05/27/22

There is just something about driving in bad traffic that just sucks the life out of me.  I am not doing anything physical and setting in a comfortable environment and it still feel like I have been fighting for my life.

I had intended on starting earlier in the morning to catch riders leaving the hotels and heading to the airport, but I decided to catch up on a couple of hours more of sleep.  Even after I turned on the app it was over an hour before I received a request.  As always, once they start, they don't stop and not a single one to the airport.  Thats what happens when you decide to sleep a little later although it was for a good reason.

The first ride was to Howard Station.  From there I was briefly bounced around in Pflugerville until a ride took me to South Austin and my first dose of the bullshit traffic for the day.  From there I ended up in Buda after a second dose of bullshit traffic.  Then a ride to the north for a third dose of bullshit traffic.  A ride that dropped off at Burnet and 183 was close enough for me to set home as the destination and start heading that way.  After dealing with the fourth dose of bullshit traffic, I was close enough to home that I went offline and called it a day, for now.

It was very encouraging hearing a young person speak with respect and confidence.  Especially when they talk about their success in the police academy and how they are working to join the National Guard.  No sir, yes sir sounded great when compared to all of the disrespect that we have been surrounded with for the past few years.  He and his friends were all going to leave Massachusetts and come to Austin Texas.  All his friends backed out and he did it anyway, alone.  He has taken control of his life and is achieving the things that he wants to take on in life.  This was the shortest ride of the day but was by far the most impactful.

8 rides, 10 people, 101 degrees, $97, 4 hours and 48 minutes, 2 curse words (from a rider), 1 seat adjustment, $20 pit stop for a "gas and go", 7 people in right middle seat, 3 people in left middle seat, 1 hydro flask tumble, and 1 gnat smashed and the windshield.