Greyhound Grievances

After we were dropped off at the bus stop at around 7:15pm we had a quick scout around the area to see what there was. There was a spar that shut at 7:30pm, but was already shut, a off license that was open until 9pm and a Mexican restaurant. We decided to go to the Mexican. We each got Nachos and a drink and we sat there until around 8:30pm. We then went back to the bench by the bus stop.

At the bus stop was another two backpackers. We chatted to them for a bit, and discovered they were from Norfolk/Suffolk and were also going to Airlie Beach.  We were joined by another two girls who were doing the same. They all agreed Hervey Bay was boring and that it was a place for people to go to retire. "God's waiting room" as one of them put it.

The bus turned up early and left promptly at 9:35pm. The USB chargers work and the WiFi doesn't. It's 10:15pm now as I write this. I'm hoping the WiFi will sort it's life out and I'm hoping we'll get some sleep. Lauren looks like she might already be asleep. We think the bus is going to have several stops during the night. It will definitely have to stop at some point as I doubt the bus driver is allowed to drive for 12 hours but when that will be I don't know.

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11:10pm we stopped for a 40 minute break. No one seemed to really want to stop but a couple of people went to the loo. There's one on the bus but the driver says "it's only for emergencies". Some of the drivers don't care when you use it but some don't really want you too. It's the same with the front seat. Some let you sit there but some don't let you. 

At around 2:45 we stopped for a driver change. I had managed to get a little bit of sleep but not much. Lauren said she hasn't got any either. When the driver got off and moved his stuff I moved into the front seat that was now clear. The old driver and the new driver were talking about passengers they had to pick up and the old driver said "she can sit in the seat behind me". When they both got on and saw me there, they told me I had to move. I asked why and they said they had to pick up a passenger. I asked if Lauren could move next to me and the passengers could have our previous seats in the row behind and they said no. They told me the passenger had requested this seat. I asked them how that was possible as I would like to do it for future journeys and they told me they didn't know. They were a bit flustered and when I told them I'd ask before how to do it and was told you couldn't they just kept insisting they were just the drivers and they didn't know and it was just written on their information. They then made a comment about how I could only have one seat anyway, as my bags were on the seat next to me. Lauren remarked how the rest of the bus were doing the same and they said that wasn't their problem. I moved back to my original seat in the row behind. The old driver then said to the new driver "I wonder why they request the front left seat" before realising it was the front right seat that was now empty and correcting himself. It seemed completely made up and was really annoying. I didn't want to get kicked off the bus so just had to let it go but greyhound are really not impressing me so far. 

Just as I wrote that the new bus driver got on and told me I could sit in the front seat after all. I have no idea what's going on.

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It's 4am here and I'm trying to sleep but I'm just not that tired and not very comfortable. I know I need to sleep or I'll be shattered and miserable tomorrow but I just don't seem to be able to. Only 5 hours to go....

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It's just gone 6 and I have up trying to sleep about 20 minutes ago. I think I had a little nap but it's hard to tell. It's absolutely chucking it down outside. Lauren seems to be asleep so at least she won't be shattered and miserable for the whole day. I have no idea what we are going to do today if it continues to rain. If it's sunny we can just go and pass out on the beach but ifs it not I have no idea what there is to do. The WiFi started working for a bit earlier but now has stopped again. We're stopping around 7am for a meal break so maybe they'll have WiFi there. Unlikely but one can dream....

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There wasn't WiFi at the service station but the bus WiFi started working temporarily. It's now 8am. Our bus gets to Airlie Beach at 9:45am allegedly. It's still raining but not as heavy. I feel a bit queasy which is not good. I can't wait to go to bed this evening.

We've just started heading towards blue sky. There may be hope for us yet.

It's 9:56am. We've made it to YHA Airlie Beach.