Allez!

The shopping area is just a five-minute walk from Roger and Chris's house, so after breakfast we did laundry and decided to do some shopping to replenish supplies that we'd been helping to consume as what was probably record speed for the Hardmans. We explored the area, had our first taste of fish and chips and stopped in at the grocery store. Our lunch was enlivened by the theft of a cash machine from the store next to the fish and chips shop. While we ate, we were entertained by the sight of English policemen taping off the crime scene and beginning the canvass of the neighborhood to find a witness to the crime.



Soon after we returned home from our shopping excursion, Steve and Georgina joined us with their own load of groceries. When the time came, the four of us headed into London by train to join Roger and Isabel in Trafalgar Square, at the huge party launching the Tour de France. We were enjoying the festive atmosphere when we ran into Nigel and Cathy and Pat, friends of Chris and Roger. Even Georgina enjoyed watching the giant screen tv, which was our only real view of the stage where riders were introduced. Each team came to the dais, was introduced and interviewed and then rode a circuit around the Square. We were able to see them loop behind us and get a close-up view of the riders.


Once the introductions were over, we headed to Covent Garden where we enjoyed waffles with chocolate for dessert at an outside table. Realizing that we needed to be ready to ride to Greenwich the next morning, we headed for home and went to bed.


In the morning, the five of us and Georgina geared up for the ride to Greenwich where we met more than 150 London Cycling Campaign people and were issued blue wristbands which got us admission to a special viewing area for the Prologue time trial. Our large group wound its way eleven miles through downtown London to Hyde Park where we locked our bikes along with thousands of others in a bike parking lot temporarily set up in the grass, and walked through the Peoples' Village, an area set up like a festival with food, free beer and performers. After a luncheon of fish and chips and beer, we proceeded to our viewing area.


The Prologue Time Trial of the Tour de France proceeds like this: the first rider does the course and his time is noted. Then each rider is "released" about a minute apart. There are 189 riders, so of course, this takes more than three hours. The fastest riders go last. This gave us plenty of time to nap in the sun, play with Georgina, walk around and take in the sights of Hyde Park, watch the giant screen tv across from our area and just enjoy the atmosphere in general. Only a year ago or so, I was saying, "Wouldn't it be great to be able to see a part of the Tour just once?" and here we are!!!!


The wait was well worth it. Fabian Cancellara from Switzerland, the reigning world time trial champion took off. From the first seconds it was obvious that his ride 'round the course would be different from the rest. He took first place with 10 seconds to spare! Watching him flash by in the rainbow jersey and helmet was a breathtaking sight. Though most of the crowd around us were pulling for the Brits, David Millar and Bradley Wiggins, no one could witness such a performance without appreciation of the skill involved. It is widely accepted that he may not win any other stages, since the time trial is his specialty, but it was a great moment to witness.


The ride home was quite challenging. We decided to strike out on our own, without the "peleton" formed by the London Cycling Campaign group, especially since we were accompanied by Roving Marshall Hardman. I am fairly sure I'm up to any challenge, since at this point I was riding a bike I'd never ridden before, on the left side of the road in London traffic.


This morning our destination was Greenwich. The riders would be arriving about 11:00 a.m. from London and at the Prime Meridian begin racing in earnest. We stationed ourselves in town before the Meridian, and at about 10:30 began to see the caravan of cars that preceed the racers. Even at the modest "rolling start" speed, it was awesome to see all the riders still fresh at the beginning of the race.


They were followed by team cars and buses. We made a quick visit to the Royal Observatory where Bob took a picture of his feet straddling the Prime Meridian, and we left for home. Once home, Roger fired up the barbecue and cooked the chicken we'd been marinating since yesterday and we ate in the yard. Bob and I complimented the British event planners who made sure that the two stages of the Tour that were to take place in England happened on what were apparently the only warm sunny days so far this calendar year!


We will pass a quiet evening waiting for Chris's arrival tomorrow and getting our things ready for the cycling part of our trip. Chris will arrive early tomorrow morning and we will leave by train for Canterbury, and then on to St. Margaret's-at-Cliff where we'll spend the night with friends of Roger and Chris. Tuesday morning, a short cycle to Dover and then the ferry to Dunkerque, France and a ride along the coast to Belgium -- just behind the Tour de France group.

Allez!