So it all started Monday evening. I was planning on taking the Greyhound bus from Fort Collins to Pueblo, CO on Tuesday morning early, so I went online to buy my ticket. I had been by the actual ticket counter earlier that day and the woman helpfully suggested that I buy my ticket online instead of from her because it would be cheaper. You don't have to tell me twice. The catch, however, was that I couldn't buy my ticket online. The website said that for this route, you had to purchase the ticket 10 days in advance so a paper ticket could be mailed to you. Hmmmm.... So I called to order my ticket by phone. After explaining the situation, giving the grouchy call center woman all my info, she said the same thing the website said. It makes me wonder if she was using the same exact tools I was. Hmmm... So it was decided that tickets were overrated anyway and I would just try to sneak my way onto the bus in the morning (or, failing that, buy a ticket from the bus driver).

Four AM rolls around and my gracious host drives me down to the bus stop. The website said to be tthere an hour early to guarentee a seat, but our 15 minute buffer was more than enough at that ungodly time in the morning. So we settle in to wait. Oh, and the temperature outside is about negative 6.

One hours passes. Two hours pass. The city starts to wake up and we are no longer the only ones out and about. Still no bus. After waiting for 2 hours and 45 minutes (making the bus 2:30 late at this point), the station opens up so I sent Nora on her way, as I now have a warm place to wait inside. I go inside, ask about the delay, and am given a phone number to call. Ugh. I call it, jump through the pre-recorded hoops, and finally get a person that tells me all the routes in that area have been canceled. Not delayed, but canceled.

Ugh.

Luckily, in my short time in Ft. Collins, I have learned the public bus system well enough to get myself back to Nora's house. Needless to say, she is surprised to see me. I take the whole greyhound fiasco as a sign that me and greyhound aren't meant to be and I set about planning an alternate way to Pueblo (which is about 200 miles south.)

I had done my homework. I was aware of all the options from here to there and where there are gaps. Public buses from Denver go about 45 minutes shy of each end of my trip. On the north end, I found a ride with my aunt who was headed to busability land to bake cookies. Then I hopped a couple buses and ended up at the southern end of bus land, about 45 minutes shy of my destination. My plan at the outset of the day was to get to this point and hitchhike the rest of the way. Afterall, there is pretty much just one road, and I figured people would take pity on me with it being so FREAKING COLD outside. But then the thought of standing on the side of the road for 5 hours and getting stranded started to weigh on me.

For some reason, all through the planning aspects of this leg of the journey, renting a car never crossed my mind. With having to be back to Colorado Springs (the southern terminus of bus land) the next morning, it was actually a perfect solution. Since the commuter bus from Denver had internet, I had done my research and found a place near the bus stop that rents cars. Sure it will cost a little more, but at least I get to see my friend in Pueblo (and don't have to spend the night under a bridge in negative degree weather).

So I arrive in Colorado Springs, walk to the car rental place* (still in single digit temps). Long story short*, they won't rent to me because I don't have a credit card. But the guy is really nice and suggests another place that doesn't require a credit card and even gives me a ride over there! So I get to the next place*. This guy is even nicer. The only car they have left is a caddie, but by this point I don't care, so I go for it. After we have all the paper work filled out, etc. he declares he can't rent to me because the credit report rejects me. He seems genuinely sorry and does all he can, suggesting other places to rent from (and giving me warnings about them) and letting me use his phone to call them.

The next place* is all the way across town, but it sounds like it might work. So I get a taxi* over there (and get them to credit half of my fare towards my car rental purchase because they couldn't pick me up) and 30 minutes later get in a vehicle.

From there on, it is smooth sailing (besides the fact that I am driving an "economy" car in quite icy conditions. But I arrive in Pueblo without issue and have a wonderful, if not short, visit. But it just goes to show you the difference between travel with a car and without. Oy!