Taxi 66

We talked Route 66 and the USA all the way. The food, the cars, the motels, the people. I mentioned that I’m planning my own father-son trip along Route 66 next year. From the other side of the generation gap. Myself, my son and my daughter.

Charles and Betsy

Friday it all came together and we swapped the patched-up Charles* for renewed Betsy. I got to drive her first shift as a reborn cab, just like I drove her first shift as a new cab last year.

Driving on the other side

Trying to get back to the airport after a lamb burrito in Zambrero, I was approached by a couple of jaunty folk. “You free?” they asked. Avoiding the obvious riposte, I indicated that I was available. “EPIC,” they said. I agreed. Exhibition Park in Canberra. Not on the way to the airport, but a nice [...]

Foursquare follies

We’ve got a new game, my day driver and I. A game where cabbies shine.

Foursquare, funking off the iPhone’s GPS and social networking. It’s a scavenger hunt, it’s a map of your day, it’s a point-scoring exercise, it’s gathering facts and sharing info.

Kiva cabbie

I can help. My passengers sometimes give me tips. The businessmen and the government officials so rarely tip that it is a cause for wonder when they do. But those who pay the fare from their own pocket, those who are least able to afford a generous gesture, they are my best tippers.

Himalayas

The Himalayan Mountains have moved to Canberra. Yup. Speed humps at Canberra Airport. In particular the last one when exiting the airport. For the life of me I can’t understand why they built that thing so friggin high. My taxi full of passengers and luggage has absolutely no way of clearing this obstacle without scraping the bottom of the car out. Once again it is quite obvious that Steve Byron does not have a clue.

Come Saturday Morning

Saturday is the day when I go out there and give 1.00 percent.

After a long week of long shifts, Saturday is my day for not caring. I do random stuff, maybe go shopping with my wife, a little housework, a lot of napping, reading the papers, drinking tea and just winding waaaaay down.

Rush job

We were sitting there, just enjoying the still, when a man comes running in from the darkness, smack into the automatic door, which of course was locked while the operator was outside. He looked around, and my companion sighed, got up, handed me the cigarette and went off to serve the guy.

Dream Performance

The strains of Humphrey Lyttleton and Acker Bilk wafted through the cabin

The colour of breakfast

Three young people from the post-midnight cab rank. They were in a good mood, continuing a conversation about tummy rumbles as they hopped into the cab. Young man beside me, sweet young thing in the back, and another young chap beside her. “So embarrassing!” she said. “Everyone looks around when they hear the noise.” “Ah, [...]

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