Tag: Washington D.C.

MotorCoach Blog 70

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I Am a Motorcoach, Discovering the USA by Tread Windshield and Mirror…

. . . Two Eight One here, pondering small things. A speck of something foreign in my fuel line, for example, can cause me serious troubles, even down-time. At nine feet wide, twelve and a half feet tall, forty-five feet long, and 25,000ish pounds, one well-placed nail in a tire can mess up a day and a well-planned itinerary. A glitch (whatever a glitch is) can cause my mechanics to nearly lose their minds looking for a solution for this sophisticated “brain” of mine. These are rare occurrences, but they can happen.

Anyway . . . just trying to comprehend “virus.” As you know, I was designed for you – for passenger care and empathy. But I never appreciated how much you and I have in common until something called COVID-19. One little mystery has shown me that when my passengers are down I’m down. What effects you effects me. When you are confined to home I stay in the garage.

I used to celebrate every trip knowing how much we enjoy traveling together. Now I know it is more than that. We are connected by travel. We need each other. So, while it feels great to get back on the road for this trip to Washington DC, it is strange to do so without you, my passengers.

This is part one of a two-part blog report . . .

Selfies

(which by definition means I’m in them . . . though you might have to look for me)

Me and and my pal Two Eight zero here, all set to head out on the road together; and posing for some pics before getting started. In Washington DC we will participate in a hostoric motorcoach rally. These unprecedented times call for an unprecedented show of industry solidarity. We are proud to represent Mid-American Coaches in that effort.

Woa . . . a strange sight to say the least. This is Gateway travel center in Breezewood, Pennsylvania. A popular last-stop before DC, typically the parking lot is so jammed with motorcoaches you pull in trying to spot someone pulling out so you can grab their vacated parking spot. I had never seen this place anything but busy, whatever time of day or night. To see it empty is, yes, very strange.

Now, we knew we were getting to DC slightly ahead of the other motorcoaches attending the rally from around the country, but, again . . . to see DC empty of motorcoaches highlights the reason for us being here. This city is motorcoach central. To drive around in it and see no other coaches on the roads is a testament to the impact of the pandemic on our nobel service. Of course, its not just motorcoaches being effected, there are very few vehicles of any kind on these streets (see the video below).

Here Is The News!

MEETING THE NEWS on the roadways of America, first-hand, real time, real world news—going out and discovering the news . . .

NEWS THAT’S NOT NEW: You already appreciate the following information, or you wouldn’t be a subscriber to this blog. But here’s a review. Motorcoaches help Americans see America, connecting its citizens (along with many foreign visitors) to our nation’s heritage, to its treasured sights and experiences, and to its great cities and landscapes. Motorcoaches give affordable mobility to many who would otherwise have to stay home. We are the only passenger service that also serves all the others: airlines, rails, and cruise lines. Delivering dozens of people at a time to retailers, restaurants, entertainment venues, and regional attractions, motorcoaches are vital supporters of local economies.

COVID NEWS: the motorcoach industry in America is made up of some 3,000 small businesses (mostly family owned) employing over 100,000 people. But those businesses have been shut down due to COVID-19. While 36,000 motorcoaches sit idle, over 90% of of the industry’s workforce has been laid-off or furloughed.

WHAT’S UP WITH THAT? NEWS: Our government has responded to similar devistations in the airline industry (passenger, cargo, and industry contractors) with $60 billion in assistance, the public transit industry with $25 billion, and Amtrak with $1 billion. To date the assistance extended to the motorcoach industry amounts to $0.

RALLY NEWS: The Motorcoaches Rolling for Awareness rally has been organized by industry leaders, American Bus Association (ABA) and United Motorcoach Association (UMA). More than 1000 motorcoaches from across the country are in DC to make our industry and the passengers it serves visible. Our message is simple: It’s how important we treat you that makes us important. But the goal is not mere awareness, it is to convince our national leadership of the need for $10 billion in payroll and operations assistance, and $5 billion in long-term zero-interest loans.

MUST SEE...

(Unlike selfies, these are not about me, but about travel discoveries I think you’d like to know about.)

Yes, I’m slipping in a couple more selfies for the Must Sees. That’s because what you must see is Washington DC and the rest of the U.S. by motorcoach!

Quote Of The Day samples

“Freedom can never yield its fullness of blessings so long as the law or its administration places the smallest obstacle in the pathway of any virtuous citizen.” – James A. Garfield

“If you want the cooperation of humans around you, you must make them feel they are important — and you do that by being genuine and humble.” – Nelson Mandela

(Video run time: 1 minute 54 seconds)

Musical accompaniment:
The Driving Force by Jingle Punks

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MotorCoach Blog 35

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I am a motorcoach…

. . . Two Seven Six, passing on to you some of my education on the wheres and whats of a great city: Washington DC. Navigating the unique layout of the streets of DC is a bonus education not so easily shared – but I will try. The mission is transport of participants in the annual march to save the lives of human babies. As great of a city as this is, I will not attempt to represent it in one blog. This will be part one of two DC editions.

Selfies

(which by definition means I’m in them . . . though you might have to look for me)

DC is one of those cities in which a view in any direction from just about any intersection is layered with sights of historic and current societal significance. Let me demonstrate. Do you recognize any fame in this location: the southeast corner of 6th and C Street SE? Of course not. You likely have never heard its mention. Let’s take a look.


The building in the foreground of our view eastward down C Street houses the United States Department of Education. Follow the top of that building, and about two-thirds of the way down we get a peek at none other than the fine lady, Freedom, topping the dome of the US Capitol. To her right is another dome, that belonging to the Thomas Jefferson Building, the oldest of the Library of Congress Buildings, completed in 1897 – a Renaissance Revival masterpiece! Just below it, in this view, is the home of the Department of Health and Human Services and The Voice of America.


Across the street from the US Department of Education, our position can be viewed through the FEMA Federal Center Plaza – FEMA (Federal Emergency Management Agency) being an agency of the US Department of Homeland Security responsible for coordinating response efforts in national emergency situations.

Here I am traveling down 6th and approaching C Street SE from the north. Across the street to our right is the west end of that US Department of Education building. Behind me and down the street is the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum. Among the many architectural toppings to be seen in the layered horizon beyond it are: the National Gallery of Art, the Federal trade Commission and Library (orange roof), and the US Navy Memorial Plaza.

   

Figuring you’d probably like more than that previous teaser view of the top of the US Capital, I drove around the block to give you a couple of other looks. The first includes a little of the purpose for our being in DC to begin with: the annual March for Life. The second is a view down S Capitol St. SE – a taste of getting around fashionably in DC.

Here Is The News!

MEETING THE NEWS on the roadways of America, first-hand, real time, real world news—going out and discovering the news . . .

FREEDOM IN THE NEWS: I mentioned Freedom, the proud lady atop the Capitol Dome. Did you know she’s dressed in a toga-like robe? Well, she did come from Rome – created by American sculptor Thomas Crawford in his stuio in Rome. She is over 19 feet tall, is made of bronze but bears platinum protection (agaist lightning), and she stands on a ball, on which is written in Latin the national motto of the United States of America: E Pluribus Unum (Out of the many, one).

NEWS OF A STATELY STATEMENT: Architectural domes are there to make an impression. That is the nature of a domed capping. But the statement made by the domed completion of the US Capitol was directly linked to the time in which it was completed. The year was 1863, right in the midst of the Civil War. Normally all funds and focus at such a time are committed to the war effort. But President Lincoln wanted to send a message to everyone far and wide that this country was not in shambles – it was a strong and vital nation.

MUST SEE...

(Unlike selfies, these are not about me, but about travel discoveries I think you’d like to know about.)

The Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception is located along Michigan Avenue in the NE quadrant of the nation’s capital and is one of the many national treasures to be visited in the city. At night its glowing beauty can be seen for miles.

Quote Of The Day samples

“Commerce defies every wind, outrides every tempest, and invades every zone.” ― George Bancroft (on the west façade of the Department of Commerce building).

“Truth will ultimately prevail where there is pains to bring it to light.” – George Washington

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MotorCoach Blog 6

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I am a motorcoach:

Two Seven Four here, with a story from eastern edges of adventure. But first, a word of clarification is necessary about this business of being a motorcoach. You probably are aware that there are regulatory measures related to hours of control of a motorcoach. Well, in the case of this particular story, motorcoach Two Seven Four is a shared identity. The journey began in Belleville, IL, where I picked up 53 passengers headed for Washington DC and the 2016 Right to Life march. Remember Henry? (Yes, that Henry, none other than the instructor who trained me on what it is to be a motorcoach.) From Cambridge, Ohio (roughly 12 hrs from Belleville including meal stops) Henry took over and Two Seven Four continued on to DC. That’s how it works.

Now, on with our story: Our 53 defenders of the pre-born were delivered to their destination in uneventful fashion. But even as they disembarked in our nation’s capital, things were getting interesting . . .

Here Is The News!

MEETING THE NEWS on the roadways of America, first-hand, real time, real world news—going out and discovering the news . . .

News of Jonas: No one wants to hear that a storm with a name is headed their way. Heavy rain showers are not given names. Freezing temperatures do not inspire a name other than “winter.” A storm with a name is prediction of weather with broad destructive impact. A week before the Right to Life march on DC the forecast was for rain. Talk of snow began three or four days before the event (much preferable for marchers). Two days out there was concern about a pretty tough looking winter storm experts expected to grow in severity while moving south to north along the Eastern Seaboard. Jonas was coming.

News of an accelerated timetable: On January 21st, the day before the Right to Life rally, snowfall was anticipated to begin in the evening hours of the 22nd, soon after the conclusion of the march. But the morning of the march brought reports of earlier than expected arrival – 2:00, maybe even 1:00 in the afternoon – starting with light snow fall. Plans were made to move the Belleville group’s departure time from 7:00 to 4:00 to get out of the area ahead of the heavier precipitation.

News of gridlock: Not only did Jonas arrive early, but the blizzard also had a more inland reach than initially expected. Two Seven Four made it out of Washington DC in good time and was on the Western edge of the storm. Snowfall was heavy, but the highway was in drivable condition when progress stopped on the Pennsylvania Turnpike. A tractor-trailer rig had jackknifed on a hill up ahead. The accident shut down a 35 mile stretch of highway. While waiting, snow continued to accumulate, ultimately by the foot. Below freezing temperatures were accompanied by winds up to 40 miles per hour. It would be 26 hours before motorcoach Two Seven Four resumed movement.

News of heroes: Along with the many other buses, cars, and trucks, stranded on the highway, there were four other motorcoaches from our Mid-American family in that situation: 249, 259, 271, and 272. People from nearby cars were allowed on the motorcoaches to get warm, use the lavatories, and share some of the meager food supplies. Many of our passengers joined others in shoveling vehicles free so they could move out of the way of emergency help trying to get through. The local fire department delivered light snacks and water. The National Guard helped dig out snow-bound vehicles, delivered military MREs (Meals Ready to Eat), and removed concrete barriers so vehicles could get off the highway and be routed back eastward to the town of Bedford. The Red Cross in coordination with the city of Bedford secured meals and cots, and housing for all the stranded travelers at the Bedford middle and high schools and the Bedford United Methodist Church. Passengers aboard Two Seven Four cheerily endured the ordeal, glad for an opportunity to direct attention to defense of the unborn, whatever the cost or inconvenience.

News via the news Media:

WTAE News in Pittsburgh with a harrowing story about the accident that shut down the Turnpike.
http://m.wtae.com/news/strangers-band-together-form-human-chain-to-save-truck-driver-teetering-over-pa-turnpike-hillside/37657076

The Belleville News Democrat ran a report on the situation on the turnpike as it unfolded:
http://www.bnd.com/news/local/article56257995.html

KMOV was part of the welcoming crowd at our group’s arrival back home in Belleville:
http://www.kmov.com/story/31040217/53-metro-east-students-stuck-on-pennsylvania-turnpike-due-to-blizzard#.VqRRFSguIaw.facebook

Selfies

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Day two on the turnpike

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Comfortable shelter in challenging circumstances.

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Being dug out by the National Guard

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Back on the road home

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Back home, post-saga: time for a bath!

Quote Of The Day samples

“A dead thing can go with the stream, but only a living thing can go against it.”  – G K Chesterton

“Art, like morality, consists in drawing the line somewhere.”  – G K Chesterton

And here’s a first: I received a quote from the Belleville group at the end of the trip.
“An adventure is only an inconvenience rightly considered.”   – G K Chesterton

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