We're On The Bus Gus

We had to fetch the Honey Badger in Upington. Our immediate thought was a rental car, but the logistics would be a nightmare. Flying was out of the question; too expensive.  Driving up in our car wasn't an option either; two vehicles on the road would be ridiculous, so we had no choice but to take the bus.

Butch was horrified at the thought of taking a bus; the last time he ventured out on one was in 1968 on a rugby tour, and that experience killed the idea. While he thought it through and worked out an alternate plan, I got on Google (my best friend) to find a bus to Upington.

Inter-Cape Overnighter did it.  The price was reasonable. All things considered. I made our reservation.  I did all this on my phone via the reservation portal on the website. Easy peasy. Only afterwards did I realise we qualified for a pensioner discount. Unfortunately, we had to forgo that. Cancelling the tickets and rebooking, although I’d taken the all-inclusive option, would have cost us more!

Our route would take us from Worcester to Bloemfontein, where we’d disembark and take another bus to Upington.  A schlepp, I know, but it was cheap and our only option. Butch kept mum. The countdown began. 

We faced our fears with humour, reminding ourselves that this adventure would give us a story worth sharing.

Our bus would depart from the Mountain Mill Shopping Center at 20h00.  Our neighbour agreed to drop us off, and I had stowed away travel essentials like sleeping tablets, anti-inflammatory tablets, snacks, and drinks in my backpack. I also brought my iPad with a movie, and Butch had a book on his Kindle. The bus had comfortable seats, and the onboard amenities made the journey enjoyable.  What more could you want for a long trip? 

We were togged out in our comfortable tracksuit pants and hoodies, warm socks and running shoes, and neck cushions around our necks.  Nothing would stop us now.

As per instructions, we’d arrived well before departure, which helped ease our nerves.  The surprise was how many other people were waiting for the bus to Bloemfontein, showing how popular and reliable this option is.  I felt cold sweat run down my spine, but knowing the bus was 85% full and operated on a first-come, first-served basis made me realize it’s a dependable way to travel.   Being separated from Butch would not bode well,  but the system’s efficiency reassured me.

At ten minutes to eight on the dot, the huge, modern, double-decker luxury bus liner appeared out of the mist and glided to a smooth stop in front of us.  Thank goodness.

We boarded the bus, showed our passes to a friendly bus driver and made our way upstairs. We could pick and choose a seat. I breathed for the first time.  We stowed our backpacks, settled down and were soon off. 

My iPad lit up while I adjusted my earphones, and Butch kicked his legs out; there was enough legroom, and he settled with his book.  We enjoyed our snacks.  At 10h00, our usual bedtime, we knocked back our sleeping tablets and were soon in la-la-land.  

Our ETA in Bloemfontein was 7h00. At our age, we’re lucky to get an eight-hour night. By the time we stopped in Bloemfontein, we’d had rusks and coffee and were wide-eyed and bushy-tailed after a very peaceful night’s sleep.

We alighted from the bus and had enough time to visit the facilities for ablutions. Feeling refreshed, and now that we knew the drill, we boarded our bus at a leisurely pace, found our seats, settled in, and prepared for the eight-hour drive to Upington.

The bus made regular stops and gave passengers ample time to refresh, buy refreshments, and stretch their legs.  Using an App on his phone, Butch plotted our journey and saw where we were.  He checked the speed we were travelling at and could testify in court that the driver didn’t exceed the speed limit.  Surprise!

We arrived in Upington at 16h00.  Within minutes, we were on our way to the Upington Butchery to collect our order of Biltong and Droëwors. With a spring in our step, we made good time to collect our Honey Badger waiting for us.

Unfortunately, her back wheels were fitted incorrectly and had to be rearranged.  At last, we could set off, only to be halted by the beeping of the tyre pressure monitor signalling a deflating tyre.  Butch did the sensible thing; he dropped me off at the nearest Woolies for some retail therapy.

As the sun set on a bright orange Kalahari sky, Butch lit his fire, and I prepared some braai broodjies for supper.  I couldn’t wait to wake up in my bed. We were going to do a slow meander down the west coast all the way home.

Although I wouldn’t do this trek regularly, taking the bus was a lightbulb moment because it proved to be a practical, comfortable, and relaxing way to travel.  Our drivers were smooth operators, and we arrived at our destination punctually,  relaxed and ready for an adventure.  I can highly recommend taking the bus.

https://www.busticket.co.za/en_za/translux-bus-tickets 

Wherever I go, my beloved Canon camera accompanies me.  This time I'd forgotten my memory cards... I know, I did kick myself.  I had to make do with my phone on this trip.  Forgive the poor quality of some of my photographs.