Leaving Montreal with successfully purchasing areal waterproof rain jacket and a one-way ticket to Ecuador I was feeling quite productive. It takes 4 individual busses to get from Kirkland (Montreal) to Ann Arbor, Michigan. Mike dropped me off at the Kirkland station and lucky he thought to check with the ticket guy as the 4.25 bus I was booked for was running late and the 3.30 bus was on its way. I managed it on the 3.30 (which came at 4), and found a seat as to my luck one poor woman who had stepped out for a smoke or some air was forcefully removed from her seat so a woman with her child could sit together (and there were no other doubles left. The ousted woman was lucky as there was only one seat remaining, although she was fair pissed. I started my book (Shit my dad says) and at times had to control myself from laughing like a crazy. This gave me something to do until we arrived in Ottawa.
I felt I had time to “chill” and found a patch of floor against a wall to keep on reading, however a long line began to form and I thought it must be fore some other bus coming soon, it was only about 7.10 and my bus wasn’t until 7.50... Some employee did interrupt my reading to inform me I’d better line up… I wouldn’t want to miss out. Line up? Why would I wanta do that? Id rather just chill here until the bus starts boarding. Why would you line up early? Well ladies and gents: the greyhound will sell and sell and sell tickets as much as they like, regardless of the capacity of the bus So basically, you not in line, you not on bus… you too far down line that eveyones on the bus and you not… you don’t get on the bus. Luckily I came to and lined up and complained about it. 2 people did not make it onto that Toronto bound bus… one woman sat on the bus stairs. I wish would have known too because she was older and probably wasn’t too happy or comfortable there.
But I made my connection and did not see any Montreal originating busses come in before I left for Toronto so… phew. Read my book… laughed out loud L.O.L… finished my book satisfied, but without any more reading or doing material. Napped.
Toronto came late at night and I ensured I was in line super early. Left for Detroit and scored an entire 3-seater to myself. Napped and made Amy’s bracelet all the way to the border. Ugh American Customs. So waiting outside in the cold of 5am wasn’t awesome enough, it took ages for everyone to get processed and everyone needed their bags checked… have you seen my bags? I told customs if they open it it needs to be able to close. They found my hip flask.. Embarrassing, but I did inform them that I hadn’t used it yet, which makes it totally alright. Got back on the bus and a whole like 2 mins later we had arrived in Detroit.
The Detroit station had a massive blue banner which says “Welcome to Detroit” and I felt it necessary to take a photo of it. It was a little scary, a little black. A machine took 1.50 as I tried to buy a chocolate milk and it took me two goes to actually get it. Sat in that silly line again… near the front! And ended up gaining a questionable stain from using my pillow on the floor. I sniffed it to make sure… it didn’t smell. On the bus I had 2 seats to myself, but met a lovely African-american young man called Washad? He wore a doo-rag and was interested in my travels. He wanted to “hook up” on the weekend, but he never got my number. There were notable amounts of abandoned/burnt-out cars on the road to Ann Arbor. Eventually… 17 hours later.. I arrived in Ann Arbor.
