Travel Days: a two word phrase that invokes excitement, tears, boredom, all-over stiffness, and lots of adventure. There is nothing quite like a World Race Travel Day: the thrill of a new country, hours on a bus, and unexpected twists and turns. Since it’s such a unique component to the Race, I’d like to share 11 common phrases for 11n11 Travel Days.
1. Does anyone have any toilet paper?
Toilet paper is not commonly found in public bathrooms when overseas- especially in Africa. Although, I use the word ‘bathroom’ loosely, so bring TP for sure.
2. What is the bathroom situation? Squatty, but don’t worry it’s a nice one.
Typical ‘bathroom’ options on a travel day include a sketchy toilet (usually without a toilet seat), a squatty-potty (includes a hole in the ground, make sure you take a wide stance), or the bush of Africa.
3. Can you pass the peanut butter?
When on a bus for 20 to 40 hours your best food option that travels well is peanut butter sandwiches. It is a hot commodity.
4. My feet are so swollen.
Most people can’t fit their feet into their chaco’s after about 4 hours. As Chris pointed out to Bethany, ‘It looks like your feet are eating your toes.’
5. Will there be food at the next gas station we stop? ‘I don’t know I have never been there.’
Kate, our logistics leader who handles all the travel details and our Squad’s plethora of questions, often uses this response. I love it. How the heck would she know what is at the next gas station in the middle of no-where Zambia?! She hasn’t been there either.
6. I think we should be at our destination in the next 2 to 10 hours.
I always add about 8 hours of margin because, TIA (This Is Africa): therefore, you never know what is going to happen. Your bus might need maintenance or the drivers may need a nap or all bathroom stops may take 1 hour minimum for 37 people.
7. Can I borrow your headphone splitter? (And never return it)
When you are trapped on a bus for 24-40 hours, watching a movie with your bus buddy is a great way to pass the time. Or perhaps watching 6 movies. So, you need a headphone splitter to both hear the movie.
8. Okay, who is farting. For real?
Based on previous numbers, you can imagine how this would be a problem.
9. Has anyone checked recently to see if our packs are still on top of the bus?
Have you seen pictures of our big backpacks? Imagine 37 of them piled on top of a bus- it’s a real concern.
10. I’m bored- I guess I’ll take another nap.
When you run out of options- movies, music, reading, or snacks- sleeping is your next best choice. But realistically, how well are you really sleeping on this bus?
11. While at a boarder crossing: Logistics Leader, ‘Make sure you bring your passport, copy of your passport, 2 passport photos, your visa application, yellow fever card, and money.’ Walk up to boarder patrol: ‘I just need to see your passport.’
Boarder crossings between countries are a different world compared to customs in an airport. Mostly because you are in no-mans-land between countries, oh and it’s Africa. Nothing ever goes as planned.
Even though travel days are crazy, hard, and seem to not have an end in sight there is so much joy and laughter in the chaos. Not many people can say they have traveled as far over-land in Africa as us. As we move onto Asia next month, I anticipate travel days looking differently: hopefully nicer bathrooms and less peanut butter. Until then though, I enjoyed the adventure.
