird religious reason. When in doubt consult the world wide web. The Bangtan Boys or Bullet Proof Boy Scouts (translated)( a South Korean Boy Band) sell some rather unique concert gear.
To be continued.
Leg one from Miami to Altoona. The trip started on a Sunday Night. The trip was mostly uneventful except for a passenger in a wheel chair. Taking the bus for any distance is arduous, taking a six hundred mile trip in a wheel chair is kind of hard to imagine. I'm sure the drivers kind of dread this kind of passenger because of the extra work it requires and all the complications possible. There are lots potential problems and the only thing I had to say to my self over and over was: "I'm glad I'm not in that chair. And in a related matter, mobility for the disabled is something a lot of folks would just like to ignore unless it applies to them.
Bus stations are multi modal transportation hubs but sadly they are not very comfortable and can be kind of scary places if you don't travel by bus often. They are what they are and oh by the way, traveling by plane isn't what it used to be.
Bus passengers come in all shapes and sizes. If you are lucky, or look truly evil you might have a vacant seat and some space to spread out. I was mostly lucky except for the last six hundred miles of my voyage. Those two folks were quite the couple. One older fellow managed to spend quite a bit of time with his head kind of bowed and wedged into the chair in front of his seat. He also managed to sprint out of his seat to the front of the bus at every stop. He spoke not a word. You kind of wonder about folks like that.
The second passenger who I had the misfortune to sit next to asked if the open seat was taken. In some ways this trip was sort of like hitch hiking because of the uncertainties involved. She looked normal, about my age, but when she took out her light canceling blindfolds and then popped in her ear plugs, I figured I'd better try to get some sleep.
There were other interesting passengers like the Amish family going from Champaign to Burlington, Iowa and at least four other passengers who had difficulties dealing with the rigors of bus travels. One gentleman decided to voice his displeasure with the driver in Iowa profanely for cutting short a smoke break. The police were called, the passenger left the bus with his bags to discuss his issues with the officers, and almost as quickly as he stepped off the bus, the door was shut and we were off.
And then there was a young college student traveling with a black mask with BTS lettering. This seemed really different because all other visual cues lead me to believe she was not covering her face out of shame or for some weird religious reason. When in doubt consult the world wide web. The Bangtan Boys or Bullet Proof Boy Scouts (translated)( a South Korean Boy Band) sell some rather unique concert gear.
To be continued.
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