There was another time I stopped at the ‘Long Haul Bus Depot,’ thinking I could check it off the list. That was back when I had the motorcycle, though. Nowhere to warm myself. A cold snap on the second day forced me to abandon the attempt. I was more cautious with my life, then.
I figured I’d get back around to it eventually.
‘There are a lot of ‘rules’ floating around about the ‘Long Haul Bus Depot,’ but the only three that matter are:
- Show up before noon.
- Wait three full 24-hour days.
- Don’t get on the bus at night.
It is these three rules that stand the test of time and only these three that are conservative enough for the most risk-averse traveler. Some who board the bus early return. Some who board the bus at night return (but are changed). Nobody who has arrived before after noon on any given day has found the bus to be timely. It is a waste of twelve hours to arrive early and it seems to encourage the bus to arrive at night. Those who board at the proper time, having waited for the ‘right’ bus to show, are almost guaranteed to emerge at their destination unharmed.’
I’m not sure if the camper counts as waiting at the bus stop but, with no real deadlines looming, I park nearby and tailgate for a while, spending what seems like a respectable amount of time in the old bus shelter as is possible- even sleeping there. But I return to the camper to cook. And to relive myself, finding that the smell of warm urine too nearby keeps me up. And after a few false starts, during which strange buses come and go, the blood-red ‘Long Haul Bus’ stops for me and the hollowed-out man at the wheel beckons me to board, indicating, as he always does, that the ticket machine is broken and that no payment is required.
The air near the bus feels colder.
The tires leave wet tracks though no rain has fallen.
The bus driver smiles down, failing to acknowledge my hesitation. He lets the moment drag on though I can see other passengers aboard, waiting, their faces obscured by condensation on the glass.
I shrug. “Think I’m due on the next one.”
The bus driver nods and shuts the door and the ‘Long Haul Bus’ pulls away, the road empty until it’s out of sight. Then, as if a dam breaks, traffic resumes.
-traveler
