Return to the Saddle

Decided to get back to the cab after a long hiatus since November. For those who don't know I got a full time job at Luke's Locker Running store. This new job has diminished the need to pedicab three nights a week as a necessity. Now I will be riding only as a matter of convenience and entertainment for myself and of course you. On saturday I pulled a night shift to get back into the swing of things and grab a little extra spending money for the upcoming weeks.

The event calendar was filled with concerts, basketball, UFC, and Carnival. Saturday night was suppose to be a good night for some people watching. I start out to grab the dinner crowds and hotel seekers to where they wanted to go, but downtown austin was dead. The night was uneventful I was averaging maybe one or two rides an hour, SUCK.  After much of my night sitting at the end of dirty sixth and listening to music I was able to get going by grabbing the bar hoppers after basketball and UFC ended. It was nothing special. 

Last call hits and I head over to the warehouse from a ride. I get flagged down by two "gentleman" leaving OCH and want to go over the river to Texas's favorite late night snack Whataburger. This timing worked perfectly to head that way as Carnival was letting out. Crossing 1st street bridge I run into my first story of the night. A fellow pedi cabber being verbally assaulted by a drunk pedestrian while he has two passengers on board, not cool.  

Pedestrian: "Hey man you hit me, let me see your insurance asshole. 

Pedi cab: "what! I didn't even touch you, will you get out of my way so I can get going

Pedestrian: "So your trying to flee an accident,You're under arrest for a hit and run put your hands behind your back."

Pedicab: "What, let go of me"

Me: "You're too drunk to be an on duty officer, get out of the way"

Pedestrian: "Oh you want to be arrested too?" as he gets in my face

Me: "Now that your in my personal space.  Step a side and move out of our way we have work to do. We both have passengers that we need to drop off. Please move.

Pedestrian: "What are you going to do?"

ME: "Call the police" 

Pedestrian: "You guys are assholes!"

Me: "And you're drunk. get out of the way."

I pull into the parking lot I see my favorite late night security officer who sets me up with rides from Whataburger. I drop off my ride from warehouse district and they begin counting what ever wrinkled money they scrounge up out of their pockets and hand it over, obviously not bankers. I start catching up with the nights activities with the on duty officer as he interrupts me to look inside the Whataburger to observe what currently in progress. A large group of 15 festive Carnival goers walks in wearing nothing but underwear... Guys and girls alike. Can they get served? I ask the officer. It appears that Whataburger is more relaxed on there policy tonight for No shirt, No shoes, No Service... "Underwear and body paint appear to be okay, its the mask that they don't want", says the officer. I take a look through the window and to see every seat and booth filled with nearly naked unmasked people simply enjoying some late night food.  Keep Austin Weird...