Scraped knees, damaged equipment, a forced change of plans, and on the other hand, the joy of being together, discovering a different face of the USA that you won't see in American cinema productions, and a constant desire for adventure. Further, more – this is how the Vikings from the Green Bus recount their journey across America. Are you curious about America through the eyes of Vikings?
You've already met the crazy crew from Green Bus. You know their plans and dreams. You know what drives them and what they desire, and... what they like to get themselves into. It's time for you to read the first report from their current journey. The crazy Viking crew is currently living out their dream trip. Are you curious about what they are learning, what experiences and memories they are collecting, and what emotions accompany them as they discover a slightly less known side of America? For their perseverance and consistency in taking on challenges, and the need to fulfill their deepest dreams, be sure to read the interview! You're welcome!
➡ Life in a bus and constantly on the road can be tiring. Were you prepared for this? Tell us a bit about the difficulties you encountered along the way.
We have experience with this bus life from our previous 7-month trip, so we know how to deal with most of the problems we encounter. Each of us knew what we were signing up for, and since we have a lot of self-distance, we learn from each other quickly and get along well. Everyone knows their tasks for the day – who cooks, who washes dishes, who drives, and who navigates. Even when difficulties arise over time, we deal with them quickly.
➡ And being together all the time? How do you handle that?
We handle it very well, perhaps even better than anyone expected. We've bonded as a crew, we have a similar sense of humor, which means that even if conflicts arise, they are short-lived – never lasting longer than one evening. 🙂
➡ Such a trip across the USA is a significant expense that needs proper planning. Are you managing to stick to your budget?
When it comes to food and fuel, we're spending roughly as much as we planned. We've had a few unexpected expenses so far, such as repairing the brake pump or replacing tires that were surprisingly quickly worn out by the Alaska Highway. Not everything can be predicted before setting off on the road. Other things, like bear spray and a horn, a gas cylinder, and a regulator, are one-time expenses for the entire trip. We only had to buy them at the beginning, saving us similar costs in the following months.
➡ Did you fulfill your travel plan 100 percent?
There were moments when it turned out we wouldn't get somewhere or see something. This was never due to a bus breakdown, as we had allocated extra time for that beforehand. It happened that we couldn't see a large part of Yellowstone National Park because snow and avalanches blocked the road. The entrance to Yosemite National Park was blocked on one side by a huge boulder that had rolled down, collapsing the road, and on the other side, by lying snow as well.
We also didn't manage to reach the Magic Bus from the book Into the Wild. Despite covering dozens of kilometers through the forest, spending a night in a makeshift shelter, and fighting the current with full determination, the Teklanika River stopped us. Two attempts ended in submersion, bruised knees, scraped skin, and damaged equipment. We couldn't overcome nature. We had to give up to have the chance to try again someday.
We don't have control over everything, and we know that we won't see all of our American 'must-sees.' The most important things are the people we meet on the road and the uncertainty of the next day – the adventure.
➡ What surprised you the most about America and Americans themselves?
There are a few things that surprise and astonish us in the States. The first thing is the Americans themselves, who in shops, in parking lots, in everyday life are incredibly nice. They always ask where we're from, where we're going, and their eyes widen when we tell them what we're doing here. The second side of these same people, however, appears on the roads. Obviously, our bus doesn't always match the speed of American machines, and when going uphill, for example, we crawl, sometimes fighting for every mile. Americans then honk at us mercilessly and sometimes even lean out of their windows to show what they think of our driving. We haven't encountered anything like this (perhaps not so intense) in Europe. There, everyone mostly cheers us on and overtakes when they have the opportunity.
Another thing is internet coverage. We never expected the network coverage to be so poor. It's rare to find a place to stay where we can upload posts or videos. This isn't the fault of the operators, but rather the placement of the transmitters. The States are huge, with a much lower population density per square kilometer, and every now and then you can find isolated, charming houses or motels in the middle of nowhere. 🙂 They don't install as many transmitters in the States as, for example, in Poland, which is why landline phones are still much more popular here than in Europe.
The third matter – the roads in the States. We didn't expect potholes on the highways, but even on main roads, you have to be careful not to lose your muffler. 😉
You'll read about our further adventures, observations, and plans on our blog soon!
