Made it.

I was pleasantly surprised as I was nearing the end of a relatively low key ride, only 6 hours left, and the bus was running on time. 

Lo and behold, not an hour after losing service, and three hours away from Salt Lake, the bus driver pulled the bus over at a gas station saying he needed to check the oil. The back of the bus was covered in oil--no mechanic, no driver able to pick us up--our driver warned us it would be a while. About 6 hours later, after we had all deliriously loitered around the gas station and made fun of each other enough to lead us all back to sleep on a dark bus, a mechanic came to fix it enough to get us up the road. 

Informing us of our 5am departure time, the bus driver lead us to the hotel greyhound was providing for the night. Eager to rest, I quickly got into bed only to find I was adjacent to the room of guys on the bus that were throwing down for a wild hotel party. I don't know how the entire hotel slept through the loud shouting coming from their room. Shortly after finally falling asleep, a loud knock came at 3am from the driver shouting the other bus arrived and we had to go NOW. 

We were all scrambling. I am thankful to report I have made it to salt lake on time, just two hours to spare and to find my luggage had arrived already! It always comes together somehow. 

Colorado

Salt Lake City, UT. Greyhound. 

Westward Rebound

After my experience on the bus trip home this past October, I declared to myself that I would never take the bus again and I would never go back to Salt Lake. I now find myself on a bus to Salt Lake City, UT. Never say never. 

It has not even been a day and the greyhound fun has already begun including an at-capacity bus in Pittsburgh that myself and 5 other ticket holders were denied access to board. Reluctantly, I separated from my luggage, my bike and gear, as it was already loaded to be re-routed for a different bus. I am convinced after my last experience that Pittsburgh Greyhound and I just don't get along very well. Never a dull moment. 

I will reach Salt Lake to essentially get my butt kicked during the tryout week at my prospective job. I am not sure what the west will have in store for me this time around. As a lost wondering Frenchman in San Fran told me, all I know is that I don't know and that the plan can change.

However, I leave Leesburg a bit more equipped than last time and with a full heart from all of the people that have showered me with love over the years and full confidence that I will be paying a long overdue visit to Britney Spears in vegas! What more do i need? A wonderful thank you to my parents for throwing the sweetest Bon voyage party. Along with my mom's best tomato chickpea soup, the first ever gluten free coconut cake was successfully served in the Coates household with the help of the expert baking Sutton girls. 

Washington, D.C. 

Chicago, IL

My special travel tokens given to me from  my best friends Lindsey and Reagan.