I got married on June 30th 1998
I don't know why. I don't think anyone will ever explain this one satisfactorily.

By the end of 1998 it was more than clear that this was a doomed relationship so I did the responsible thing, took a three month sabattical from work and fucked off to the USA.

Work was - at that time - as a Lloyds syndicate manager, working with bus and coach companies. I'd started out in insurance working in the bus industry and I have a PCV - bus drivers license.

So it's the busmans holiday. I got a 60 day Greyhound pass and spent those 60 days bouncing about. I worked on the basis that I'd go 24 hours from wherever I was.

In 60 days I got coast to coast twice, ended up in places big and small, found an incredible amount of humanity and saw so much.

Memories in particular are:-

Pheonix - San Diego - across the desert with about 4 people on board

Reno - Las Vegas - I spent this journey talking to an ex USAF pilot who told me things that scared me then and scare me still

Los Angeles - Eugene - Magnificent.

The highlight - possibly sadly - was Louisville (Kentucky) to Charleston (West Virginia). I was sitting at the front chatting to the driver and mentioned that I could drive.

So I ended up driving. Greyhound - the absolute icon of American social and political mobility, with me at the wheel.

Then I went back and we got divorced on June 24th 2004.
( The Disappointed Caravanner of the year, Sat 16 Jul 2011, 19:06, 11 replies)

Drove a Greyhound bus whilst on holiday?
Cool as fuck ;)
Gets a click!
X
( blaireau69 , the Cumbrian Travis Bickle., Sat 16 Jul 2011, 19:35, closed)

I'm not putting the date on
Because the boy who let me drive might be still driving and who knows who watches this.

But yes - an MC12, for about 200 miles. No governor, no Telmar, 90 downhill and 70 up.

Second best to a Scania K124 for sheer driving fun.
( The Disappointed Caravanner of the year, Sat 16 Jul 2011, 19:45, closed)

Big engine LOLs
90 downhill with you at the wheel, I'd pay money for that!
;)
( blaireau69 , the Cumbrian Travis Bickle., Sat 16 Jul 2011, 19:51, closed)

Strange sensation
Detroit 12 pot with a straight drive behind you.

Like driving a very fit AEC 760.
( The Disappointed Caravanner of the year, Sat 16 Jul 2011, 20:00, closed)

What kind of scary things?
(FondaAccord, Sat 16 Jul 2011, 20:28, closed)

Click!
Also scary things?
( dazbrilliantwhites has been meaning to change this..., Sat 16 Jul 2011, 21:03, closed)

You want the scary things.
I'm a rational, clear headed guy. I know a bullshitter when I meet one.

The man I met on the bus from Reno to Vegas was ex USAF - he was a civil pilot when I was talking to him and was on his way to Vegas to pick up a light plane and take it back to Reno.

I have no reason to doubt his word.

The US Military conducted nuclear testing in the Nevada desert between 1945 - 1950. That is known.

This guy told me that there were a lot of ex-service personnel wandering around the Bay area after WW2, and the Pacific campaign, homeless, jobless, and a bit stunned by what they'd seen.

A lot of them disappeared during 1947/8, tempted by "jobs" in military service.

Essentially he told me that a lot of homeless people were rounded up, shipped to Nevada and used in front line blast testing.

Want any more? That's as much as he told me.

I'll let that sit with you like it still sits with me.
( The Disappointed Caravanner of the year, Sat 16 Jul 2011, 21:36, closed)

Yep, wouldnt surprise me, although it should. Nasty thought.
( enoughblueskyforsailorstrousers, Sun 17 Jul 2011, 3:44, closed)

^this

( dazbrilliantwhites has been meaning to change this..., Sun 17 Jul 2011, 11:13, closed)

Phew.
I thought it was gonna be about bloody aliens and that.
(judgetheobscure used to sweep in butchers' shops., Sun 17 Jul 2011, 9:04, closed)

Great story
on my 'to do list' :)
(Spin Its a thing., Sun 17 Jul 2011, 9:02, closed)