What a GREAT day today we had in Phoenix.  First, I really need to take a moment to say "THANK YOU" to our Phoenix member, VIA Trailways.  Lynn was so nice and came out to visit and donated a story to the Baby Bus.  Also, VIA Trailways has two of the greatest motorcoach cleaners I've been around in a long time.  Luis and Maria did a great job on cleaning the coach.  I had multiple folks tell me it looks like it did in New York when we started this trip all those miles ago.  Hats off to Luis and Maria and Lynn at VIA Trailways!!

Then, off to K Mart with David the Store Coach, and Barbara, the Communications Director for the local March of Dimes.  I've not felt so welcomed and had so much assistance.  The location was perfect and we had nice folks come by to visit.

It was also nice that Frank and his wife from Bus and Motorcoach News was able to stop by and visit.  ...

Today was set up as another travel day.  Once again, the motorcoach is pointed westward, leaving El Paso, Texas behind me, and off I go toward Arizona.  Amazing all of the open country there is ahead of me.  I see more motorcoaches on the road today than I've noticed in the past.  Perhaps it's because it's a major route, or because it's a Monday, but there are motorcoaches headed both east and west on this I-10.  Hope they are all members of United Motorcoach Association.  This is North America's largest association of professional bus and motorcoach companies.  The association started in 1971 as the United Bus Owners of America, which is how I first learned of it.  I've been to many, many UMA events over the years, and look forward to every Expo event.  What a massive show, with all things "motorcoach" including some excellent educational events.  Being a "b ...

Truck drivers have different names for different vehicles when they are talking about them on the C.B Radio.  A motorcoach is called a "Stage Coach" by truckers, and I truly felt like I was part of the "Old West" today.  I spent the night in San Antonio on my drive from Houston to Phoenix.  I left San Antonio today to head through western Texas to spend my night in El Paso.  Trailways Transportation System members make sure their drivers stay within the Department of Transportation Hours of Service regulations, and I am doing so as well.  I am only allowed by law to drive 10 hours in a day, and I am well under that.  I may not have passengers on board, but I do have a precious cargo, just the same.  As I head out west, I feel like I should be wearing my cowboy boots and hat.  It's getting rugged out here.  My good friend Doug is a cross-country truck driver, and he told me to watch for ...

What a busy day!!  Houston was ready to share their stories, that's for sure.  We were parked at the Houston Children's Museum today.  We had a line of folks for our visit.  The four team members were kept busy the entire time.  Once again, although pressed to the max, they kept smiles flowing and professionalism going.  These ladies continue to impress me with their outgoing personalities and efforts on behalf of the March of Dimes.  If we are scheduled to pass through your town, I really hope you will come out and visit.  Share your baby story, and meet the Baby Team.  Make sure you tell them what a GREAT job they are doing for the March of Dimes.  Go to the March of Dimes website (www.marchofdimes.com/everybaby) and take a peek at our schedule.  After a full afternoon, the ladies returned to their motel to get ready for a fligh ...

Today (Friday, 10/26) is set up as a travel day.  I point the motorcoach south out of Arkadelphia, Arkansas, and head in the direction of Houston.  The trip starts out on an expressway, but soon goes down US 59.  This is fun, getting off the interstate and traveling the good ol' back roads.  It's interesting, knowing that at one time this route was THE only way to travel.  I remember riding with my father as he would drive the bus from Bay City to Detroit Michigan on US 23 or "Dixie Highway" as it was called.  I'm sure many of our Trailways retirees can remember their own routes well on roads like these.  I have to tip my driver hat to all those who have driven before me.  It was a different time and much more difficult than today's roads.  These TRUE professional drivers had to watch out for traffic coming from out of every driveway, side road and parking lot.  They had cars passing  ...

We left Memphis behind us tonight.  We didn't leave the rain, as it seems to be following us to the west as we cross into Arkansas.  I'm driving the MCI motorcoach alone, and my team members are in their vehicle headed toward Arkadelphia, Arkansas where we will stay overnight prior to completing our trip to Houston, Texas.  The MCI J4500 cruises quietly, the sound of the wind rushing past the windows.  Of course, that with the noise of my singing, but we've already discussed that.  This coach handles so well.  I think often about my father who spend 33 years driving bus, and much he taught me.  He went to that great Driver's Lounge in the sky over 17years ago, but I can still feel him "with me" as I drive along. I remember when I first started driving, Motor Coach Industries had just come out with the MC-9.  My Dad had already retired at that point, and was a ...

This is going to be more fun than any old football pool, and will be for a MUCH better cause.  Here we go.  The above is the "official" snapshot of the odometer after we did "Fox and Friends" in New York City.  Get your friends, co-workers, relatives or who ever might have a couple of dollars to put into a pool.  Get out the calculator, a United States Map, and the March of Dimes website (www.marchofdimes.com/everybaby) and figure out what will be the ending odometer reading when we finish in New York City upon our return.  Just a hint, we do make multiple stops in some cities, so add a few extra miles along the way.  Put that money in a safe place, and when we get back, I'll take ano ...

Well, today is the 25th of October, and we are in Memphis Tennessee.  It's STILL Raining.  Memphis may be the home of the Blues, but you'd never know it being around the travel team.  I've got 4 ladies who keep the smiles flowing, and help those getting on the motorcoach to tell their stories.   With all the miles, all the rain, and all the work, these women are professionals, and do their work with smiles and helping hands.  It's fun being a part of their team.  Two visits here today, and we will be heading to the southwest.

Well, the rain is still coming down, but it is so nice to be home for a day and a half.  I take the bus to the Motor Coach Industries Lebanon Service Center.  Gary, Kevin, and the folks who work there are so nice.  They do a once over on Tuesday, from stem to stern and top to bottom.  It's nice that Motor Coach Industries has service centers like this across the country.  Like our Trailways Team of maintenance centers, this group is truly professional and located right where we need them.  They check everything out, give it a thumbs up, and even throw in a wash. 

We visit Cigna, Opry Mills and Vanderbilt Children's Center.  The local March of Dimes folks make me proud to say I'm from Nashville.  They treat us so well, and are so friendly.  Nashville is known as one of the friendliest cities in the nation, and these fine folks from the local March of Dimes definately back that up!!

We are set up at Lenox Square in Atlanta.  What a beautiful fall day we had on Sunday.  However, the rain moved in on Monday and cancelled the event. On Monday, pointed the MCI Motorcoach in a Northwest direction and head up to Nashville!  MUSIC CITY USA!!  Also MY home.   I get to spend a bit of time with my family as we pass across the country.  I've got my wonderful, understanding wife, Debbie there, and our exchange daughter from Germany, Johanna.  They say "home is where the heart is", and I've got two great sweethearts there waiting.