THE TOUR DE FRANCE IS HERE!

By Debbie Bulloch



Tomorrow marks the start of the 2009 Tour de France. Stage One of the TDF begins in Monaco and ends in the town of Brignoles. As an avid bike rider, I am already I am suffering from Tour “fever.”

This year’s TDF will be special for three reasons. As you know by now (and if you don’t know it is because you do not read our blog – so, shame on you!!! – LOL) on July 20, our very own Monsieur Arcabulle Odriscoll will be riding on L’Etape du Tour. L’Etape is for amateur riders and it is run on the same course as Stage Twenty of the TDF; from Montelimar to Mont Ventoux. For more information on Mont Ventoux and L’Etape du Tour (in case that you missed it the first time around) click here: L’Etape du Tour.

The second reason why this year’s TDF is special is because Stage Ten of the Tour will start in the small town of Limoges. One of BH’s members lives in Limoges so he will have a first hand view of the beginning of Stage Ten. Perhaps we can persuade him to take photographs and post them on the blog.

The third and final reason why this year’s TDF is special is because it marks the return of American rider, and 7-time TDF winner, Lance Armstrong. Winning one TDF is significant, winning two is special, winning five is extraordinary, but winning SEVEN consecutive TDF is an achievement that will probably never be matched by an other rider. Competitive cycling is perhaps one of the toughest sports, both mentally and physically. TDF is an epic race, only the elite of the elite, the crème de la crème can even qualify to compete. To win seven consecutive TDF is an achievement of mythic proportions.

Lance does not figure to be a factor in this year’s TDF. There is a whole generation of younger, stronger riders – times marches on, even for a titan like Lance. There are a number of new riders, from France, Canada, Holland, Spain and Russia that figure to have a good chance to win the 2009 TDF. Still, it will be a pleasure to watch Lance mount his carbon fiber steed and make the younger riders sweat it out!

In the USA, the VERSUS TV Channel will cover the race. You can follow daily race results by clicking here: Versus Channel

Today I went for a ride on my mountain bike. Going down one of the trails I achieve a maximum speed of 31miles per hour. If some of those darned trees had not gotten on the way, I could have gone even faster!



One of the good things of having a bike computer is that it helps you keep track of all the miles covered. In the last two and a half years since I last changed batteries in the bike’s computer, I have covered over 4400 miles. Not anywhere near Armstrong-like levels, but just enough to keep my circulation in decent shape.



Finally, if you have a surfer at home, this is what the entrance to your house may look like. Yes, those are three boards you see on the picture. Once, when I complained to my daughter about her having THREE boards (after all, you can only ride one at a time) her reply was quick and to the point, “Well, you have TWO bikes plus a stationary bike to ride indoors when the weather is bad; at least I haven’t asked for an indoor pool to surf when the weather is bad.”

She does have a point there. Next fall construction will start on our indoor pool, with a wave-making machine….(just kidding!)

FRIDAY NIGHT MUSIC AND MORE

By Debbie Bulloch



For Buccaneer Braveheart, who requested this Stevie Wonder song.

Here is for you Buc!













AS (ALWAYS)



Here are the lyrics, so that you can follow along.

"AS (ALWAYS)"

As around the sun the earth knows she's revolving
And the rosebuds know to bloom in early May
Just as hate knows love's the cure
You can rest your mind assure
That I'll be loving you always
As now can't reveal the mystery of tomorrow
But in passing will grow older every day
Just as all is born is new
Do know what I say is true
That I'll be loving you always

Until the rainbow burns the stars out in the sky---ALWAYS
Until the ocean covers every mountain high---ALWAYS
Until the dolphin flies and parrots live at sea---ALWAYS
Until we dream of life and life becomes a dream

Did you know that true love asks for nothing
Her acceptance is the way we pay
Did you know that life has given love a guarantee
To last through forever and another day
Just as time knew to move on since the beginning
And the seasons know exactly when to change
Just as kindness knows no shame
Know through all your joy and pain
That I'll be loving you always
As today I know I'm living but tomorrow
Could make me the past but that I mustn't fear
For I'll know deep in my mind
The love of me I've left behind Cause I'll be loving you always

Until the day is night and night becomes the day---ALWAYS
Until the trees and seas just up and fly away---ALWAYS
Until the day that 8x8x8 is 4---ALWAYS
Until the day that is the day that are no more
Did you know that you're loved by somebody?
Until the day the earth starts turning right to left---ALWAYS
Until the earth just for the sun denies itself
I'll be loving you forever
Until dear Mother Nature says her work is through---ALWAYS
Until the day that you are me and I am you---AL~~~~~~WA~~
~~~~~AA~~~~~~~AA~~~~
Until the rainbow burns the stars out in the sky~~~~~AA~~~~
~~~~AA~~~~~~~AA~~~~~~~~~AA~~~~~~~YS~~ALWAYS

We all know sometimes lifes hates and troubles
Can make you wish you were born in another time and space
But you can bet you life times that and twice its double
That God knew exactly where he wanted you to be placed
so make sure when you say you're in it but not of it
You're not helping to make this earth a place sometimes called Hell
Change your words into truths and then change that truth into love
And maybe our children's grandchildren
And their great-great grandchildren will tell
I'll be loving you

Until the rainbow burns the stars out in the sky--Loving you
Until the ocean covers every mountain high--Loving you
Until the dolphin flies and parrots live at sea--Loving you
Until we dream of life and life becomes a dream--Be loving you
Until the day is night and night becomes the day--Loving you
Until the trees and seas up, up and fly away--Loving you
Until the day that 8x8x8x8 is 4--Loving you
Until the day that is the day that are no more--Loving you
Until the day the earth starts turning right to left--Be loving you
Until the earth just for the sun denies itself--Loving you
Until dear Mother Nature says her work is through--Loving you
Until the day that you are me and I am you--
Now ain't that loving you
Until the rainbow burns the stars out in the sky
Ain't that loving you
Until the ocean covers every mountain high
And I've got to say always
Until the dolphin flies and parrots live at sea~~AL~~~WA~~~AYS
Until we dream of life and life becomes a dream-Um AL~~WA~~AYS
Until the day is night and night becomes the day-AL~~~~WA~~AYS
Until the trees and seas just up and fly away-AL~~WA~~~AA~~~~~
Until the day that 8x8x8 is 4~~~~~AA~~~~~~~AA~~~~~~~AA
Until the day that is the day that are no more-AA~~~~AA~~AA~~~AYS
Until the day the earth starts turning right to left-AL~~~WA~~~A~~~AA
Until the earth just for the sun denies itself-~~AA~~~AA~~~AA~~~AYS
Until dear Mother Nature says her work is through-AL~~~WAYS
Until the day that you are me and I am you
Until the rainbow burns the stars out in the sky
Until the ocean covers every mountain high
Until the dolphin flies and parrots live at sea
Until we dream of life and life becomes a dream
Until the day is night and night becomes the day
Until the trees and seas just up and fly away
Until the day that 8x8x8 is 4
Until the day that is the day that are no more
Until the day the earth starts turning right to left
Until the earth just for the sun denies itself
Until dear Mother Nature says her work is through
Until the day that you are me and I am you

After work I went on a bike ride along the beach. As you can see, the wind was blowing pretty darned hard!





Life at sea can be as harsh as it is exciting. This evening I saw a seagull feeding on what looked to be the floating carcass of a dolphin. (Using a pair of binoculars that I carry with my photo gear bag I could see that it was the carcass of a dolphin. The zoom lens that I was using was not long enough to show a better view of the seagull and the carcass.)

Just a couple of days earlier I took pictures of a dolphin pod frolicking on this very same spot. The dead dolphin was most likely a member of that same pod/family. Dolphin pods, like wolf packs, have been known to include long-established generations of the same family.

The circle of life!

(Click on image for a bigger view.)









For my daughter, the surfer-chick (love 'ya).

SURFIN' USA



And, finally, for all the California girls out there, for those who wish they were California girls - and for everyone who loves California girls!

CALIFORNIA GIRLS

The Story of the Tour de France - Part Two

Les grands vainqueurs du Tour de France

Today my friends, let me tell you about the great and famous winners of "le Tour de France". I will just give you the names of the famous and greatest winners. About 2500 miles or 4000 kms in 3 weeks ! it is terrible how much it is difficult. you shoudl try one day, just a stage to see !

One rider has won seven times:

Lance Armstrong (USA) in 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, and 2005 (seven consecutive years).

Lance Armstrong was a comete or a star, i think he was on an other planet. What I liked about his style was the way and the speed he had with his legs ! wow very particular !

Four riders have won five times :

Jacques Anquetil (France) in 1957, 1961, 1962, 1963 and 1964;

Contrary to the regimented training of many champions, Jacques Anquetil became the Tour's first five-time winner with a unique, playboy lifestyle, a profound swagger and tremendous skill as a time trialist.

Anquetil celebrated his notoriety with as much vigor as he rode. He led a party lifestyle and fit the part of a Southern California surfer : Anquetil had blond hair and blue eyes and often drove a sports car to races. Anquetil was infamous for smoking and drinking, and he uttered among the most often cited quotes in Tour history: “You can’t ride the Tour de France on mineral water.”

Eddy Merckx (Belgium) in 1969, 1970, 1971, 1972 and 1974;

Merckx said: "I hated school, I loved doing all the sports, but I hated to be inside. I left as soon as I could. It caused friction at home, especially with my father. But it was typical of him that he supported my decision, especially when he saw that I loved the thing I had chosen, cycling, and was doing well at it." He had his first racing bike, second-hand, when he was eight. wow ! very young !!

Bernard Hinault (France) in 1978, 1979, 1981, 1982 and 1985

The French call him Le Blaireau (the Badger) because he was quite agressive with a strong personality.

I do appreciate these years, it was so great with Greg Lemond, Laurent Fignon(who won 2 Tours de France). Do you remember in 1982 when Greg Lemond won the Tour and there was only 8 seconds at the arrival on Champs Elysées. It was somptuous !!

Miguel Indurain (Spain) in 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994 and 1995 (the first to do so in five consecutive years).

Indurain was considered a good team rider, but no one predicted his early mountain attacks, strategic defensive riding, and final time trial dominance. A cyclist of little bravado and few words, Indurain won the first of his then-record five straight titles with a 3 1/2-minute victory over Italy’s Gianni Bugno

Three riders have won three times:

Philippe Thys (Belgium) in 1913, 1914, and 1920;

Louison Bobet (France) in 1953, 1954, and 1955;

Greg LeMond (USA) in 1986, 1989, and 1990.

I liked very much Greg Lemond, his style and he was very strong too ! A very great rider and very courageous.

Like Lance Armstrong, LeMond’s career was interrupted by life tragedy. On a 1987 hunting trip in Northern California, LeMond was accidentally shot by his brother in law and suffered near-fatal wounds. Deb you must remember this episod !
While recovering, LeMond missed the 1987 and 1988 Tours. He triumphantly returned and took his second Tour title in 1989.

Seven riders have won the Tour de France and the Giro d'Italia in the same year:

Eddy Merckx three times, in 1970, 1972, 1974

Fausto Coppi two times, in 1949, 1952


Bernard Hinault two times, in 1982, 1985.

Miguel Indurain two times, in 1992, 1993

Jacques Anquetil one time, in 1964

Stephen Roche one time, in 1987

Marco Pantani one time, in 1998

The youngest Tour de France winner was

Henri Cornet, aged 19 in 1904. Next youngest was Romain Maes, aged 21 in 1935.
The oldest winner was Firmin Lambot, aged 36 in 1922. Next oldest were Henri Pelissier (1923) and Gino Bartali (1948), both 34.

Gino Bartali holds the longest time span between titles, having earned his first and last Tour victories 10 years apart (in 1938 and 1948).

Riders from France have won most (youpii, french are the best of course, it is evident !!hehehe), followed by Belgium, Spain, United States, Italy, Luxembourg, Switzerland and the Netherlands (2 each) and Ireland, Denmark and Germany (1 each).

So my friends, have a nice day and see you soon again for the part 3 of the tour de France