[at-l] Losing your bags on Greyhound

[Phil.Heffington@oc.edu (Phil Heffington)]

Having read emails from other hikers about Greyhound losing their packs,
etc., I instituted a few personal procedures when I started using them
for my transportation after my second hike.  Perhaps some of you have
some additional pointers about the situation, too.

1.  If at all possible, put your pack in a box and tape it shut
completely.  Then, mark "Final Destination:  Port Clinton, PA, etc." on
every side of the box.  Also, write your name, home address, etc.,
somewhere on the box.

2.  If you are not putting your pack inside a box, then use clear boxing
tape (You can buy a roll of this at most Post Offices) and wrap your
pack completely so that there are no buckles, straps, etc., exposed,
then tape a cardboard destination sign on the pack.

3.  Get some reflective tape or stickers (you can find these for a few
dollars at bycycle shops) and put at least one on each side of the box
or pack.

4.  Keep a small flashlight with you on the bus and look for your pack
in the luggage compartments at every stop when luggage is unloaded or
transferred.  The reflective tape should help you spot it quickly if it
is there, even if you cannot see the whole box or pack.

5.  Assume that the bus system will lose your pack.  Be outright
paranoid about it.  Believe they are conspiring against you to ruin your
hike.  Think of them as totally illiterate and incompetent.  Use
whatever it takes mentally for you to justify keeping track personally
of your pack.  I have found that they are fairly accommodating to
passengers taking a look at the luggage department when it is opened.
They know how often passengers lose their luggage on their system.

6.  It is a scary thought, but the bus system is not nearly so efficient
and effective in taking care of your luggage as is the airline system.

7.  Keep your pack in sight during any transfers from one bus to
another.  If you have a two hour layover in some terminal, and there is
another bus going to your same destination (a local vs. "express" bus,
for example), they may put your baggage on the earlier bus, and who
knows what happens to it then.

8.  Check the destination tag they put on your bag to make sure it is
correct.  I had a ticket agent put a Little Rock, Ark. tag on my pack
one time instead of OKC. 

9.  Don't sleep through a bus stop.  You must check on your luggage
whether you are sleepy or not.  They will inadvertently unload it at the
wrong destination if you are not watching them closely.  You may be able
to "Leave the driving to 'us'", but you dang sure better leave
responsibility for your luggage to yourself.

P.S.  Having said all those nasty things about Greyhound's luggage
handling, I am convinced that they are one of the best forms of
transportation to and from many of the sections of the AT.