So yesterday, I drove from my home in Oakland to San Francisco to attend the big orchid exposition that was held there over the weekend (and arrived an hour later than I thought I had – damnable Daylight Savings Time!). Those of you who know San Francisco probably know how difficult it can be to find a parking spot there, especially anywhere near a venue where an event is being held, and it was no different yesterday. I drove a couple of laps around the parking area at Fort Mason (the area where the expo was being held), and spotted a gentleman walking across the parking lot, so when I drew near him I rolled down my window and asked him if he happened to be heading back to his car, as I was looking for parking.
The fellow turned out to have a heavy Russian accent (I think it was Russian, anyway), and I loved his reply:
“No, I am sorry to say I am not. However, I achieved my parking in the same manner as you are intending – I pursued a man.”
I wound up “achieving my parking” a couple of blocks away, which was fine, and didn’t even have to pursue anyone in the end. But that response made the trip as worthwhile as seeing the lovely flowers did.
“Parking” around here entails going into an urban wooded area and cutting down and removing every living thing growing below 9" DBH and then calling it a “parked greenspace.” That would include the native terrestrial orchids. Ya didn’t see any of ma orchids did ya?
Even in a smaller city parking downtown is a pain. If the weather is nice and I have time, I’ll park about 3/4 of a mile to a mile away from the downtown core and walk if I really must go downtown. However, if the weather is nasty I’ll either try for a closer spot even if I have to pay, or just not go downtown at all. I plan to go to a concert this Saturday downtown, and I’ll have to go straight from work, and the venue is near several nightspots, and people will be celebrating St. Patrick’s day early, so it’s going to be interesting. Taking the bus really isn’t an option - on Saturdays the bus only runs about once an hour and I wouldn’t get there on time, plus I wouldn’t want to leave my car at work and have to take the bus back to get it when the show is over. (I work in a bad part of town and wouldn’t leave anything in the company lot after the store closes.)
The last time I was in Ripley, WV, they still had parking meters that were a nickel for an hour. It would have cost a crazy amount of money to replace them and there was so much other free parking in downtown Ripley that it wouldn’t have benefited the city, nor would people have paid anymore either. All day parking in prime locations in Charleston, WV, the capitol is $4. Or you can park at the Town Center Mall for $1.75 and walk a few blocks. People were fussing about the cost of parking at the Town Center Mall for a quick stop, so now they have a new feature, park for 1/2 hour for 50 cents, one hour for 75 cents.
Our local cities have literally millions of dollars in unpaid parking fines. With all the RIFs going on here I suspect there is going to be some serious collecting occurring, including income tax return attachments. I’m paid up…for this week.
Too bad the travel would be a bit far- that would be great in my compost…I’m having to scrounge it up from the cows in the pasture but it’s not nearly as “hot”.
No wellies here- I just tromp on through- never thought it was particularly horrible-but then I like the manufacturers.
…at least not around the kids…
