Labor Day Urban Ride

We decided to take the bikes for a ride around Downtown Tampa, Channel Side and Hyde Park.  It was a gorgeous day with low humidity thanks to Isaac, although that will not last.

The Hyde Park Village shops have really been suffering.  What was once a hustle and bustle retail and restaurant district has morphed into a deserted town filled with empty storefronts  of what was.  The  happening hot spot is no more.  The days of Jazz Fest on Wednesday, gone! Some stores pitifully hang on to success of the past (Restoration Hardware, Pottery Barn, Williams & Sonoma, Tampania - Italian Chop House to name a few) patiently and anxiously waiting for the flocks s of people to once again descend on the Village and bring prosperity...

Our last stop is usually "The Sail Pavilion" overlooking Harbor Island and adjacent to the Tampa Convention Center - Today the views were spectacular!

Look who is ready to ride!

Prior to that - A bit of rest and relaxation with Sam Adams.

Hardly any traffic downtown today.

You can see Zack street and the recent improvements they completed which narrowed the four lane road to two lanes in each direction.  The promenade in now complete and leads directly (looking East) to Curtis Hixon Park

Zack Street looking West.  UT is in the background and Curtis Hixon Park is just past Ashley Street.