July is a much anticapted month in our household for another reason entirely --- the Tour de France bicycle race. We have been watching and following this annual event for years. Even back as far as the Greg Lemond days. But in the last 7 or so years, Paul has become a serious bicyclist and it became his dream to go to France and ride some of those exact mountains and routes that the Tour de France covers. So 2004 was going to be the year... Paul was turning 60 and that was going to be his commemoration event. Unfortunately the ATV accident took that "honor" instead and the trip was postponed until last summer. Paul found a tour company that specialized in this exact kind of adventure so we jumped on board. It turned out to the one of the absolute highlights of our whole life!!! There were only seven people in our tour group so that was very enjoyable. Katherine, the head tour guide and van driver; Eric, the on-the-bicycle tour guide; Tom, from NYC and his girlfriend, Cynthia; Pascal, a native Frenchman but recently living in NYC; and Paul and myself. I did not do any bicycling -- French Alps are not for amateurs -- I just enjoyed the scenery from my chauffered van. Paul had worked very hard to be in good shape physically and he was glad he had prepared so well because those mountains are brutal to bicyclists but he was tough and accomplished all that he set out to.
Our trip started a little frustrating since Paul's bike and suitcase did not actually arrive in Lucern, Switzerland with us. Pascal's didn't either but he just went out and bought another bike. Paul tracked his bike down and determined that he would miss the first day of riding but that his bike would catch up to us so he tried to be patient while he rode in the van the first day. As annoying as it was, it turned out to be a good thing and he was more than ready to get riding when it finally arrived. Now as we watch each day's stage of this year's tour de France, Paul is watching the race and I'm watching the scenery and reliving that fabulous, once-in-a-lifetime experience.
3 comments:
Awesome pictures!...how great that you were able to share that experience with him in your own way(from the van window). ...Are you back home now? How wonderful that you guys could help out your daughter here in Arizona. But sorry it had to be our hottest time of year...hehehe.
Fondly, the Arizona Grandmother.
its the same in our house .. the tour takes priority! gary tried to stay up and watch one of the live stages the other night and fell asleep in front of the tv. the aussie boys have had bad luck and 3 of our best ones our out :-(
your pictures are awesome, i will show gary .. one day we want to do the same! i will certainly need to get some riding under my belt before i attempt those switch backs tho! what a great achievement!
i know heidi appreciated your help ... i always really loved having my mum come over when i had each of my girls ... its such a huge help!
luv chanel
sounds like fun! what a great trip.
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