Bus situations

We usually walk to and from work, but on our occasional bus rides we have recently had some small memorable moments.

Bus situation 1

Elf and I boarded an evening bus home, and some familiar guttural blues music was emanating from the driver's nook. It was the start of Roadhouse Blues by The Doors – one of the great driving songs. We cruised up Davey St then we got to the Zigzag where the bus route crosses the Southern Outlet. As we hit the Zigzag, Jim Morrison was exhorting the driver to roll baby roll, and she did, quite quickly, throwing us from side to side. Then as went past St John's Hospital the driver was hugging the kerb where there would usually be cars parked, and she hit a great big tree root at about 50kph. We were sitting practically on top of the front wheel at the time. So that was memorable. And ironic considering the song's initial suggestion that one should Keep your eyes on the road, your hand upon the wheel.

Bus situation 2

At our stop in the morning, the bus pulled up at a weird angle and too close to the kerb. Elf noticed the wing mirror had come to rest about an inch back from the pole holding the bus stop sign. When we boarded I told the driver, who hadn’t realised, that he’d need to reverse before he took off to avoid smashing his mirror. He murmured thanks, but a voice behind me said "Thank You!" energetically. 

The driver was a trainee and his supervisor had also not noticed the mirror. The supervisor continued "You have a lovely eye!" as he got out of the bus to guide the driver in reversing safely. Back in the bus he kept turning to us and making friendly chat the whole way into town, and came over at one point and gave me an anti-fog lens wipe. "I usually carry chocolates".