Tuesday, July 10, 2007
Harry Potter
It's going to be Harry madness with the movie and book coming out soon and we're trying to get all geared up. Speed reader Christine has blazed her way through 4 of the books (and she's mostly done with the 5th) in the past couple weeks and we listened to the 6th book (Half Blood Prince) on our trip. I'm looking forward to seeing the movie (maybe even at the Imax in Denver) and reading the new book after Christine is done. At her speeds, I should be able to pry the book from her within a day of its release. Then I'll take the next month to read it. :)
Sunday, July 8, 2007
Tour de France - Stage 1
Today's stage finished in Canterbury. We rode in a car with Christine's step-mom, and her brother rode in a car with some of their friends. What a cluster f*ck. Everything is an ordeal (and a slow one at that) when you're dealing with a couple 8 year olds and their associated entourage/menagerie. Once we got to Canterbury the whole parking thing was a treat. Christine and I were content to park and walk, but since we had to try to coordinate with another carload it was difficult. Then, of course, after an hour+ ride there's an amazing amount of organization that needs to happen before the kids can do anything so Christine and I are just hanging around in the parking lot shuffling our feet. We were really glad to separate and do our own thing once we made it to the race area.
We started by getting a little snack and coffee to push the crabbiness out of us. Then we walked down to the race course to check it out. It was getting close to the scheduled caravan time so we parked it to watch. At the prologue, I had gotten a Skoda hat from the caravan for Christine, and she accidentally dropped it somewhere today. Ironically, the Skoda car came buy and literally set the identical hat right in my hands. The Skoda hat is back. Life is good.
After we grew tired of the caravan, we walked over to the center of town. There was a market set up, so we got a crepe and some fresh strawberries (2 pt's for 1 British pound - a sweet deal). There was a large TV screen setup there too, so we watch as the racers got closer to town.
When they were about 20km's away, we walked over to the finish. It was crazy over there. Instead of trying to push our way through to the race course, we stayed back and watch the finish on France 2's big screen. Somehow Robbie McEwan managed to win the stage after being off the back of the main field with 8km's to go. That guy is amazing.
Tomorrow we head back to the states. I've decided that taking a vacation while visiting family isn't nearly as much fun as getting away with your wife. I'll note that for the future. As we were sitting in a pub enjoying a beer last night, I couldn't help but think that it will be nice when we can go backpacking again.
I'd like to confirm that, contrary to what you've heard, London Bridge is not falling down, falling down, falling down. Goodbye London. It's been real.
We started by getting a little snack and coffee to push the crabbiness out of us. Then we walked down to the race course to check it out. It was getting close to the scheduled caravan time so we parked it to watch. At the prologue, I had gotten a Skoda hat from the caravan for Christine, and she accidentally dropped it somewhere today. Ironically, the Skoda car came buy and literally set the identical hat right in my hands. The Skoda hat is back. Life is good.
After we grew tired of the caravan, we walked over to the center of town. There was a market set up, so we got a crepe and some fresh strawberries (2 pt's for 1 British pound - a sweet deal). There was a large TV screen setup there too, so we watch as the racers got closer to town.
When they were about 20km's away, we walked over to the finish. It was crazy over there. Instead of trying to push our way through to the race course, we stayed back and watch the finish on France 2's big screen. Somehow Robbie McEwan managed to win the stage after being off the back of the main field with 8km's to go. That guy is amazing.
Tomorrow we head back to the states. I've decided that taking a vacation while visiting family isn't nearly as much fun as getting away with your wife. I'll note that for the future. As we were sitting in a pub enjoying a beer last night, I couldn't help but think that it will be nice when we can go backpacking again.
I'd like to confirm that, contrary to what you've heard, London Bridge is not falling down, falling down, falling down. Goodbye London. It's been real.
Tour de France - Prologue
Christine and I got an early start and arrived at the Prologue course by 11AM. At the time, there were a lot of people there, but there was still some space up against the race course. It wasn't a very exciting day. We just had to hang there and wait until the racers started, one by one, at 3PM. At around 1PM the Tour publicity caravan drove through tossing out goodies. Since they start at the beginning of the 8km course and we were at the finish, I think they had already pitched most of their goodies by the time they got to us.
We watched about the first half of the racers go, and then we decided we had enough of getting crammed into the barriers and walked around to catch some of the other action around the course. We walked by the team buses and saw some of the top riders warming up. It's odd to be able to stand 10 feet away from a pro athlete like that while there warming up. Then we walked further around the course stopping occasionally to check out one of the several giant TV screens they had set up in the parks.
Fabian Cancellara blew everyone else away and won by 13 seconds.
We watched about the first half of the racers go, and then we decided we had enough of getting crammed into the barriers and walked around to catch some of the other action around the course. We walked by the team buses and saw some of the top riders warming up. It's odd to be able to stand 10 feet away from a pro athlete like that while there warming up. Then we walked further around the course stopping occasionally to check out one of the several giant TV screens they had set up in the parks.
Fabian Cancellara blew everyone else away and won by 13 seconds.
Friday, July 6, 2007
Tour de France - Team Presentations
This evening was the start of the Tour festivities with the team presentations in Trafalgar Square. We got to the square a couple hours early and grabbed a decent viewing spot. It was a little far away from the stage but we had a clear view and we could at least sit while we waited.
I wasn't really sure what to expect since they don't typically televise the team presentations in the US. The event started out with a DJ "spinning" (he had two CD decks and a mixer) to get things going. When he finished, there were presentations of various cycling groups and they also paraded some different kinds of bikes across the stage. They had some old bikes, new bikes, and unusual bikes. Later the mayor of London and the director of The Tour came out and chatted before bringing out the hosts for the presentations.
The teams came out one by one and the riders were introduced. There was, of course, loud applause for the British riders but even Americans like George Hincapie were welcomed loudly. Unsprisingly, there was no mention of Floyd Landis (who's verdict was rumored to be coming out today).
After the final team was presented (local favorite, Bradly Wiggins' Cofidis team), a band started playing and the crowd dispersed. Tomorrow is the prologue, and I hope to get a good viewing spot.
I wasn't really sure what to expect since they don't typically televise the team presentations in the US. The event started out with a DJ "spinning" (he had two CD decks and a mixer) to get things going. When he finished, there were presentations of various cycling groups and they also paraded some different kinds of bikes across the stage. They had some old bikes, new bikes, and unusual bikes. Later the mayor of London and the director of The Tour came out and chatted before bringing out the hosts for the presentations.
The teams came out one by one and the riders were introduced. There was, of course, loud applause for the British riders but even Americans like George Hincapie were welcomed loudly. Unsprisingly, there was no mention of Floyd Landis (who's verdict was rumored to be coming out today).
After the final team was presented (local favorite, Bradly Wiggins' Cofidis team), a band started playing and the crowd dispersed. Tomorrow is the prologue, and I hope to get a good viewing spot.
Thursday, July 5, 2007
Belgium
Just got back from our short trip to Belgium. We left London early on the Eurostar train to Bruges on Wednesday. We did a lot of walking around the pedestrian areas and Christine called it the Estes Park of Belgium. It was a fun city to walk around. We visited an old brewery, drank some good Belgian beer, and ate some chocolate. We were full of beer and junk food, so for dinner we just had a bread and prosciutto appetizer and some more beer. This morning we took a boat trip that goes along the canals of the city. We did some more walking around and found a couple nice places to have waffles, fries, and ice cream for "lunch".
Tomorrow is that start of the Tour de France festivities. The team presentations start at 6PM and I'm looking forward to all the craziness.
Tomorrow is that start of the Tour de France festivities. The team presentations start at 6PM and I'm looking forward to all the craziness.
Tuesday, July 3, 2007
London - Wimbledon, Potter, Walking
We arose early this morning so we could walk to the train station with Christine's dad. The station is about 1.25 miles from the house, and he walks it every day. Combined with the other walking he does in the city, he gets a lot of walking exercise.
From the train station, we jogged back home to eat and shower. Then it was back to the train, this time for our own trip out. Our first stop was Wimbledon. Centre court tickets are pricey, but we got some grounds tickets to check out some of the action on the other courts. It was cool to see it all in person. The grounds crew was certainly getting a workout unrolling and rolling the tarps when the rain came.
Eventually we made it in to the city with the goal of checking out the Tour de France prologue course to try and find some good places to stand. We also stopped in a pub and had a couple classics: bangers and mash, and fish and chips. Along with a beer of course.
We were on the subway headed back out of town when Christine noticed a news story about a Harry Potter premier today. We were close (just a couple tube stops away), so we decided to check it out. Quite the mad house. It was a big movie premier; something that we hadn't seen before. We were there towards the end, and I actually got to see Harry Potter walk by and into the mass of screaming young girls.
Another long day and we're back with the fam. Tomorrow we have to get up even earlier so we can catch our train to Bruges, Belgium. Mmmmm, chocolate and beer.
From the train station, we jogged back home to eat and shower. Then it was back to the train, this time for our own trip out. Our first stop was Wimbledon. Centre court tickets are pricey, but we got some grounds tickets to check out some of the action on the other courts. It was cool to see it all in person. The grounds crew was certainly getting a workout unrolling and rolling the tarps when the rain came.
Eventually we made it in to the city with the goal of checking out the Tour de France prologue course to try and find some good places to stand. We also stopped in a pub and had a couple classics: bangers and mash, and fish and chips. Along with a beer of course.
We were on the subway headed back out of town when Christine noticed a news story about a Harry Potter premier today. We were close (just a couple tube stops away), so we decided to check it out. Quite the mad house. It was a big movie premier; something that we hadn't seen before. We were there towards the end, and I actually got to see Harry Potter walk by and into the mass of screaming young girls.
Another long day and we're back with the fam. Tomorrow we have to get up even earlier so we can catch our train to Bruges, Belgium. Mmmmm, chocolate and beer.
London - Monday
I woke up sometime around sunrise, but decided that was just too early to get up and managed to fall asleep until Thomas woke us up a 9:30. We had reservations at 11:30 for tea at the Ritz. Tea was...well, not my cup of tea. I packed a pair of nice pants and a button up shirt, but jacket and tie are required (which the fine people at the Ritz loaned to me). Along with tea, we had sandwiches, scones, and tea cakes. The sandwiches had the crusts cut off. The English must have told their mommies a long time ago that they didn't like the crust. Babies.
After that horrific experience, we took the tube down to a museum with a Star Wars exhibit. It may have been cool, but by that point I really wanted to walk around town at a non 8 year old pace with a non 8 year old attention span. Christine and I walked along the river down to the London tower. The weather was pleasantly cool with the occasional rainfall.
At the tower we reconvened with Thomas and Chris and toured around the Tower of London. Wow, the royalty sure were living it up while the peasants suffered. On the way in to see the crown jewels they were projecting a video of the queen's coronation and I just find the whole thing odd. But then again, I guess we create our own royalty in the form of celebrities.
Distance is measured in miles and speed in miles per hour, yet weight is measured in grams and kilograms. They drive on the left here, but yet on the escalators you're expected to stand on the right and walk on the left. On the sidewalks, people generally walk on the right hand side. It all seems inconsistent.
In the evening we had a good dinner in Chinatown and then went to see Spamalot. It was pretty fun, but mostly scenes and lines lifted from The Holy Grail. Worth checking out, though, if it's in your town. A coworker of mine is also in London and we met him after the show for a quick drink before catching the last train home.
After that horrific experience, we took the tube down to a museum with a Star Wars exhibit. It may have been cool, but by that point I really wanted to walk around town at a non 8 year old pace with a non 8 year old attention span. Christine and I walked along the river down to the London tower. The weather was pleasantly cool with the occasional rainfall.
At the tower we reconvened with Thomas and Chris and toured around the Tower of London. Wow, the royalty sure were living it up while the peasants suffered. On the way in to see the crown jewels they were projecting a video of the queen's coronation and I just find the whole thing odd. But then again, I guess we create our own royalty in the form of celebrities.
Distance is measured in miles and speed in miles per hour, yet weight is measured in grams and kilograms. They drive on the left here, but yet on the escalators you're expected to stand on the right and walk on the left. On the sidewalks, people generally walk on the right hand side. It all seems inconsistent.
In the evening we had a good dinner in Chinatown and then went to see Spamalot. It was pretty fun, but mostly scenes and lines lifted from The Holy Grail. Worth checking out, though, if it's in your town. A coworker of mine is also in London and we met him after the show for a quick drink before catching the last train home.
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