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I dropped my van off to be repaired. Instead of leaving it at the shop closest to me, I went to one further away, but way more competent and eager to FIX IT. The only realistic way home was Greyhound Bus. This is the story. | |
Myrtle Beach or Bust (via Greyhound)
I was at the Wilmington NC Greyhound bus station after dropping off my van for some necessary work up at a shop there in Wilmington. Unfortunately the shop a lot more local to me has a service department run by someone I don’t trust anymore. Albeit a nice guy who I personally like… when a shop is unwilling to do the work necessary to get things right with a vehicle I bought brand new, I have no choice. In my world, you either are part of the solution or else get out of the way otherwise you’re getting run over because I’m going somewhere else.The shop I bought the van from in Murrells Inlet SC - the service manager threw up his hands about a serious problem I identified, reported and gave empty promises for 2 other minor items I asked to have fixed. After NOT following through (3 separate times) on getting the two minor fixes I asked about and totally ignoring the major issue I reported Nov 2024 - I’m moving on.
Van Products in Wilmington NC was entirely different. Very accommodating - they couldn’t have been more eager to figure out what’s going on and work with me to get the van in so they can fix it.
They weren’t the one who sold me the van, so technically it’s not their issue to “fix”, but working with the conversion company in Indiana, they connected me to this Wilmington dealer who specializes in their converted vans too. The conversion company in Indiana will oversee the repairs being done by the Wilmington dealer. Both have been so great to work with.
The distance was just another minor obstacle to solve, but like everything else, you adapt and find a workaround. That meant a Greyhound bus ride from Wilmington to Myrtle. A new adventure 😀
Once I was at the station, I figured out where I need to be and where the bus was going to come in.
When that bus arrived, I got the vibe the driver was avoiding me - he saw me - hesitated and did a hard left to go all the way around one bus and go behind me - maybe silently praying I wasn’t going to be on his bus 🤣🤣🤣🤣
Once I saw that, I decided to leave the shade area and park my butt right next to the bus everyone was saying went to Myrtle. Right in the sun, I didn't care. Now he can’t get on his own bus except to go right by me 😏
Turns out I was right. He really was avoiding me like the plague. However, I’m no fragile flower. I start off nice, which is always the right way to be, but I do think if you give someone the opportunity to walk on you, they'll take it. NOT TODAY, SIR!!
This is the rest of the story - play by play once the driver unsucessfully tried to sneak by me.🤣
Me: Is this bus to Myrtle Beach?
Driver: Yes - Are you on this bus?
Me: Yes I called when I ordered the ticket to tell them I use a wheelchair. They said they took care of it in the system.
Driver: (with a bit of an attitude) oh I don’t see you on the list - I guess I’ll have to move things around.
Me: (internally) Tango Foxtrot Bravo (too f… bad) broooo - I have a ticket - This is the ONLY bus to Myrtle today. I am taking this bus. I called in advance to make sure there were no surprises. I did everything I was supposed to. Now it’s your turn to do the job.
Driver: (scans my ticket) - you want me to help you on?
Me: uhhhh well yes unless there’s a tow rope involved - you can just pull me behind the bus?
Driver: hahaha something something blah blah
Driver goes in to rearrange the seats - comes back out to unlock the lift). Lift is being sketchy (needs service) - lift finally comes out and down. Driver is closing the storage lockers under the bus - I’m still sitting there waiting for instructions - he literally brings the lift out and walks away to do his other business. No words or even hand gestures to me.
Me: (internal) I know better than to just barge my way onto things… or do stuff without being told. so I wait for instructions.
Driver turns to me and points like WTF are you waiting for - get on already.
Me: (internal) Oooohhhhhhhhhh - I can just feel this guy is going to be a dick.
Me: I’m not too good at the guessing thing so I’m going to let you tell me. He says nothing.
He eventually gets me on the bus. I’m up and positioned right inside … 😒
Driver: You want me to lock you down?
Me: (internal) you lazy POS. Did he just seriously ask me if I want to be tied down??? No … please don’t lock me down… I’ll just bounce around the bus like a pinball… then when my lawsuit is over - the company will be renamed ErikVonHound and the one I’m firing FIRST is YOU papi. YOU’RE FIRED!!!
Me: Uhh you’re supposed to lock me down right?
Driver: well yes … but uhhh some people say don’t lock me down.
Me: (internal) well… A) that’s bull 💩 Nobody is that stupid to say don’t tie me down. And B) even if they did - he's an idiot for allowing that. Huge liability for Greyhound if that passenger gets hurt. I’m not an idiot either.
My chair weighs 400lbs by itself. With the sharp turns and hard brakes all along that trip I’d be sliding all over the place. The one time I didn’t get tied down on a different bus - the driver must have been new. I slid forward with normal braking on the bus and my knees got smashed against the seats in front of me. No thanks!
On this bus, instead of 4 tiedowns - one was broken so he tossed it and we just went with 3 haha… So glad they don’t have extras for situations just like that. You can’t make this stuff up.
The ride to Myrtle Beach was uneventful. However, the Greyhound station in Myrtle is pitiful. The sidewalk is busted up and not wheelchair friendly at all. The driver brought me down on the worst part of the sidewalk (where else would this jagoff put me - I shouldn’t complain. it could have been worse, he could have parked at the side of a volcano, but he did not)
Meanwhile, I had to 4x4 onto level pavement and just glad I didn’t get stuck in the dirt and gravel. 😒 This driver all along was just peeved he had to do the extra work and was going to make my trip as difficult as possible. Oh well 🤷 KMA Greyhound driver.
Once I got down to street level, I cut through all the construction in downtown Broadway area and got to the CoastRTA transfer station 4 blocks away. My local bus dropped me off just down the street from my home. 👍 I got here - safe and sound.
The shop I dropped my van off was terrific (Van Products). I’m confident they will get to the bottom of the issues going on with my van and now I know the trip back and forth is easily doable.
If you made it this far, I’ll add this… Hilariously, after I wrote all this…I came across this video of Ryan Trahan taking a Greyhound bus ride from NYC to LA. 😱 If nothing else, this should cure any batcrap crazy ideas I may have of taking a bus any long distances. Yikes
I Took the Longest Bus Ride in America
I miss my van already.😩
I wrote about my bus ride from Wilmington NC to Myrtle Beach SC
by u/evonbart in evonbart_blog
