Today was our day at the races...the velo races actually, the Tour De France came to Chateauroux only a 30 minute drive west from Lignieres. I checked the race schedule and as usual the 5 pm hour seemed most appropriate to be there.
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In the morning we had our coffee and then Kelly set out to cloth over the rest of the north wall of the old dining room with the new striped material. I went to work on the rooftop rack designed to carry the 300-400lb gate back from Provence this coming Sunday. Measure Twice Cut Once rule firmly engaged in my mind. The Avensis has never had a rooftop rack and with her all curvy roof this is quite a challenge. She has a line of hard rubber imbedded in each side of the roof, only about 3/8" so I decided that I HAD to line up the rails of my rack to this small surface some way. I checked the demensions several times and set the pine boards on the roof to work out the geometry well enough that I could cut something, and cut I did. It tapes slightly wider by 2cm in the rear and I used adjustable mounts on rach corner with a 3/4" dowl to set into the hard rubber areas on the roof. I think it'll work fine, the overhang is not severe side to side at 1.54 meters and the length over the front and rear windows seems ok as well, it's certainly no worse than a mattress in size but it is heavy (about 300lbs) and needs support throughout the roof. I decided to use softer pine pads and cover them with the fuzz from the wall to protect the paint as best I can. I'm being quite cautious.
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We went to Chateauroux down the inner ring road and turned left about a block before the Rt De La Chatre where this leg of the famous race was going to finish up todays 232 Km run.
A parking place presented itself down the road a bit and I parked, got out and locked the car. We walked west a block to the roadway they were going to come down and settled in for the 2 hr wait till they arrived. A great crowd scene ensued, people of all ages gradually showed up and lines the street barriers on both sides. The CARAVAN that proceeds the cyclists themselves is a treat for everyone, wierd cars made up to look like every kind of commercial good...coffee cups, tires, beer bottles, youy name it and it has representation as a sponser of the race. They throw out samples of each product to an agressive and active audience. We got several key chains and a bottle of Vittel water which was very welcome in the late afternoon sunshine. Kelly and I shared it eagerly. Great fun had by all! Then came the motorcycles that have riders in back that film the segment, they raced by at alarming speed, then a pause and here they come! Going like hell's fire! 60 mph over the ground on the very slight upgrade! Amazing! The leader flew by, then second place and then the PELOTON (group). Wow, just a woosh! another woosh and they were gone into the distance towards the finish...it lasted but seconds. Exciting? You bet! Right here in your face! Here's the link for the current standings and course locations: http://www.letour.fr/2008/TDF/LIVE/us/600/etape_par_etape.html#zone1
and another about the result of todays LONG stage (longest of the tour this year):
http://www.iht.com/articles/2008/07/09/sports/TOUR.php
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