Backpacking trip in the Green Swamp

I had an opportunity to travel to the Green Swamp wilderness west track to do an overnight back country backpacking trip with our FaceBook group. This outing was organized by Nick who is new to Bigfoot and doing a great job.

I got there around one and headed down main grade road to find the cut for the Florida Trail which would headed north to the camp. I passed a bunch of campers at the equestrIan camp who must of thought I looked funny dragging a suitcase like I was looking for the Hilton.

I was hoping to have all of us hike to the campsite as a group but it was not to be. Kevin and Teri were doing something that day and would arrive later, and Nick was feeding the homeless. I did not even know that Rob was going to make it but it would be well after dark before he could arrive. No problem. Rob is retired Army and teaches ROTC. He thrives in the woods at night

Long leaf pine forest on the Florida Trail

I was not to believe the beauty I was witnessing. The topography, however, changed from cypress swamp to this sand pine forest. I was dragging a bag and the sand was slowing me down. This December day was cool, dry, and had a clear blue sky. It was the perfect day to be doing this. The temps tonight would get into the forties out here...brrr! I was prepared with layers of sweat shirts. Hopefully, we will have a raging fire and that will keep us warm.

My gear

After a couple hours, there was a problem. I was entering a hilly area (there are hills in Florida) and still no damn sight of the camp sign. I did not think I was lost because the orange blazes were still on the trees. I found it hard to believe I had not walked far enough. The sun was setting and I was getting ready to spend the night out here. I had yet to run into anyone from the group. This just underscores that people should not take theses things lightly. If you are a group, then be one. If for no other reason then safety. I could have gotten into trouble and nobody would have known it.

The firewood should keep me warm tonight

What I did not know was I was only 100 feet from the trail sign. I just did not have it in me to keep going without being sure I was headed in the right direction. I pulled out my new T-MOBILE phone to see if it got reception out here and it did. I got a hold of Kevin. The entire gang was at the trail head and the sun was setting. Great. This was not really how I was thinking it was going to be. I wanted to have time to relax at camp during the daylight.

Its getting dark fast and no sight of team

I finally heard Nick's call and he found me. This is when I learned that camp was just on the other side of the bushes and Teri and Kevin were already there. Wow! I had done it but did not know it. I was glad to see another human being.

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Nick getting the fire started

Kevin had already found some firewood and Nick used his fire starter to get it going. It was getting dark and we had a lot to do. We stacked wood like crazy. It was going to be cold tonight folks and we were going to need it. Plus, I just like a good campfire.

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Terri getting cold already

I was glad Kevin and Teri made it. I just really wish they could have stayed the night. It was going to be crystal clear and I know they are UFO investigators. In fact, the go to conventions all over the country.
There was also a meteor shower tonight with no moon and cold skies. The absolute perfect combination. I don't know what anyone could want. I did not know about the meteor shower. It happens every year on this date as the earth moves through the remnants of a comet of long ago. Next year I will be better prepared.

Sunset over the lake

The campfire after sunset

It was so cold we really did not do any exploring that night, which we always do. Rob found the camp but that was only after Nick went got him after he missed the FT sign in the dark.

We got a special treat that night. Not only did we hear two very loud coyote kills in the darkness but the Geminid meteor shower was tonight. There would be about 120 shooting stars and hour lasting all night. I have an ap on phone that is for star gazing and it will at least line you up with the constilations and planets. I was facing due east and that was were all the action was coming from...the consitlation Gemini.

You can get this off an Android App

In the morning we cooked breakfast and "highbrow coffee." It was wonderful. We did find the trail sign that was my nemeses yesterday. It was cold when we climbed out of our sleeping bags but as the sun came up we ended up in short sleeves.

Nick Tuder and Rob Robinson

The gang at the camp signpost

We went down to the lake next to the camp and it was perfect for photography. The leaves had fallen off the Cypress trees and the visibility was excellent. When you live in Florida year round, you really look forward to this time of year when you can get out and go to these places.

A beautiful day in the swamp

The morning campfire

BELOW ARE SOME VIDEOS OF THE NIGHT EXPEDITION. I BELEIVE SOMETHING WAS RESPOSDING TO TERI'S YELL AND SOMETHING DID COME INTO CAMP:

Comments

Sleeping with the enemy

I sort of stick out in this sea of pink I always seem to get on TV. This is Tim Fasano (in the yellow shirt with camera) sitting in the room full of Lyft and Uber drivers. Did you ever feel really alone? These rideshare people are operating an illegal business that is cutting into my livelyhood, and I wanted the Hillsborough County Commission to know it. The Lyft drivers are a bunch of punks and kids who have never worked a day in their lives. They will get whats coming to them. How do you spell douchebags? You will see me in the video shown on the local news.

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Hillsborough County bans Uber today as taxi company

The HCPT and Hillsborough County public commission today affirmed Uber is an illegal taxi company and bared them from operating in the Tampa area. This is wonderful news to longtime drivers like me. An Uber attorney asked Hillsborough County to make new rules to fit the trendy ridesharing movement pioneered by his company and Lyft, but was told flatly on Wednesday that Uber is an illegal taxi service. The county's Public Transportation Commission unanimously affirmed that an appointed officer had enough evidence to fine Uber, based in San Francisco, for providing hiring and public taxi services without proper licensing. Uber attorney Drew Sorrell held to the company's argument that it isn't in transportation. As a technology company, it doesn't need to follow transportation regulations as they are written. "There's a perfectly good way to do this, and that is to write the rules so that they fit," said Sorrell, of the Lowndes Drosdick Doster Kantor...

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FUCK UBER

Listen, you Uber fuckers, you screwheads. You are stealing my shit. I tried to be rational (What's that?). But not now. I am a man who will not take it anymore. A man who stands up against the scum, the cunts, the dogs, the filth, the shit. I am a man who stands up. Look at it this way. A man takes a job, you know? And that job - I mean, like that - That becomes what he is. You know, like - You do a thing and that's what you are. Like I've been a cabbie for nineteen years. Ten years at night. I still don't own my own cab. You know why? Because I don't want to. That must be what I want. To be on the night shift drivin' somebody else's cab. You understand? I mean, you become - You get a job, you become the job. One guy lives in a shit hole, another lives on drugs. You pick up a lawyer. Another guy's a doctor. Another guy dies. Another guy gets well. People are born, y'know? Why do you want to drive Uber? You think you can avoid your destiny? You'l...

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The Taxi Truman Show

I may have found the escape hatch Regulated Taxi driving is now dead. Uber has taken over. The current situation is no longer tenable for drivers who face an old model of cab leasing, and can no longer continue paying a Pre-Uber lease. Today was the tipping point. This time of year we should be very busy...EXTREMLY BUSY. We are not. It is dead as a doornail with drivers at the airport waiting up to 5 hours to a ride. It should be off the hook. It is for Uber. They pay no fee to the airport, yet they are allowed to operate. I made a good living for years. Transportation was regulated in Hillsborough County. This insured uniformity or rates, insurance, and accountability. But no more. The HCPTC has now allowed a gypsy cab company take over. Uber has not only taken some or part of our business - they have taken it all. This is because they are low balling the market in an attempt to establish a monopoly. They are well on their way to doing that with the compl...

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Dana Young is a Liar or very confused about Uber

A very bad person with no honor or integrity I attended a meeting at the hockey arena downtown which was attended by all the Tampa Bay area state senators and representatives. In attendance was one Dana Young (R). When it was her time to speak, so told a story about a young women that was being raped. While the college student was being sexually assaulted, the student hit the Uber app on her phone and the police now knew the GPS coordinates of her location. What MS. Young did not disclose was that it happened on the UCLA campus and that it was an UBER DRIVER THAT WAS RAPING HER! "As students prepare to return to college, one thing female students cannot go without is caution. Assaults, especially sexual assaults, are a haunting part of daily life for so many students. Uber has made that nightmare even more of a reality . We tell our students that getting a driver when they’ve had too much to drink is the responsible course of action — it’...

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What Lyft and Uber will take from the Tampa taxi business

A lyft car at the Iconic sign on Florida ave downtown Tampa I have been a hack in Tampa Florida since 1995. Unlike the estimated 50% of Americans that hate their jobs, I have never had a day when I did not feel like going to work. Certainly, the last few years have not been fun because the economy fell apart like a three dollar watch. However, economies are like tides and this one is on the rebound, at a snail's pace. I would like to thank Mr. Obama for that but that would not be fair. The economy is recovering despite any fiscal policy of his. That being said - there are challenges. My job is inherently difficult. We face strange and deranged people street level on a daily basis. Taxi companies in Tampa (which are regulated) must serve the general population. We have no choice. Short fares, drunk fares, people going to buy drugs (they don't tell you that) we must pick up. Don't get me wrong, there are business people, beautiful women, great trippers, and long haul...

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How Uber is hurting workers

Robert Reich is an economist who worked in Bill Clinton's cabinet. His problem with Uber and the "shared economy" is no sharing is going on. The worker absorbs all cost and risk, for less than minimum wage.

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Sukka the cat

There is a lady I pick up every morning that puts $100 in my pocket (paid by our great accounts). Her cat comes out and loves me and rubs up on me every morning. Uber has nothing like this. United Cab driver's are rocking out while Uber punks live for nine dollar fares that they have to give 20% to Ubet. Great gig guys. LOL! Sukka loves me because I am legal and you scum drivers suck hind tit...boys and girls. Get over it. I rule and make more in one hour then you do in one day. Plus, this kitty loves me! posted from Bloggeroid

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Stuck in the mud and a ripoff tow

Kevin and I went to a walkthrough at a nature preserve. It was full of wildlife and we even found an abandoned hunting cabin from decades ago. That was there long before civilization found its way to north Hillsborough county. I'm glad we found the cabin because it began to rain like crazy. It rained for a good half hour before we could finish the hike. We then went as far as we could but much of the trails were flooded. You see I have boots on. When we got back to the cars, there was standing water for we were in the grass. I started the cab and buried it in the mud. You should have been there. You would have laughed your ass off. After waiting 2.5 hours for the tow, he winched me on to the parking lot and charged $100. I found out the charge should have been $45. I think the company will dispute this. I hope. posted from Bloggeroid

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BATS TAXI undercuts Tampa

I had a ride to the Tradewinds resort and we passed Bats Taxi on St. Petersburg Beach. I had to direct my fares attention from their marquee because the advertising a rate to Tampa International Airport of $54. My meter was already over $75 and I did not want to field questions about our higher rate. What I hear is Bats has the beach sowed up. They make their money on volume. Cool. I just hope their lease payment is lower then ours.

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Tampa Taxi Shots

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