So I had big plans for this summer. Some of those plans related to busing since I made this completely arbitrary commitment to write about my adventures commuting to and from work, or just transportation in general, and post something every Monday. It seemed like a good idea at the time, which was more than five years ago, and even back then there were some things I thought I’d do just for fun and to have something to write about, but I kept putting them off because things came up and also I found that most weeks something would happen to me during my commute that I could write about the following Monday, and if nothing happened I could always make something up.
Anyway I told myself this would be the summer, really, that I would do some of those things. And then, well, it looks like my plans may be moved back to next summer at the very least, but here are a few things I hope I can still look forward to:
- Take a bus tour of Nashville. Even though I live here I think this would be a fun thing—maybe they’d even tell me a few things I don’t know. The main appeal of the Nashville tour buses, though, is that they regularly go by the building where I work. Or did, anyway. One would go by every five minutes—or at least it seemed that way. Whenever I left the building where I work to go to a meeting or appointment somewhere else, or whenever I left in the afternoon, a tour bus was going by. I liked to wave to the tourists. Some waved back. Most ignored me. I’d like to ride one of those tour buses so I can be the one doing the ignoring! Take that, me, if I were down there waving at myself!
- Ride The Music City Star. I love trains. Most people I know do too, and although Nashville is mostly a place where visitors arrive by either car or plane there is a commuter train that runs to downtown and the Union Station building is really, really cool. Check it out:
Source: Wikipedia
A few people I work with who live far outside Nashville and who, until earlier this year, had pretty long commutes, have ridden the Music City Star. The one thing I’d have to work out, since I’d be riding it just for fun, is how I’d get back. I’d probably take the train, but maybe wander around Lebanon for a while. I assume the place is more exciting than its station which doesn’t look like much of a going concern. Check it out:
Source: Wikipedia
- Ride a short bus. This is actually a pretty new thing. The Nashville bus service has eliminated several routes and scaled back some others significantly—something they were doing even before the pandemic—and on some routes they’ve introduced these short buses.I get that they’re more efficient, use less fuel, and at times and on routes where there aren’t as many people riding they make perfect sense. So far I haven’t been lucky enough to catch one, and right now I’m not riding any bus anyway, and if I were I’d want as much space between me and everybody else on board, but I think the short buses are cute and would be fun. And, yes, at least one of my big plans would mean going small.
Well, there’s always next summer, although it seems like whenever I make plans things somehow go wrong and I have to put them off, so even if I can’t get to these things next year I can always just make something up.
Many plans down the drain this summer, so you might as well roll around in the mud! The best clean dirty fun you can have!
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Funny you should suggest rolling around in the mud because up until this weekend we haven’t had much rain around here. Then we got a lot. Which was fine. It’s not like I was going anywhere.
I love bus tours! Trains, also very fun.
I had plans to go to California in October. I’m pretty sure those are down the drain.
I’m sorry you’ve list your chance to go to California in October. Whether it was north or south I’m sure it would have been a fun trip.
All our plans were cancelled too. Hopefully everything is back to relatively normal by next summer!
mydangblog recently posted…Forklift Fantasies, Atlas is Invincible
At this rate I’d settle for things being back to normal by next summer. This summer is pretty much a wash, and winter isn’t looking too good either.
When things open up, Chris, I’m definitely visiting Nashville. Thanks for sealing the deal with this post.
Ann Koplow recently posted…Day 2786: Don’t give up
I look forward to your visit to Nashville. I hope to be able to visit Boston sometime. There’s so much good there–you included, of course, and after reading The Soul Of An Octopus I think the New England Aquarium is a must-visit.
Life is what happens while you’re busy making plans!
I just made that up. Google it. Betcha it’s already viral. 😉
Hey, it looks like it’s not only out there but you’ve managed to slip it into history as well! All that while I was asleep. Well, I’m shaking myself out of it now.