It was her first day on the job. As a Geyhound bus driver that is. Had I known that, I would have never gotten on the bus.

I took the bus from Providence back home to NYC on Sunday evening. I was supposed to be on the 7pm bus, but thought I'd jump on the 5:30pm since I was already at the bus depot and it would get me home a few hours earlier.

This bus would stop at Foxwoods, Mohegan Sun (both casinos in CT), New London and then straight to NYC. Within 2 mins of getting on the bus, our driver yells, "Does anyone know how to get to Foxwoods?" People tried to help her get there, but no one was 100% sure the route.

The seat in front of me was a guy we'll call Co-pilot...when we overheard the confusion on directions, both of us went straight to the best navigation: Blackberry Google Maps and found our route. But Co-pilot didnt have much battery left....

So I went to the jump-seat of sorts and told the bus driver she was in good hands. We made it to Foxwoods, but then google maps didnt know where Mohegan Sun was, so another guy took over. He started asking if he could get his money back on his ticket to help her - whatever, I should get a freakin Greyhound Driving Jacket after my night.

After Mohegan Sun, I came back to the front to get us to New London...however, the back road I wanted to use as a straight shot could have been too small a road for commercial vehicles. Since when I have I ever had to think of a road being suited for a big ass Greyhound. But there are things I was forced the think about.

We got in and out of New London and headed towards NYC. I felt a sigh of relief as it was a straight shot now.

But wait - Co-Pilot activates his traffic module on the Blackberry Google Maps and sees that there is BAD traffic between Fairfield and Norwalk in CT. We're an hour away so I'm suuuure it will be gone by then. But I put in a call to BobbyG, my trusty news reporter, to see if he can get the scoop. Within one quick phone call we get the info:

Man is speeding on I-95, cops run his plates, he's got a warrant out for his arrest in Maine for possible kidnapping and other potential bad stuff (maybe even murder). A chase ensues - guy shoots himself, but not fatally...cops shut down entire highway going South and most of the lanes going north. It's a crime scene. [thanks BobbyG!!]

Shit.

We pull over at a truck stop just outside of New Haven. Bus driver gets an alternate route from a trucker...now we have to go due north on 91, cut over to 691, west on 84, south on 684, east on 287 (cant go west with commercial vehicle, sigh), south again on 95, west on the Bruckner, take 87 and the 3rd Ave Bridge into Harlem, work out way downtown and we're home. Easy right?

But wait (again)- bus driver informs us she cannot drive more than 10 hours in one day. She MUST stop at 11pm....and it was 10:30pm when we found that out. Co-pilot and I started planning how we would get to a MetroNorth (NYC commuter rail) station by 11pm. Bus driver decided to risk punishment and get us to NYC. Thanks.

When we get into Manhattan...yes, that's when she tells me it's her "first day actually driving the bus." Thanks.

A few things that crossed my mind all night:
#1 - it was a full moon last night, is that why this happened?
#2 - I was supposed to be on the 7pm bus instead. F*#k, Sh*t...etc.
#3 - Am I on an episode of The Apprentice? Bus driver - you're fired!
#4 - Google Maps is the best, true dat double true
#5 - Blackberry ROCKS!
#6 - Greyhound slogan "Leave The Driving To Us" - Seriously! WTF?