Guest Column: Wheels on the bus go round and round, and all over

Published 1:03 pm Monday, March 9, 2026

The couple on the bus with me traveling from Ilwaco to Astoria had returned from Europe recently and I joined them in lamenting the misinformation about public transportation in our area. We three were the only ones on the bus. They live in Astoria and had decided to take the bus over to the Port of Ilwaco for lunch and walk along the waterfront. I was on my last leg of a 7 ½ hour trip from Forks, Washington.

“The public would be surprised to learn how safe, comfortable and affordable these buses are” said the woman. I agreed. So I recollected my journey from Forks, Washington to Astoria that day.

I arrived at the Forks Transit Center at 7 a.m. to catch the 12-seat bus to Amanda Park, about 1 ½ hours south of Forks. After getting a coffee and water at the little store next to the bus stop, I waited 15 minutes for the #50 bus to arrive. This is the only full sized bus I had during my journey of six busses. Two other riders, young backpackers, got on with me and we arrived in Aberdeen at about 10 a.m.

Aberdeen has a large transit center with buses from both the Grays Harbor (Aberdeen and north) and Pacific Transit (south) services. I talked to an agent at the booth to verify that I was taking the correct bus — in this case, the Green Bus — to Raymond, arriving at 11:20 a.m. at 5th and Commercial. I waited 10 minutes until the Yellow Bus picked me up and, after a lot of circling around the town and a fine conversation with the bus driver about future changes to expect for the routes, I arrived in South Bend at the bus shelter on U.S. Highway 101 to catch the Purple Bus at 12:30 p.m. I was, again, the only rider on this nine-passenger bus. The Purple Bus takes 1 ½ hours to get to Ilwaco because it runs out to Bay Center on the Wilapa Bay before joining US101 again, but the ride affords a beautiful view of the oyster harvesting along the shoreline.

The Purple Bus runs to Ilwaco, but I got off in Chinook to catch the Blue Bus on its run from Ilwaco to Astoria. I arrived before 2:30 p.m. at the Astoria Transit Center, feeling accomplished and safe. And, every bus ride was free. Amazing. No need to spend money for gas or put miles on your car. Plenty of stops for restroom breaks or snacks. The views of the Pacific Ocean along US101 are wild and beautiful. Some of the road runs right next to the beach, where one can watch the crashing waves.

But the best part are the drivers.

Each driver was professional and helpful. Often, the driver radioed ahead to the next driver to make sure they knew a passenger would be picking up the next bus heading south. It was like having my own private transport service between Forks and Astoria at no cost! I listened to an audio book along the way but I also enjoyed plenty of music and conversations offered by the drivers.

The couple I got off the bus with in Astoria told me this was the first time they had taken the bus to Ilwaco but they would be returning with some friends soon. They especially love the scenic ride over the Megler Bridge where the view of Mount St. Helen is spectacular.

“I never noticed the view of Mount St. Helens from the Megler Bridge before,” said the woman. “Taking the bus is filled with wonderful surprises.”

Barbara Highfield is a retired teacher and freelance writer living part time in Astoria.