A "test run" for the Gulf Coast Event Anyone?

Originally Posted by robertovillate

I'd agree with that. Also, crossing the mouth of the bay adds unnecessary logistical hassle. Transport takes 3 times as long, and the wind can change drastically on the other side....plus its pretty sharkey out there by Egmont Key Maybe better to start/finish PAG/Honeymoon or vice versa, or even go all the way to Ft Desoto. I'm up for it any day the wind is S/SW or WNW/NW - but not to race, just to play in the waves (if we can call them that ) I do DW's every chance I get...recently I was not let on the trolley though...wtf is with that...grumpy driver I guess. Otherwise the trolley is the sweetest deal going and a real treat for St Pete riders.

What reason did the driver give you for not letting you on? My ribs are still hurt, will be down for a couple more weeks.

[Unimog Bob]

A few of us will be doing a downwinder tomorrow in the Gulf, if anyone is interested. You should come out Raul. There are waves in the Gulf.

Big Air Al and myself did one today. It was fricking AWESOME!!
Solid 30 knots, decent waves. The best.

Screw the trolley. They have f'd me over (and Roberto and others) a few times too many.
Bring 5 bucks each and flash it with your thumb out while at the trolley station.
We flagged down, and got a ride in the back of, a pickup within 3 minutes using this technique today.

Originally Posted by Unimog Bob

A few of us will be doing a downwinder tomorrow in the Gulf, if anyone is interested. You should come out Raul. There are waves in the Gulf.

Big Air Al and myself did one today. It was fricking AWESOME!!
Solid 30 knots, decent waves. The best.

Screw the trolley. They have f'd me over (and Roberto and others) a few times too many.
Bring 5 bucks each and flash it with your thumb out while at the trolley station.
We flagged down, and got a ride in the back of, a pickup within 3 minutes using this technique today.

What was the reason for them not letting you guys on the trolley Scott? I called them today and they seemed to have no problem with what we have done in the past, I am sure that each dirver will have there own deal. Cornel and Dave and I had no trouble a few weeks ago, it is a very good deal when it works. I will do some more research and post later. I would agree if they do not want to take our money, well someone will.

[Unimog Bob]

No reasonable reason ever given.
I rode the trolley probably 50 times in 8 years with no probs.
Then, starting about 3 years ago, I have been denied maybe 4 times out of 12. That's way too high a percentage for me to count on the trolley.
Better have a back up plan or just a better plan A is my take.

I guess a good compromise would be to bring ten bucks (5 a piece if 2 or more) and go to the trolley pickup point. If you get picked up, great.
If denied, wave the cash while hitch hiking.

[Unimog Bob]

The forecast got changed to due West, so the trolley/DW thing may not matter for tomorrow. Upham and/or TI should be good.

[robertovillate]

Originally Posted by stpetesal

What reason did the driver give you for not letting you on? My ribs are still hurt, will be down for a couple more weeks.

The really messed up part of the story is this:
When the bus stopped the driver looked at me like I was a Martian or something. I paid the meter and sat down with my gear. The driver goes about 5 stops and then says to me, something like "I'm not sure you can ride the bus with that stuff" and then he asks me to get off. I explained I had just taken the bus with my gear earlier THAT SAME DAY, and that I have probably done it 50 times before. But I did not want to cause a huge scene and got off. I asked him for my money back, but he gave me a "transfer ticket" which is pretty useless because it expires in 6 hrs...wtf?????

The happy ending to this: I went to the next bus stop and while sitting there waiting, some guy just pulls over out of the blue and asks if I need a lift. Turns out he is a long board paddler and gave me a ride all the way back from Reddington to PAG. That was nice!

I am thinking of making a board sock out of some very thin material that can be rolled up and stuffed into my rash guard. If they don't see a "surfboard" maybe they will be too confused to start asking questions and imposing there illogical reasoning to the situation. I'll tell him it's an art project or something.

95% of the drivers are cool and friendly, but a few of them are just grumps I guess. I wonder if there are any written regs of what you can take on the bus. It would be cool if they had a rack, like they do for bikes. Maybe something can be developed along those lines? I'll have to look at their bike rack to see what might work.

Otherwise if the trolley system becomes untenable for us down wind junkies that would be a real shame.

[Unimog Bob]

Scott L. called and spoke with the manager of PSTA today. Maybe he has some info.

I strongly encourage anyone planning on the trolley to get you back from a DW to not put any more than 75% faith in that plan.
You have a 25% chance of getting shafted, imo.

Mrs. Shirley Howard, Manager of the trolley department PSTA 727-540-1857, left me a message. Mrs. Howard said as long as you can put the put gear under the seat and or put it between you legs to secure it should be fine. Mrs. Howard in no way said kiteboarders could not use the trolley. It seems they may need to get all the drivers on the same page. I will talk with her more on Monday. I have never had a problem but have not used it as much as others, as there is obviously a problem.

[robertovillate]

Originally Posted by stpetesal

Mrs. Shirley Howard, Manager of the trolley department PSTA 727-540-1857, left me a message. Mrs. Howard said as long as you can put the put gear under the seat and or put it between you legs to secure it should be fine. Mrs. Howard in no way said kiteboarders could not use the trolley. It seems they may need to get all the drivers on the same page. I will talk with her more on Monday. I have never had a problem but have not used it as much as others, as there is obviously a problem.

That's encouraging news. It would be great to hear a detailed follow up after you speak with Shirley directly. If there are seats available I hold the board between my legs. Sometimes I have to stand, holding the board.

It would be nice to get this settled and take the ambiguity out of it for the drivers and us.

Thanks for looking into it.

[Unimog Bob]

Yeah, thanks Scott.

We did two DWs today (they were awesome, btw). The trolley wasn't even considered either time.
Hate to be such a wanker on the subject, but the only way I would consider the trolley (again) is if I had that manager's word in writing, on me, so I could hand it to the couple wanker drivers that have screwed me (and others) in the recent past. Leaving someone 12 miles from their vehicle is screwing 'em pretty good.
Still, I definitely appreciate you contacting her.