Chronicles 311: Better Late Than Never?

Just when I start thinking that riding the bus really isn't all that bad & noting that nothing really has happened recently to make me sit down and write about another wonderful adventure aboard King County Metro, I get a reminder of how things really are.

Perhaps we've been getting a little spoiled riding the bus during the summer. It's usually early and about half full. Once school starts as fall rolls in, it's usually late and jammed like a cattle truck on the way to the rendering plant. In my minds eye I picture a truck/trailer, with those little holes down the side leaking a greenish sort of substance.

Today, the bus was about 10 minutes late, which usually means the amount of people/cattle/zombies catching the bus doubles or triples. Not only that, but the natives get very restless waiting around, turning their heads at anything that sounds like a bus. Lots of busses came and went but none were 311, which was supposed to arrive before them.

Another bus, not 311 rolls up to pick up it's cargo. As it's rolling to a stop, I finally see 311 rolling in behind it. It stops and opens it's doors. I was third from the front of the line and had been waiting for nearly a half hour. Now the back of the line gets to load first, which is really no big deal, until I notice that the bus is not the usual articulated type, but a short bus! We filled it at the P-R, with one more park and ride stop to make before Seattle.

Being one of the last people on the bus, I found a seat next to an older woman who was reading Sartes, of all things. Talk about out of place! But hey, sometimes you do see odd things while riding the bus. I plopped down and put my bag on my lap, then grabbed my iPod to drown out the usual clatter that is the bus and it's riders. We pulled into the second P&R and crammed the bus full to SRO before leaving.

Like I pointed out in an earlier dispatch of the 311 Chronicles, somebody was nice enough to bring some hot, warm and cheesy air biscuits with them to anonymously share with all as we left the last park and ride. Either that or someone had a big plate of cabbage last night. My iPod only masks sounds and is useless when it comes to funky odors. UGH! If could have stood up I would have opened a window, but I was too light headed and crammed into my seat to make a move.

It reeked all the way to downtown

I always thought the only difference between a cattle car and a metro bus was the smell.

Not any more!