Catching up the Greyhound
Several years ago, I went with my two cousins Martin and Toni for a backpacking tour across the Jasper National Park in the west of Canada. It was Summer and we were hiking about one week in the totally harsh and brutal wilderness. We ran into hedgedogs who intrusively disturbing us when we were on the toilet and reckless birds piercing our ears by their chirping. We hiked a distance of approximately two hundred kilometres bearing twentyfive kilogrammes on our back. We set off in Jasper taking the North Boundary Trail towards Mount Robson.
…Birds piercing our ears by their chirping.
On the last day we eventually arrived at the visitor center and you could imagine us being quite exhausted. It had been heavily raining during our hiking tour. Luckily, we were never short of water since the rivers were swollen, however, this resulted into beeing wet most the time.
Finally, we crossed the border between the provinces Alberta and British Columbia and left Mount Robson behind us. We ended up on a high way at which a shop and a visitor center laid. We were so relieved that the journey had come almost to an end and we just needed to get back to Jasper Town. Therefore we immediately made for the visitor center. Inside, Emily a very kind staff member, called the Greyhound bus to pick us up at the high way.
Unfortunately we had to wait until midnight and so we observed the area and then moved to the small charming shop purchasing crisps with vinegar flavour and some other stuff. We sat down on a bench. It was around six PM. We milled around and ate the crisps (my first I’ve ever had with vinegar taste).
My first crisps I’ve ever had with vinegar taste.
Following the sunset, both buildings closed and it turned out that we now were the only person left. We became tired soon and it also started raining again. So we sought for shelter but, as already mentioned, all buildings were closed. Additionally the rain had become heavier and prevented us from setting up the tent. We ended up below the roof overhang from the visitor center. It was raining in torrents and we started freezing. We reclined on our rucksacks. We just had little space. The coldness went through our bodies. Above us there was an wrecked-looking ventilator loudly rotating and kept us from getting a bit of sleep. However we fell asleep.
I was waken up by the shriek of Toni who was pointing at the clock.
I was waken up by the shriek of Toni who was pointing at the clock. Martin sprung up to his feets and said: “Come on guys, it’s time we ran to the high way.” We grabbed our stuff rather stumbling than running into the pitch black night. We got almost there just as two lights were moving down the road and slowly vanished into the dark. There was no point in pursuing it and we were bound to miss our only way out of this place.
We stood on the fringe of the high way, the rain was falling down and no-one there.
“SHUT THE F*CK UP” I raged.
What were we supposed to do? I came up with hitch hiking which was promptly turned down. It was a terrible situation and tense as well. Toni noted zynically: “It could have been worse”. “SHUT THE F*CK UP” I raged. I had lost my nerves because of too less sleep and the whole dilemma. For a while we didn’t talk to each other. We then made up with each other and starting discussing our situation.
Then we could remember that the next Greyhound bus came at four AM. It was our only chance. What will we do to stop the bus? Will it notice us and then halt?
We returned to our shelter where we stayed until four AM. Two of us were sleeping while one was awake.
Two of us were sleeping while one was awake.
Fifteen minutes before the clock struck four we carried to the high way again. We got ready to stay at the side of the highway and hoping to be recognised by the bus.
Everytime two lights came closer we started waving and jumping. After several vehicles had passed by we got worried and I thought: “The bus is letting us down…”
We repeated our “cheerleading”
Suddenly another pair of lights came closer. We repeated our “cheerleading” (which actually had become very professional). Still too far away — All of a sudden Martin exclaimed in delight:”LOOK — THE GREYHOUND”. We increased the rate of waving, shouting and jumping to make ourselves noticable.
The bulky bus kept driving and passed by.
We looked at each other and were speechless. We missed our last chance.
We almost saw the two red dots disappearing as suddenly the bus began to brake and slipped along the wet road. Within a second we realized and started sprinting with our heavy rucksacks and alpine boots towards the bus. I had never run so fast in my life. I couldn’t even explain how I was able to activate so much energy despite all circumstances.
He was angry and mumbled that why we hadn’t booked the bus…
We made it to the bus where the bus driver had already awaited us. He was angry and mumbled that why we hadn’t booked the bus and it was such a hazard to stop out there in the dark. We just nooded and apologised since we were just grateful to have caught the Greyhound. We then plunged into the seats and fell asleep immediately.
