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Getting there

William Smetanka, 55

By LORRIE LYKINS
Published February 23, 2005

THE STARTING LINE: Town N Country Boulevard and Memorial Highway area in Tampa.

THE FINISH LINE: 5100 Central Ave., St Petersburg.

THE RIDE: A white 1994 Mercury Cougar with about 80,000-plus miles (the odometer is broken).

APPROXIMATE GAS MILEAGE: 17 miles per gallon in the city and 19 mpg on the highway.

THE ROUTE: Memorial Boulevard to the south end of Tampa International Airport, then onto Interstate 275 S to exit 23B. Fifth Avenue N west to 49th Street, turn left (south), then right (west) onto Central Avenue.

Do you ever vary your route?

I avoid the Howard Frankland in the evening going home by going across the Bayside Bridge to Highway 60. East on 60 to Independence and onto Memorial Boulevard, right on Town N Country Boulevard. Home again, home again!

Distance of commute?

50 miles round trip each day.

How long does it take?

Thirty-five minutes in the morning, 55 to 75 minutes in the evening.

Latest you can leave in the morning and make it to work on time?

8:20 a.m.

What time do you normally get home after work?

5:55 to 6:20 p.m.

Do you ever car pool?

No.

How long have you been commuting?

Three years.

Did you plan for a commute or did it just work out that way?

It just worked out that way.

How do you occupy the drive time?

I listen mostly to AM sports radio and my portable CD player. I do have one guilty pleasure - I listen to an FM radio show on Friday mornings that features an unbelievably inebriated woman. It's pretty tasteless, but so funny.

What do you like about the commute?

The variety of the ever-changing landscape. I've traveled all over the country, but the sunsets and moonsets here in Florida never cease to amaze and dazzle me. I've seen many a sunset in my rearview mirror going home, and I enjoy the reflections off the mirrored windows of tall buildings, the clear blue skies and crystal waters.

What do you dislike?

Heavy traffic, especially on the Bayside Bridge during tourist season when traffic is very backed up. It takes twice as long to get across. I also dislike aggressive lane changers.

Any daily rituals related to your commute?

I have one main objective, "Get there and back alive!"

Is there anything that you do on the road that seems to annoy other drivers?

Since I'm not running on all cylinders, I have slow takeoffs . . .

What do other drivers do that drives you crazy?

Slow drivers coming off the entrance ramps into interstate traffic.

Weirdest thing you've ever seen while commuting?

Well, you know, I'm driving along one day and notice a new building being built across the street from the Pinellas County Jail (on 49th Street). Low and behold, one day I realize the new building is a high school! I mean, come on - a school across from a jail?

And three years ago, I saw the smoke from the tanker truck fire underneath the expressway. It was a major bonfire.

[Last modified February 23, 2005, 00:34:19]