November 12, 2009

Based on the extremely high cost of a flight from Fort Walton Beach to Detroit ($600 one way), I decided to take the Greyhound Bus and save $500. Called a cab at 6AM for the short trip from the Marina to the Bus station. The cab driver did not show at 6:15 as promised. I needed to come up with a plan “B” to get to the bus station. Noticed a strip mall across the street from the marina. A work van had just pulled into the parking lot. I crossed Miracle Parkway and approached the stranger. As soon as he opened the van door, I explained my situation. He told me that he was an electrician heading into the office. I asked him if he would be kind enough to give me a ride to the bust station as the bus was leaving at 7AM and I had a nonrefundable Internet ticket and more luggage than I could carry. He told me that his name was Mike and he would be happy to help. I was at the bus station at 6:45AM.

Had the reference number that Sandy had given me confirming the bus trip home so once the computer booted up they were able to print my multipart ticked to Detroit. There was a active duty Air Force guy ahead of me making travel arrangements for his 17 year old son to travel to Jacksonville FL. The son was going to live with his grandmother. Seems that the father and son can no longer see eye to eye. The prodigal son had an extra bag. The cost for carrying an extra bag was $10. The dad did not have the money as he paid for the bus fare with a credit card. He told the clerk to put the charge for the extra bag on the card. He was told that he had to pay cash for the extra bag. I fronted the dad the $10 to pay for the extra bag. He said that he would send me the money when he returned to the base.

At 7AM the bus arrived at the Fort Walton Beach Bus Station. We were watched as our bags were loaded and boarded for Panama City, Mariana, Montgomery, Birmingham, Nashville, Cincinnati, Dayton, Toledo and finally Detroit.

Traveling by bus has been a lot of fun. It takes so long to get to your destination, you have a lot of time to think, observe and talk with a broad spectrum of individuals. Based on the fact that the travel times are greatly extended, folks traveling in the same direction seem to form ad hoc groups. On this trip 6 of bus travelers heading north were dropped off in Mariana FL. We had to transfer buses. We had a 2 hour layover. Since there was no bus terminal in Mariana, FL. We were dropped off in a parking lot under a huge Pilot gas station sign. Was glad that it was not raining or we would have gotten wet. However, I am sure that Greyhound has made arrangements to keep customers dry on rainy days. Or at least I hope they have.

Since we had so much time to kill I opened my guitar case, tuned the old Gibson and started playing Walleye Willie. No one had ever heard that song. One of the guys in our group did know the second song called The Perfect Women. In fact he had a recording of the song on his iPod. Same Pat Dailey song different by a different performer. Suddenly a guy named Andy showed up with his guitar. We tuned it to mine played an unrehearsed gig for the bus transferees. Had good fun in the parking lot as we attracted a crowd. They layover went by quickly and shortly after 12 noon our bus arrived.

This second bus had smaller seats than the first and was more crowded. The bus rattled and it sounded like the drive shaft was going to fall out on the highway. It was and old bus and this had to be one of its last trips.

The ad hoc group that formed under the Pilot Gas sign in Mariana FL was composed of 5 people. Sonny, Liz, Weylon, and Bill.

Sonny was originally from Pittsburgh and was returning to Pittsburgh to bail his 19 year old daughter out of jail. Seems that she had been arrested on possession of illegal drugs. She has a 3 year old and his plan is to care for the child so that his grandchild would not be placed a foster home.

Liz was active military. She was heading to Columbus OH to visit with friends on her furlough. Her specialty is food preparation.

After stopping at 8 bus stations and making 4 courtesy stops, the bus finally arrived in Detroit at 1PM.

The second leg of this trip is now in the planning stages. More information will be added once the second leg begins.

Thank you for following this first part of my journey.