Waiting for a fare

With spring break throughout the country coming to an end, we will experience a drop off in riders. I only hope that the floor is not as low as it has been.

Maybe a new president can get things moving. That will depend on the economy. There are no more excuses.

Florida use to be an economic hotbed. Unfortunately, we are still mired in mediocrity. Its as stagnant as the Gulf Of Mexico on a hot June day. Something has got to get going.

Headed to the Florida swamp

Those that have followed this blog know that I am involved in my own "Finding Bigfoot" project. We explore the deep swamps and look with our cameras for anything that may be moving. We also use a secret weapon.

Today kevin and I went out to deploy a Reconyx RC60 covert trail cam. With fresh batteries this camera should be good until November. The media card capacity is over 14,000 images at 3.1 Mega pixels. The motion activated cam fires an infrared strobe for great nighttime images.

As the rainy season sets in, it will become more difficult for anyone to compromise this area. We do know there are poachers in the area. That is the only thing I am worried about.

I read recently were Matt Moneymaker of the BFRO was in Torreya State park in the Florida Panhandle. That was last week. A good time of year to do this with the rainy season and the heat soon on its way. With its high bluffs overlooking the Apalachicola River it one of the most beautiful parts of Florida with actual elevation that is rare in the Sunshine State.

St. Petersburg pier

Things have been moving now and that is what you would expect this time of year. Now that I am working the airport I am seeing more of St Pete and Clearwater.

The Vinoy has been a common destination. Unfortunatly, that may not last long. The same for Clearwater Beach. The good news is working the ariport gives me an extra edge.

Crazy Ray's deli has closed

Another small business has closed its doors in Tampa. Crazy Ray was a nice man who served great sandwiches of large portion size. I ate there at least 3 times a week. Just another example of why people need to support small business in this bad economy.

I see people all day long lined up at McDonald's. Adults paying what you would pay at Ray's but getting crap kiddie food instead. Why do people do that? Its not cheap or fast.

I guess Ray closing down is something elsewhere they can blame on the Republicans. People really need to think outside the box.

Things that go bump in the night

Richard is no longer with United Cab of Tampa. He was involved in a horrific accident a couple weeks ago. Things were not well with Richard.

He had been doing this for too many years. He was getting old, and living day to day like many drivers who drop anchor here.

He had no money or property. He was a total indigent. He let the subculture of cab driving take over his life, as he began the gradual desent into nothingness that happens to many drivers.

They end up on skid row living out of a motel and have no awareness of how bad their lives are. Richard was like that.

He is really better off now. He is free. He will not end up giving his life for this like so many have.

Rocky Creek Mobile Home Park

I was at Waters and Anderson when I got a call for Rocky Creek mobile home park. That is not always good news. The park os mostly elderly and sick people (I am not far behind them). That means the fare will not go very far. They mostly go to the store around the corner. Today, that was not the problem. I could not find "Archstone." All of the streets in here are named after rocks and gems. The photo above is the street "pebble." It then dawned on me that I was in the wrong place. There is a new apartments on Hillsborough called Rocky Creek. I think the only reason they named it that was to screw with me. I finally got to the right place, but was way late. Sent from Yahoo! Mail on Android

A long time cab driver

This may be one of the few pictures Richard. He has been a United Cab driver in Tampa for almost twenty years. Richard is very educated and once was a teacher. But like many, he became marginalized by society, and started driving a taxi. He is from Wisconson and not seen his family in years (like me). People just really don't want to have much to do with you when just drive a hack. Anyway, this image is one of the only ones of him. Sent from Yahoo! Mail on Android

Raining in Tampa this morning

With this rain perhaps a cold front will follow it, and lower the temps in Florida. In order to get outside, we need to be comfortable, and have the bugs at bay. I saw insect larva hatching Sunday on standing water. That is something you would only see in summer months. My team and I have an outing set for this weekend. There should be clear skys. My understanding is that it is mild throughout most of North America right now. Sent from Yahoo! Mail on Android

Running the AC in February

You could fell the humidity as steped outside this morning. It felt like July. I was really looking forward to some cooler weather when you can roll the window down. The tourist in Tampa are loving but locals are ready for a change. High of 82 today. That is hot man.

A new tool to use

In todays world, people want live time updates. Since I am in my cab most of the day, I have come up with a way that will allow this Tampa cab driver to keep people informed. Its not just photos and text, there is also video. My new Android phone will let me so much more then jusy waiting to go home and load. Consider that I np lo.ger have my AT&T wireless service, this seemed like tje logical choice. Stay tuned for soe good stuff in the future. Sent from Yahoo! Mail on Android