Greyhound Travels: Sept 2-3, 2014

Instead of boarding a plane, I have hopped a Greyhound bus heading west. My visa application is being processed in New York so I am stuck in the States for a few more weeks. I decided to go and spend ten days traveling to the Grand Canyon! I’ve book a bunk in the local international youth hostel but I've also packed camping supplies so I am prepared for whatevercomes my way.

On Tuesday, September 2nd I started this journey from Bloomington by bus Indy Greyhound station. Before parting Bloomington Mum insisted I snap a photo (or three) with my bus driver, Craig, who cheerfully went along with this 'mum moment'. I said goodbye to mum and got on the bus. The ride up to Indy went quickly and my butterflies seemed to settle down. After I got to Indy I had to purchase a ticket for the bus ride that I had currently been on along with figure out what bus I was taking next. Craig, my newbestfriend, helped point me in the right direction as we talked about my solo trip. He expressed envy and asked if he could tag along. Another lady chimed in saying that she had just been white water rafting for the first time and recommended I do it too. Yikes! I'll pass. I'm adventurous but that sounds terrifying, especially when she added that three people fell out of the raft. Yes, I'll skip that. She headed home to Terre Haute and Craig and I parted too. However, before we said our goodbyes he gave me his number and asked me to Facebook him. I now have a Facebook request awaiting my reply as we speak.

The wait was about two hours- or in terms of teenager time it felt like FOREVER. Plus I couldn't understand anything that they were saying over the announcements. I went to gate eight where Craig told me to wait. This is where I met Sarah and Haley. Sarah was first in line and asked me where I was going, I replied Grand Canyon. She immediately suggested I take the ride on donkeys down to the bottom. That too sounds terrifying. Sarah was a pro at the Greyhound, since she proudly claimed that she's been riding since 1981, when she was six. Sarah was visiting her mother who had recently been I'll. She would be traveling back to Springfield, MO. Then Haley joined in our conversation. She had sprained her ankle and was finally returning to military training. Haley was a little older than me and had traveled from Florida and her destination was a small town in OK. 

We all boarded the bus and a man who didn't unplug from his iPod long enough to introduce himself sat by me and then got off at the next stop.  Next Alex got on. Alex was a sweet old gentleman who didn't speak much English but smiled a lot. He gave me a hug when we split paths.

There are some stops where everyone on the bus has to get off (driver breaks and changes). This is where Sarah was very handy to have as a friend. She would always grab me and we'd run to the nearest bathroom and quickly get back in line. She likes being the first person in the line every time. I have her quoted saying "the bathroom on the bus is like a porta potty going 70mph". I took her advice and never used it. She helped me a lot. She would protect me from anyone scary sitting next to me and she shared a sandwich with me but it had mustard so I didn't eat it. 

Sarah got off at Springfield and that's when I truly started doing everything by myself. That's also when I became homesick and began regretting doing this trip alone.A drunk woman became my neighbor for four hours. She told me a story of how she slept with the ticket master and that she somewhat felt guilty because he had a wedding ring. So, before getting on boardshe went to a bar and drank. She showed me pictures of her teenage daughter and asked me if she looked like her. There was a man behind us who was sick and loud. He would sneeze and cough a lot and call people (this was happening between 11pm-5am) she would yell at him and this continued for hours. Then she pulled a shady move and slyly passed him a pill and they didn't talk for the rest of the trip. I have no idea where she ended up, but she didn't board the next bus with me.

At this point I am questioning everything. People are yelling in the back of the bus in celebration of being released from prison. There's a man in front of me who is watching me through a crack in the seat. Yes, I am freaking out. I believe this was the point when I texted mum several times in a row and talked about aborting the trip all together. 

The creepy man and ex-cons eventually got off (within OK state lines) and I remained in my seat fifth row from the driver, on the right, closest to the window. The bus was becoming empty now which was a huge relief to me. 

I met someone new she's who appeared to beMexican/Native American and she was really nice. She was getting off at the next stop but had been on the bus since Indianapolis too. I thought she just finished chemo treatment but it turns out she went to rehab after being evicted and losing her husband and children. So she just "graduated" on Friday and is returning home today. She is really excited to be coming home. She showed me pictures of all her kids. 

I am now three hours away from Flagstaff, AZ and I'm exhausted and lonely. I’ve travelled through Indiana, Illinois, Missouri, Oklahoma, Tesax, and New Mexico.I haven't eaten anything but a bag of nuts and dried mango since Tuesday morning. I couldn't sleep on the bus because it was too cold and too loud. I miss people and I'm already longing to be back in the comfort and familiarity of my town/home/bed. 

And while this bus ride is almost completeall I can think about is what will the stories be like on the bus ride back? 

When the bus gets to Flagstaff, I'll then get on a shuttle to the Hostel where I will fall asleep immediately. I'm ready for a bed. Tomorrow I am going on a tour of the canyon and then Friday is my rest day. Phew. I can do this. I return on Wednesday but until then I hope to have a great time. 
~ Road Weary Sarah