Both of the bus drivers we've had have been very pleasant, the small town bus stations do not offer much in terms of comfort, but at least the rest rooms were mostly clean and usable. Food along the trip has been difficult, unless you really enjoy basic snacks, sodas, and fast food. The small town bus stations haven't been very close to anything so I had to purchase the basic snacks from the vending machines. Having these bus stations located next to other businesses, such as restaurants, or hotels, would be great for travelers. Perhaps one day Greyhound will have all of their stations set up with easy connections to other services.
Quiet has settled upon the bus as most of the riders are napping, though some listen through headsets and others just observe the ever rolling and unchanging scenery. El Paso is the next stop, then onto Los Angeles. I've been texting my friend about some hostels in Seattle so my intention is to stay there for a few days before continuing on to Canada.
During our last stop I was walking around and overheard a young African American woman talking on the phone. At first she was giving instructions on how to take care of something to the other party, but then she made a statement that she should have gotten cash as none of the bus station vendors accepted credit cards. After she hung up I asked her if she had cash for her trip, and her reply, "no." As I turned to walk away, I reached out my hand and slipped her a $20 into her greeting hand. She was very appreciative and seemed to want to talk, but I just slipped away into the small crowd. I might see if I can join her on one of our stops and learn her story, but for now I just needed some alone time.
As I sit here, a bit uncomfortable, I think of how Greyhound could improve their buses. Curtains on the windows would greatly aid in temperature and light control, perfect if you want to sleep during the day. Or just some type of sliding panels would work. More comfortable seating with more leg and arm room would also assist. I noticed that if the back row of seats were removed then the other seats could be spaced a bit better for better leg room, and it would only remove 3 seats. If the baggage compartments overhead were removed, the seats raised up, and more storage allowed under the seats, this would provide better views, and more leg room. Perhaps even a section of larger seats, similar to the airlines first class section, could be placed in the front of the bus so some passengers could enjoy better seating for a small extra fee.
There are many possible ways of creating a more comfortable riding experience, maybe even smaller, lighter buses with better seating. The stations could use some showers, like they have in truck stops, that could be rented for passengers wishing to clean up during this multi day trips. I can see some of the stations having a long layover lounge area with Internet access. I will work my creative mind to come up with some other ideas for Greyhound as I make this trip.
The young girl earlier is a college student named Jennifer. She is on her way to Oakland, California, to visit her father, who paid for her bus ticket. She is a Biology major and plans on becoming a neurosurgeon. She said she was about to faint from not eating and was thankful for the gift I provided earlier. She's not hungry now. All I asked was that she remember the kindness and pass the gift forward to another person in need.
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