The tour, Paris & the Girls.....

Hi Everyone

Well it's been a couple of fully packed days, I have seen 3 more stages of the tour, have arrived in Paris and have joined up with my girls. What an eventful time.

Firstly I wanted to watch the tour arrive in Bordeaux, so off I went to the place marked on the tour map in Bordeaux, about a 20 minute walk from my apartment..nothing there, hmmm. Back to the apartment re-check the Internet, try a different site, yep I was in the right place, so back I go, still nothing, no blocked roads, no press, no podium or finish line, nothing. Hmmm, so I think I will try the closest tourist information office, and off I set.... Well on the way to the tourist office, I find the tour arrival point, so I have no idea what was with that, but I got a good spot, next to some Americans and settled in to wait. I put up my flag and was thoroughly enjoying myself, then the French arrived, but luckily they were good French and although he had no English his daughter had a little and of course his cousin lives in Sydney and his brother in law in Brisbane, so we got along like a house on fire.. It was all good. The caravan of goodies started to arrive and I saw this van selling stuff, I paid no attention, I did hear a voice over the intercom say something about Australia, but wasn't paying any attention, then it repeated itself and I looked up and the young driver was waving a small Aussie flag at me, I waved back and then he got out of his car came over to me and kissed me on both cheeks, said "Australia, I was there one month ago, Awesome country!" Well I couldn't disagree with him, I have found out just how awesome it is, just by travelling to other less awesome countries!! The caravan arrived in earnest and this car was slowly going past when I realised a guy in a back seat was waving at me and holding another Aussie flag, we were both laughing, it was great. The riders finally arrived and as they fly by so fast I just snapped my camera a few times as they flew past. I was really fortunate as I managed to get Andy Schleck. Andy is one of my favourite riders and he is coming second, Contador is his main rival and he was coming first, only 8 seconds separated them. That was a big deal to me. I got lots of other snaps too though, so don't be disappointed, I can post them all if you like... he he he. After the race I was heading out for dinner when I came across a large mass of people, apparently they were waiting to see Cameron Diaz & Tom Cruise, who were in town to advertise their latest movie, well I wasn't bothered with any of that, the crowd where just a nuisance as they hindered my search for a restaurant.

The next day was the time trial, which means the riders leave one at at time and don't just rush past you in a big blur, so I had been waiting for that. I found a brilliant spot and settled down to wait. I was buggering around in my handbag, when I look up and Cadel is flying past, he was on a warm up run, bugger, no camera ready, but I got it out then and managed to get a pic of Fabian, Jens, Ivan and another dude as they went past on their warm up run. Excellent!! I had my flag out again and hear calling from across the street, it was the same little Frenchman from yesterday waving and gesturing, he was really friendly. I had so many people stop to chat, not all Aussies either, but some were. A lot of French people just pointed at my flag and put their thumb up, they couldn't speak English, but obviously like Australia, I had a great day. I found a place to buy a sandwich and drink, I had eaten half of it and had placed it on the step behind me to take some pics, I was wondering where to find a bin, when out of the corner of my eye I spotted this guy, he just bent down as he walked past, picked up the half eaten sandwich and one of my half empty coke bottles and kept walking. He solved my problem of finding a bin. Life is all good... I watched the riders until Cadel passed me, but then I had to meet my taxi to get to the airport, so I didn't see the last 18 or so riders. Then my flight was late, do I could have watched more riders, so that was bad luck, but I was happy to see what I did. I got some great pics, but they fly by so fast I also got lots of back wheels or empty street pics too, I need some practice on that.

I finally arrived at Orly airport, outside Paris, it was quite a job getting into the city, The French are hopeless at signs, but I finally made it. My girls had had a lot of trouble getting into the apartment, they had forgotten they had to call the manager and he was quite rude to them when they finally contacted him, he also overcharged them for the key, so they were not happy and neither was I. But never mind, we are here now. The apartment is just as quaint as it looks on the Internet, but not very practical. The girls cannot even get their luggage up the tiny spiral staircase, the mattress on the floor up there is tiny and uncomfortable. But we are managing, the bathroom light is on sensor so it keeps going out when you are in the shower, you have to shower and wave your arms at the same time, so that's a great look. The four flights of stairs and no lift is also a challenge, but we are still enjoying ourselves.

Yesterday was the final day of the tour, so Kearie and I set off early to find a good spot, and we did. Some other Aussies joined us and we had a great day waiting for the guys to arrive. After an hour or so Learra showed up, how she found us I will never know, but she did, she even waited with us for the race, she is not as into cycling as me or Kearie. The race was awesome, we had a really great day, flag waving and clapping and yelling, it was awesome!! After the finish, Learra and I decided to go and find a drink and somewhere to sit, but Kearie wanted pics & autographs if possible. I was a little concerned she would be disappointed, but left her to it and we agreed to meet at a restaurant they both knew. The girls had been in Paris for 2 days before I arrived, they had stayed at another hotel until the apartment was ready.

When Kearis met up with us she had has an awesome time, by accident she had come upon the Saxo Bank bus and riders, they are our favourite team, she got pics of our Stewie and Andy and even pics of Frank, who had broken his collarbone in the first week, but was there to support his brother at the final stage. It was brilliant for her, she has lots of pics, but no autographs yet. Kearie has decided to get some of her pics printed and to bring them back next year to get them signed by the riders. She loves cycling too. So we all had a great day, met some nice folk and then I shouted them dinner at a nice restaurant. We were all buggered by the time we got back to the apartment.

Today is a rest day for us, time to get our laundry done and just chill, we shall take a walk or something this afternoon. Then we have until Friday before Learra flys home and Kearie and I are still to work out where we want to spend the next week before out Greek tour starts. Life is great right about now.

I shall leave you with some pics.

Cheers

Lones


The cows are still going strong in Bordeaux


They get more and more ingenious....


Andy arriving in Bordeaux


Fabian & Matti arriving in Bordeaux


Fabian, Jens & Ivan warm up before the time trial in Bordeaux


At the side of the road, no big crowds here, the folk were spread out all over the city, it was brilliant.


This is how close they rode past in the time trial.


We had a big screen to watch the race on, until the riders arrived in the city, brilliant!!


The beginning of the Caravan (Parade)


The peloton flying by...


One of Kearie's pics of Andy, well done girl!!!