Greyhound Bus Blog
Another day--another adventure.This time we are off to Key West. We decided to take the bus so we could enjoy the scenery. The journey would take around 11 hours.
6.00am to 5.00 pm.
October 1982 we travelled for a month around America by Greyhound, so we knew what to expect. Actually we knew the buses had been totally modernised. They have a restroom now which is good news on long trips.
Another day--another adventure.This time we are off to Key West. We decided to take the bus so we could enjoy the scenery. The journey would take around 11 hours.
6.00am to 5.00 pm.
October 1982 we travelled for a month around America by Greyhound, so we knew what to expect. Actually we knew the buses had been totally modernised. They have a restroom now which is good news on long trips.
We crossed the famous Overseas Highway. It crosses 42 different bridges. It was a bit disappointing as we could not really see the bridges at their best as we were on them.
Finally onboard
The trip started with a fright
Early start. We left our hotel at 5.00am. We took a taxi to Orlando's Greyhound Station. Which was situated downtown. When we arrived it was easy to find our line. We were standing in the queue when we were told that our paper e-ticket was of no use. We were directed to the ticket office.
Here I was met by a guy who checked his laptop and told me that I had already used the ticket.
I replied "here is my paper copy or I have it down loaded on my mobile phone". I also showed the receipt with dates and times.
Ah but sir you don't have a ticket. Which he described
with his hands the shape of a ticket.
I said I booked my ticket on line. This is why I have down loaded the e-ticket.
He looked at me with a blank look and said you have to have a ticket to board the coach. That`s how it works with Greyhound.
By now I was getting a bit frustrated.
I booked it on your website.
He replied what has that got to do with this station.
I turned round to my wife and shook my head said I don`t think we are going.
That would be our few days down in Key West ruined.
We spent a lot of cash on our hotel down there and had really look forward to seeing most southern point of America.
A gentleman said to me go and see the driver. They will have seen your ticket before.
We walked over and stood in the queue.When at the front I showed the paper e-ticket to the woman driver.
She looked at the piece of paper and said where is your ticket sir?
This is my downloaded ticket I replied.
No sir-You need a ticket to travel on my bus. She showed me the shape of a ticket.
I said I also had a copy on my mobile.
She screamed at me - "NO TICKET NO ONE TRAVEL ON MY BUS".
I tried to reason with her.
Stand away from my bus "NO TICKET NO ONE TRAVELS ON MY BUS".
I was totally pissed of by now.
Thank god things took a turn for the better. A bus driver with an Irish accent came over to us and said aa tak ye on my bus. I`m goin tae Miami and ye can change there.
Aw thank you so much. Very kind of you. Our new friend told us he was from Tipperary but moved to Miami many years ago. He still had his broad Irish accent.
He was a character. Now the embarrassing bit.
He asked where r ye from. Scotland I replied.
I know that he said. Where abouts ?
Glasgow - actually a town outside the city called Clydebank.
Yeah he said. Where they built aw they big boats. On the River Clyde.
"Oh the River Clyde the wonderful Clyde". Aye that will be the song about yer river t be sure. D'you know
the rest. Some of the words I said.
Let me herr them.
I m in the middle of a Bus station in America at 5.45 in the morning and he wanted me to sing a crap song about the River Clyde.
No sing the song. No git on my bus he laughed.
Oh the river Clyde, the wonderful Clyde
The name of it thrills me and fills me with pride
And remember where ever you tide.
One sweetest of songs is the song of the Clyde.
[Who know`s if thats spot on]
What a red neck but it worked.
Every time the bus stopped for a break he would give us the first two lines.
You two get on my bus. It was worth the embarrassment. What a guy.
When in Miami he sorted out our transfer. Superb
After ten hours we make our destination.
It was worth the hassle Key West was brilliant.
Thanks goes to our new friend from Tipperary.
Early start. We left our hotel at 5.00am. We took a taxi to Orlando's Greyhound Station. Which was situated downtown. When we arrived it was easy to find our line. We were standing in the queue when we were told that our paper e-ticket was of no use. We were directed to the ticket office.
Here I was met by a guy who checked his laptop and told me that I had already used the ticket.
I replied "here is my paper copy or I have it down loaded on my mobile phone". I also showed the receipt with dates and times.
Ah but sir you don't have a ticket. Which he described
with his hands the shape of a ticket.
I said I booked my ticket on line. This is why I have down loaded the e-ticket.
He looked at me with a blank look and said you have to have a ticket to board the coach. That`s how it works with Greyhound.
By now I was getting a bit frustrated.
I booked it on your website.
He replied what has that got to do with this station.
I turned round to my wife and shook my head said I don`t think we are going.
That would be our few days down in Key West ruined.
We spent a lot of cash on our hotel down there and had really look forward to seeing most southern point of America.
A gentleman said to me go and see the driver. They will have seen your ticket before.
We walked over and stood in the queue.When at the front I showed the paper e-ticket to the woman driver.
She looked at the piece of paper and said where is your ticket sir?
This is my downloaded ticket I replied.
No sir-You need a ticket to travel on my bus. She showed me the shape of a ticket.
I said I also had a copy on my mobile.
She screamed at me - "NO TICKET NO ONE TRAVEL ON MY BUS".
I tried to reason with her.
Stand away from my bus "NO TICKET NO ONE TRAVELS ON MY BUS".
I was totally pissed of by now.
Thank god things took a turn for the better. A bus driver with an Irish accent came over to us and said aa tak ye on my bus. I`m goin tae Miami and ye can change there.
Aw thank you so much. Very kind of you. Our new friend told us he was from Tipperary but moved to Miami many years ago. He still had his broad Irish accent.
He was a character. Now the embarrassing bit.
He asked where r ye from. Scotland I replied.
I know that he said. Where abouts ?
Glasgow - actually a town outside the city called Clydebank.
Yeah he said. Where they built aw they big boats. On the River Clyde.
"Oh the River Clyde the wonderful Clyde". Aye that will be the song about yer river t be sure. D'you know
the rest. Some of the words I said.
Let me herr them.
I m in the middle of a Bus station in America at 5.45 in the morning and he wanted me to sing a crap song about the River Clyde.
No sing the song. No git on my bus he laughed.
Oh the river Clyde, the wonderful Clyde
The name of it thrills me and fills me with pride
And remember where ever you tide.
One sweetest of songs is the song of the Clyde.
[Who know`s if thats spot on]
What a red neck but it worked.
Every time the bus stopped for a break he would give us the first two lines.
You two get on my bus. It was worth the embarrassment. What a guy.
When in Miami he sorted out our transfer. Superb
After ten hours we make our destination.
It was worth the hassle Key West was brilliant.
Thanks goes to our new friend from Tipperary.
I thank you sir
Wallart Miami
Pelican of the Atlantic side of the bus.
Key West