After spending two hours talking to six different representatives at three different phone numbers and two other representatives via one "customer service" email address today, let's just say that Greyhound has given plenty of fodder for a new writing project.
I'm not sure if Vegas has a line on whether I'll make it back to Bozeman tomorrow, but for those following along, here's the plan (three scenarios, ranging from best-case to worst-case):
PLAN A
8:30 a.m.: See Katie off at Glen Eyrie for her summer
9 a.m.-2 p.m.: Drive 400 miles (six hours) to Gillette, WY
2-2:30 p.m.: Return rental car and walk two miles to bus stop/gas station (they are the same)
3-8 p.m.: Beg/hitch a ride from Gillette to Buffalo (70 miles)
9:50 p.m.: Ride Greyhound with ticket to Bozeman
3:45 a.m.: Arrive in Bozeman
PLAN B
Same basic schedule up through 8 p.m.
8 p.m.: If can't beg/hitch ride to Buffalo, wait for different Greyhound at bus stop/gas station arriving at 8:20 p.m.
8:05-8:20 p.m.: Negotiate/hijack seat on bus (currently full with exception of front six seats blocked at driver's discretion)
8:20 p.m. Ride Greyhound w/o ticket to Buffalo and with ticket to Bozeman
3:45 a.m.: Arrive in Bozeman
PLAN C
Same basic schedule up through 8 p.m.
Fail at begging/hitching ride to Buffalo as well as negotiating/hijacking seat in Gillette, book cheap motel room
Take Chloe Dunham/Ryan Weber up on offered next day retrieval
Channel inner Jerry Maguire and write 30-page treatise on customer service to send to Greyhound Bus Lines leadership
Look to my coming, at first light, on the fifth day. At dawn, look to the East.
