BS: Bus tours for seniors....

Subject: BS: Bus tours for seniors....
From: Bobert
Date: 18 May 06 - 06:22 PM

Well, well, well...

I don't think of myself as a senior citizen though, hmmmmmmm, I'm not too far off so...

... this past Sunday the P-Vine and I particpated in the National Rhododendran Society's garden tour and found ourselves on a bus with, ahhhh, mostly folks older than us... No, make that everyone was older than us...

Now there's absolutely nuthin' wrong with folks being older than us but what occured to me during the tour is this was definately a senior's tour???

I'm not sure I'm ready to jump into this pahse of my life but, hey, I'll try to keep an open mind and I reckon as time goes on, lettin' someone else drive might be nice... Just not now but...

How 'bout it, Mudville???

Anyone else done any of these???

Any thoughts on them in general???

Jus' curious....

Bobert

Subject: RE: BS: Bus tours for seniors....
From: Zany Mouse
Date: 18 May 06 - 06:46 PM

I did a tour tour of Italy last year. It was hell, but only because of suffering a bad lupus attack and the cramped seats. The age range varied from early teens to the one-breath-from-death brigade.

Mingulay and I did a tour of the Highlands for a week and found it thoroughly enjoyable. Again, age varied, but but mainly middle aged.

Hope that helps.

Rhiannon

Subject: RE: BS: Bus tours for seniors....
From: Ebbie
Date: 18 May 06 - 07:05 PM

Reminder: Zany Mouse, we're ALL just a breath away from death. *G*

I've never taken such a tour but I would probably enjoy it. I've noticed that even though I like kids and other young folk, being around them for too long is wearying. I might not mind being in a crowd where I'm the one who has the most energy!

Subject: RE: BS: Bus tours for seniors....
From: Bobert
Date: 18 May 06 - 08:46 PM

Yeah, Eb, seems that every time the P-Vine and I splurge and go out to dinner, it's screamin' kids...

They gave us a purdy decent box lunch for the tour so, ahhhh, no screamin' kids...

Subject: RE: BS: Bus tours for seniors....
From: Kaleea
Date: 18 May 06 - 09:22 PM

Weeell, when I was an activities director (both nursing homes & assisted living) I did take my Srs on tours. Some were local, some not. It was always quite enjoyable, although I was actually working at the time, seeing after everyone on the bus. Sometimes one can get a better travel deal on Sr tours. There certainly are pros & cons, and some folks want to be in control of the driving so they can stop & go as they please. I have found that the bus drivers & tour directors often are quite happy to make a stop somewhere along the way, as they figure if you want to go to a certain spot, others do also-which was the case sometimes in my experience. Also, since they know the places better than most of us, they can avoid traffic, lousy restaurants, etc, & make your experience a more fun tour.

Subject: RE: BS: Bus tours for seniors....
From: Rabbi-Sol
Date: 18 May 06 - 10:34 PM

My regular 9-5 job is as a charter manager and tour planner for a motor-coach company called World Touring Buses. We have the contracts for the towns of Ramapo, Clarkstown, & Haverstraw in Rockland County, N.Y. I work with about 32 different senior clubs and plan tours from one day to 60 days in length. We have taken them as far as Alaska by bus. I put together different packages and get much better deals for my groups than they would be able to get on their own. We include hotels, restaurants, entertainment venues and of course, casino gambling. It keeps my boss's 6 buses busy all the time. At 63 I will soon be officialy entering geezerhood in 2 years myself. I look foward to be able to spend by golden years travelling in this manner.
                                             SOL ZELLER

Subject: RE: BS: Bus tours for seniors....
From: Jerry Rasmussen
Date: 18 May 06 - 11:21 PM

I think they're terrific, Bobert. I don't think of them as Seniors tours, even though most of the people on the tour our seniors. I don't think of folks as Seniors, or Yuppies, or Wasps or Rednecks.
Just folks. And I are one (a Senior, but not the others.)

Ruth and I took a 17 day bus tour of Europe, which can be looked at in two ways. We were superficial, stupid Americans just wanting to say that we saw the sights, with no sensitivity to the cultures we were visiting,

or

We figured we would have a wonderful introduction to Europe at a time in our lives when we aren't likely to be able to spend two or three weeks biking through the Alps and staying in Youth Hostels.

I think we fit the latter description.

The great, great thing about bus tours (here and abroad) is that you end up seeing a lot of things you wouldn't even be aware of, traveling on your own. For example, when we were in Rome, we had a wonderful dinner at a sidewalk Cafe, directly across the street from the Colliseum. We had a marvelous tenor singing classical music, and even if we had known (miraculously) about the restaurant, we most likely wouldn't have had a table on the sidewalk, as they were all reserved for groups.

There were so many experiences like that that we never would have had, traveling on our own. And, we stayed in hotels we couldn't afford to walk through on our own. Our first two nights in Paris, the room we stayed in would have cost us close to $500 (a night) in U.S. Dollars. We had a beautiful room with a terrace overlooking the harbor on the Italian Riviera, and another marvelous view of the Swiss Alps from our balcony in Lucerne. We had preferential entrance at the Vatican, and several other places, with private tours of areas not open to individual visitors.

In the long run, the bus tours have nothing to do with being Seniors. It's just an inexpensive way to see more than you can on your own.

Jerry

Subject: RE: BS: Bus tours for seniors....
From: Bobert
Date: 19 May 06 - 08:43 AM

Good points, Jerry...

Ahhhhh, there was a little tongue-in-cheekness to the name of this thread kinda pokin' fun at all of us *** older kids***...

(Shut up, Bobert, an' jus get on the danged bus...)

Nevermind...

Subject: RE: BS: Bus tours for seniors....
From: Rabbi-Sol
Date: 19 May 06 - 01:52 PM

On some of the senior citizens trips that we are doing for next year, I am planning to introduce some Folk & Bluegrass venues into the itineraries. The new crop of seniors that are coming in have grown up with the music of The Weavers, Woody Guthrie,& Bill Monroe. I am already getting some positive feedback from my group leaders on these proposals. This may turn out to be a good thing for all of us.

                                           SOL ZELLER

Subject: RE: BS: Bus tours for seniors....
From: Bobert
Date: 19 May 06 - 02:04 PM

We have several festivals each year here in Luray, Sol, plus the caverns so keep us in mind for a weekend tour. We also have a treasure in the Mimslyn Inn which can accomodate a couple bus fulls of folks as well...

If yer interested, PM me and I'll hook you up with the right folks to get the ball rollin'...

Bobert

Subject: RE: BS: Bus tours for seniors....
From: Ebbie
Date: 19 May 06 - 02:19 PM

Thanks for the memory, Bobert. When I was young we toured the Luray Caverns frequently. It still makes me smile when I remember what the guide always said: Now we're going to turn out all the lights and let you experience TOTAL darkness. But if you are afraid of the dark, just close your eyes.

Subject: RE: BS: Bus tours for seniors....
From: John MacKenzie
Date: 19 May 06 - 02:21 PM

I bet you have a map of 'comfort stops' in each bus!
Giok ☻

Subject: RE: BS: Bus tours for seniors....
From: catspaw49
Date: 19 May 06 - 02:31 PM

I feel much younger than a senior and tend to act much younger than a senior, but I'm not real sure what classes as a senior. But I'll tell you something.....I AM afraid that I might be thinking like a senior at times.

I don't think I became an adult til I was 30. I had a great job that I loved, was sailing and racing actively, had a nice home on a lake with a huge garage.......like, uh, life was good ya' know? And then one day sitting out on the deck overlooking the lake I became aware of my own mortality for the first time. I don't think I was an adult until then. After that initial "freak out" slash panic attack, I felt a signal change in my outlook.

I don't know exactly when, but sometime in the past few years I began not to think of how many times I had done something (we go camping at the same place every year for a week with Connie and Wayne and have done for 15 years for instance) but how many times I might do it before I die. I wish I could shake those thoughts but they're there and I generally just turn it to a joke.....but the thought is real. Have I matriculated to being a senior adult?..........LOL.......Don't answer that!

Spaw

Subject: RE: BS: Bus tours for seniors....
From: Rabbi-Sol
Date: 19 May 06 - 02:47 PM

Bobert,
         Actually, most of the seniors travel mid-week and not on weekends. We actually do have a very popular 4 day tour to the Shenandoah Valley. For our hotel we stay all 3 nights at Skyland Lodge on the Skyline Drive in Shenandoah National Park. All our rooms have a balcony overlooking the valley overlooking the valley with a beautiful view of the sunset. The folks at Skyland are very good to us and provide nightly entertainment and themed dinners. We have had folk singers such as Madeline McNeill, Ralph Lee Smith, and Charlie Maddox entertain us with mountain music. One night we have a square dance with a professional caller. During the day we visit New Market Battlefield, Luray Caverns, Monticello, Ash Lawn, Michie Tavern, Natural Bridge, Natural Chimneys & Walton Mountain. I have often escorted this trip myself and the people are extremely well satisfied.
                                                 SOL

Subject: RE: BS: Bus tours for seniors....
From: Rabbi-Sol
Date: 19 May 06 - 03:06 PM

John,
       When planning senior tours, yes the rest room stops are most important, even though we have one on board the coach as well. We research the route and all facilities along it carefully, with that thought in mind. The mens room is not that much of a problem but the line at the ladies room forms rather quickly. That is because 80% of our travelling seniors are female and mostly widows looking for company. We try to stop at least once every 100 miles for this purpose as well as for a coffee break. I remember many times having to commandeer the mens room and temporarily turn it into a ladies room at some establishments.
                                           SOL

Subject: RE: BS: Bus tours for seniors....
From: autolycus
Date: 19 May 06 - 03:10 PM

Went on a mystery tour with my recent bride more 'n' 25 year ago.

   most of our felllowpassengers were s.cits.

   It was a mystery tour to my ex and me. Two or three minutes before what turned out to be arrival,   ah, you're there, the others started getting coats etc. That in itself was a brief mystery.

   I turned 60 last summer and still don't believe it. I'm still taking wickets at cricket. Made my 85-y-o uncle laugh.



    Ivor

Subject: RE: BS: Bus tours for seniors....
From: John MacKenzie
Date: 19 May 06 - 03:36 PM

That's because Mother Nature in her wisdom makes men die before women mostly. Funny how they get to retire earlier though!!
Giok

Subject: RE: BS: Bus tours for seniors....
From: catspaw49
Date: 19 May 06 - 05:57 PM

"I turned 60 last summer and still don't believe it. I'm still taking wickets at cricket."

Hell, I can go take a couple of wickets out of our croquet set. What's the big deal about snatching a few pieces of wire?

Spaw

Subject: RE: BS: Bus tours for seniors....
From: GUEST,Mary V.
Date: 19 May 06 - 07:53 PM

I have taken my mom on several of these tours and they are absolutely fabulous.   We usually go on the music tours but there are tours for so many different interests.
I'm 51 and I loved every minute of the bus trips.

Subject: RE: BS: Bus tours for seniors....
From: bobad
Date: 19 May 06 - 08:07 PM

"That's because Mother Nature in her wisdom makes men die before women mostly."

I've heard it said that women live longer than men because they don't marry women.

Subject: RE: BS: Bus tours for seniors....
From: Bobert
Date: 19 May 06 - 08:59 PM

Bad bobad, bad...

...but true...

Womenz 'ill make that 6 foot hole look like hittin' the lottery...

Awww, jus' funnin'... I loves all the womenz... I sho nuff do...

Subject: RE: BS: Bus tours for seniors....
From: GUEST
Date: 20 May 06 - 05:27 AM

From Autolycos at work

Spaw - wasn't it Armstrong said,"If ya have to ask, you aint got it"?

People play cricket into their 80s, so no BIG deal, but I'M proud.

It's a thought, to go on another bus tour for seniors. Thanks for that,Bobert.




    Ivor

Subject: RE: BS: Bus tours for seniors....
From: Liz the Squeak
Date: 20 May 06 - 07:41 AM

I have to confess, Manitas and I have been on a similar tour... in fact, Limpit was conceived on it! (During the week that is, not on the tour bus... although, given the 'inflight' entertainment was what you brought yourself or watching people's dentures slip out into several pints of excess drool down their fronts as they slept, it would have livened things up a treat! But Manitas isn't adventurous like that....)

You can tell the general age of the passengers by the amount of comfort stop there are in the programme.... more stops = older people. That and children don't do so well on buses these days.

If you go to South Mimms Service Station on the M25/M11 junction in the UK, on any Saturday of the summer, the place will be absolutely heaving with coach parties - it's where the two big UK firms (Wallace Arnold and Shearings) have their change over point. You can't spit in the gift shop without hitting a befuddled, blue rinsed SC with a walrus moustache asking the price of sucky sweets and asking if they're in Blackpool yet.

LTS

Subject: RE: BS: Bus tours for seniors....
From: Jerry Rasmussen
Date: 20 May 06 - 08:49 AM

Observing senior women shopping in an upscale department store, the lines came to me:

"And the lavender ladies are lesiruely grazing
On ladies wear, luggage and fine lingerie
With hours to kill, and no one to kill them with
The loves of their lives have all passed away."

From Lavender Ladies

Jerry

Subject: RE: BS: Bus tours for seniors....
From: Bobert
Date: 20 May 06 - 11:21 AM

Sniff...

Subject: RE: BS: Bus tours for seniors....
From: GUEST, Topsie
Date: 22 May 06 - 11:52 AM

I understood that women's retirement was set at a younger age than men's because it was assumed that women would be several years younger than their husbands, and so needed to retire younger so as to be there to look after their 'hubbies' when the men were retired and therefore at home all day.

Subject: RE: BS: Bus tours for seniors....
From: open mike
Date: 22 May 06 - 12:34 PM

i travelled with my parents in scandinavia
on a bus full of elder and elderly folks.
i was 20 at the time. one night in Norway
when they staeyd at a high rise hotel, i
split from the group to stay at a youth
hostel.

A friend had a tour bus company once and
i went along to the Winchester mansion in
san jose...it was great not to have to drive
in the big city traffic.

Lots of boat and cruise companies have theme
cruises....bluegrass, Jimmy Buffet, and other
music specialties. (maybe even auto harp cruises)

I think that paddle wheeler steam boats do, too.
John Hartford used to be the captain and the
entertainment on a river boat. the Jackson?
It seems it was owned by and an extension of
the Grand Old Opry hall..

and trains.....one of the best trips i have heard
of was the one my friend Bob went on--down to the
Copper Canyon in Mexico...last winter.

Subject: RE: BS: Bus tours for seniors....
From: Liz the Squeak
Date: 23 May 06 - 12:12 PM

I put women's earlier retirement age as time off for good behaviour.

I was officially informed this morning that if I work for another 23 years til I reach 65, I will get an annual pension that is precisely a quarter of my present salary... Oh Joy.

LTS

Subject: RE: BS: Bus tours for seniors....
From: Ebbie
Date: 23 May 06 - 04:55 PM

pssst! Hey, Open Mike- your friend Bob who went on the train to Copper Canyon last winter - does he happen to live in New Mexico? My friend Bob went to the Copper Canyon last winter by train. Wouldn't that be a kick?

Subject: RE: BS: Bus tours for seniors....
From: Liz the Squeak
Date: 23 May 06 - 05:42 PM

That's odd... I know 5 Bobs and none of them went to Copper Canyon last winter by any means....

LTS



(It's late, I'm bored and tired.....)

Subject: RE: BS: Bus tours for seniors....
From: catspaw49
Date: 23 May 06 - 05:50 PM

I know a guy named Bob and he just keeps popping up in the lake......................geeziz, that was really bad wasn't it?

Spaw

Subject: RE: BS: Bus tours for seniors....
From: Ebbie
Date: 23 May 06 - 06:02 PM

Well, your Bobs are odder than mine.

Subject: RE: BS: Bus tours for seniors....
From: catspaw49
Date: 23 May 06 - 06:05 PM

Seems to me that there were also a bunch of Bobs used to hang out down at the corner store but they all drowned trying to get apples out of a water-filled barrel.

Spaw

Subject: RE: BS: Bus tours for seniors....
From: open mike
Date: 24 May 06 - 09:48 AM

different bob--maybe the same train..
in march with cowboy singers and songwriters...

Subject: RE: BS: Bus tours for seniors....
From: GUEST,leeneia
Date: 24 May 06 - 09:52 AM

I'd like to go on bus tours, but my husband doesn't want to. He feels that we haven't really gone on a vacation unless we've nearly killed ourselves with expense, jet lag and exploring the countryside with drivers who just got their first car. Grr

Giok said: "That's because Mother Nature in her wisdom makes men die before women mostly."

Be comforted, Giok. I read in Science News that after correcting for more smoking and chronic violent tendencies in certain men, men and women live about the same length of time.

Subject: RE: BS: Bus tours for seniors....
From: Liz the Squeak
Date: 25 May 06 - 04:56 AM

Ah Spaw... ducking for apples... there but for a typographical error goes the story of my life...


If Shakespear doesn't have a quote, Dorothy Parker will!

LTS

Subject: RE: BS: Bus tours for seniors....
From: The Barden of England
Date: 25 May 06 - 06:35 AM

I went on a tour bus journey to Holland about 4 years ago. There was a mix of youg, middle aged and senior citizens. The frightening thing is that it was the senior citizens who were returning to the Rhine Cruise boat we were staying on absolutely drunk as skunks. Not a pleasant sight I've got to say, but sidesplittingly funny to watch from the bar on the upper deck.
John Barden