One vacation taught me just how nerve-wracking travel can be; it is supposed to be exhilarating. It was a bus trip from Lagos to Abuja, one that should have taken ten hours. Rather, it developed into a nightmare I will never forget.
The bus arrived two hours late, which was the first indication of problem. The windows hardly opened and the air conditioning was not on as we finally boarded.
It was insufferable heat. Everybody was tired, irritable, and sweating before we so exited the station.
Three hours into the journey, the bus failed in the middle of nothing. There was no shade, no stores, and no replacement bus was visible. We waited by the highway for hours as the driver sought to repair the engine. People started to get agitated; some battled with the driver while others just sat quietly, seeming beaten.
We thought the worst was over when the bus finally started, but then we were stopped in severe congestion near Lokoja. Everyone's patience was gone as the trip lasted several more hours.
By the time we arrived in Abuja, it was almost 17 hours after starting, 3 a.m.
Two things the experience taught me are: always be ready for delays when traveling and never undervalue the necessity of a dependable transport business. Reviewing reviews and selecting buses with a better track record have become second nature for me ever thereafter.
It was laborious, exasperating, and unpleasant—but reviewing it now I may laugh about it. It is surely my worst trip adventure.