So, I (finally) have decided to type up this trip report. Should've done it earlier, but oh well.
I traveled from Alexandria, MN to Sioux City, IA, going to Sioux City on 11 January 2013 and returning on 13 January 2013.
Alexandria, MN - Minneapolis, MN (932a: 11 January 2013, 8:25 AM to 10:55 AM)
I arrived at the Pilot gas station (the station in Alexandria) around 7:55 AM, after traveling in some mediocre weather conditions (numerous schools were two hours late or cancelled due to ice on the roads.) I bought myself a gas station breakfast after not being able to flag down anyone in the Subway for a few minutes.
The bus arrived around 8:20 AM and left around 8:30 AM. This was a Rocket Rider bus, which was a standard coach bus with more leg room and wi-fi. Some outlets were available, but they didn't work on this leg. Nor did the XM radio. There were only about 10 passengers on this bus (which held true for almost every other bus.)
We took a quick rest stop in St. Cloud and picked up a few passengers. We then stopped in Monticello and Maple Grove, but picked up no additional passengers. We eventually arrived in Minneapolis roughly on-time.
I ventured out to deposit some cash and perhaps get something to eat. I was stopped for about five minutes by security in the skyway (they chatted with me about what I was doing, etc. and finally asked to see what was in my coat pockets. Just my hat and gloves, which are a necessity in a Minnesota winter.) Ultimately, I simply deposited my cash at the bank and decided against food (lines, and wasn't terribly hungry.)
I waited for about an hour in the Minneapolis terminal. There are a few plugins, along with free wi-fi. Numerous passengers were stranded in Minneapolis after all buses going west along the route I came down on were cancelled due to the winter storms. (I got lucky, as they cancelled a few runs going down to Minneapolis after mine also.)
About 12:50 PM, I boarded my next bus.
Minneapolis, MN to Sioux Falls, SD (711: 11 January 2013, 1:00 PM - 5:45 PM)
This bus was also a Rocket Rider bus. Again, fairly comfortable with only a few people on the bus. Our driver also played a few movies, though the XM radio didn't seem to work. Outlets were available and working, and this (and every other bus) had a sign above seats with outlets.
Stopped in Albert Lea for some food and passengers, and then made our way to Worthington for another pit stop. After that, we arrived in Sioux Falls about 15 minutes late.
The station there was small but nice, being under six months old. There's a Subway next door, which I used to get supper. After that, I waited in the station for about a half-hour until my next bus started to board.
Sioux Falls, SD to Sioux City, IA (706: 11 January 2013, 7:00 PM - 8:55 PM)
Regular bus here, which meant limited leg room. Luckily, the bus was quite empty, and I could use the seat next to me to stretch out and gain some leg room. We stopped about an hour down the road (why so soon?) for a rest stop at a McDonald's (no passengers here) and then made our way to Sioux City, where I departed to a bus garage with my ride waiting. Good thing, too, because the terminal wasn't open and I would've been out in the cold.
Return trip in next post...should be up by the end of the night.
I traveled from Alexandria, MN to Sioux City, IA, going to Sioux City on 11 January 2013 and returning on 13 January 2013.
Alexandria, MN - Minneapolis, MN (932a: 11 January 2013, 8:25 AM to 10:55 AM)
I arrived at the Pilot gas station (the station in Alexandria) around 7:55 AM, after traveling in some mediocre weather conditions (numerous schools were two hours late or cancelled due to ice on the roads.) I bought myself a gas station breakfast after not being able to flag down anyone in the Subway for a few minutes.
The bus arrived around 8:20 AM and left around 8:30 AM. This was a Rocket Rider bus, which was a standard coach bus with more leg room and wi-fi. Some outlets were available, but they didn't work on this leg. Nor did the XM radio. There were only about 10 passengers on this bus (which held true for almost every other bus.)
We took a quick rest stop in St. Cloud and picked up a few passengers. We then stopped in Monticello and Maple Grove, but picked up no additional passengers. We eventually arrived in Minneapolis roughly on-time.
I ventured out to deposit some cash and perhaps get something to eat. I was stopped for about five minutes by security in the skyway (they chatted with me about what I was doing, etc. and finally asked to see what was in my coat pockets. Just my hat and gloves, which are a necessity in a Minnesota winter.) Ultimately, I simply deposited my cash at the bank and decided against food (lines, and wasn't terribly hungry.)
I waited for about an hour in the Minneapolis terminal. There are a few plugins, along with free wi-fi. Numerous passengers were stranded in Minneapolis after all buses going west along the route I came down on were cancelled due to the winter storms. (I got lucky, as they cancelled a few runs going down to Minneapolis after mine also.)
About 12:50 PM, I boarded my next bus.
Minneapolis, MN to Sioux Falls, SD (711: 11 January 2013, 1:00 PM - 5:45 PM)
This bus was also a Rocket Rider bus. Again, fairly comfortable with only a few people on the bus. Our driver also played a few movies, though the XM radio didn't seem to work. Outlets were available and working, and this (and every other bus) had a sign above seats with outlets.
Stopped in Albert Lea for some food and passengers, and then made our way to Worthington for another pit stop. After that, we arrived in Sioux Falls about 15 minutes late.
The station there was small but nice, being under six months old. There's a Subway next door, which I used to get supper. After that, I waited in the station for about a half-hour until my next bus started to board.
Sioux Falls, SD to Sioux City, IA (706: 11 January 2013, 7:00 PM - 8:55 PM)
Regular bus here, which meant limited leg room. Luckily, the bus was quite empty, and I could use the seat next to me to stretch out and gain some leg room. We stopped about an hour down the road (why so soon?) for a rest stop at a McDonald's (no passengers here) and then made our way to Sioux City, where I departed to a bus garage with my ride waiting. Good thing, too, because the terminal wasn't open and I would've been out in the cold.
Return trip in next post...should be up by the end of the night.
