What time is it? It's TOUR TIME!

Yes indeed....it's THAT time again. le Tour de France starts TOMORROW (1 July)! Jeannie just changed our DTV package so we now have NBCSportsHD channel. I was going to go for the NBCSports Gold internet package, but we have DSL (not very high speed) and we've had issues trying to stream video. However it would be nice to have an entire YEAR of NBCSports cycling broadcasts for the price of $39.99. I still might go for that, as it will let me watch the Vuelta in Sept, and all the spring classics next year as the cycling package expires June 30th next year.

But enough on that...on to le TOUR!

I have NO IDEA who to root for, haven't even LOOKED at the teams. I guess I'm hitting this year about as in-the-dark as I've been before the start of the race. I was actually still supposed to be in Minnesota but I was able to sneak out a week early (saved a week of my vacation time) as my mom's sister-in-law flew in the day I left. So I only used all my sick-time (I had 2 weeks).

So. Susie, I see you already have your party-pants on and commented on my old post (as I am SO slow in getting a Tour post up). You've got your guide and are ready to go...good on ya! I'm just showing up with the clothes on my back so to speak. But it's better than not showing up at all, that's my story and I'm sticking to it.

OK...it's 10pm and I need to get to bed, as I'm getting up EARLY...why you ask? BECAUSE STAGE 1 IS ON, that's why! And I set the DVR to record the pre-show, and the pre-pre show (there were 2 shows before the stage tomorrow). I'll start getting my cycling fix in a big way. Jeannie will be quite sick of it by next Friday (when she flys back east on a girls vacation)...but after that I have Ca-rte-Blanche to watch le Tour till I puke. And then some.

So...off to bed. Back after the stage (sometime) to comment. Like tax season for the IRS, Tour Time is the busy season for my site of recent years.

Sayonara.

Tour Divide MTB race, furbaby pics, Minnesota calling

Hello...just a quick post before I fly to Minnesota to help care for my mom (TOMORROW morning, EARLY!).  There's a lot going on right now....the annual Tour Divide mtb race is underway...it started last Friday morning with the Grand Depart in Banff Alberta. It's a 2700 mile SELF SUPPORTED ride/race following the continental divide from Canada to Mexico. It has OVER 300,000 feet of climbing. The Mens record was set last year by Mike Hall, (I believe somewhere around 14 days) with a blistering pace of over 200 miles a day! The ladies current record was set in 2015 by Lael Wilcox, and she wasn't that far behind Mikes pace (albeit a year earlier). Nobody this year is challenging either record, but that doesn't mean that some of the riders aren't killing it, cuz they ARE! Here's a link if you are interested:

2017 Tour Divide live tracker

 I love following this race...it's just so INSANE! Most riders do well over 3000 miles as they routinely ride off route to get stuff, such as FOOD and WATER, or a place to SLEEP! (not everybody uses a sleeping bag..some actually plan on hotels the entire way). The fast people ride 20 hours or more a day. On a Mountain Bike! If you go to the link, up top you get the map showing all the SPOT locations of all the riders. Below that you see the altitude profile...looks a teensy bit intimidating if you ask me! Can you imagine getting up every morning after spending 20+ hours on your bike the day before, and the day before, etc etc, and to keep going? With NO HELP? You need something, you ride till you find it. Bike breaks, you fix it w/ what you are carrying or you carry/ride it until you can find a shop (you are allowed that). By the gentlemen's rules you're not supposed to render aid unless it's life threatening (ie: if I am carrying a part that you need, I'm not supposed to give it to you). Anyway....I find it so off the charts unimaginable that I follow the racers...if you click on their SPOT link's you get a quick blob of who they are, what bike they are riding and a bit more. But off to the right you can pick between all the race categories, and if you click on the riders there you get their full bio, including links to their web site if they have one. One of the guys (he's in the top 10 right now) is from Attascadero CA (about 70 miles away from me) tho I don't know him. Still fun to follow a local guy!

OK...enough on that. I have more pictures to post of our monsters.

 Our little darling napping on the top of the couch cushion. She likes to climb UP on things.

Just living the good life.

 Bonding (NOT) with PG. You have to give her points for trying.

 Snoozing in Jeannies good chair.

Now they're playing in Jeannies good chair.

 Oh look, we're just little angels!

 Abbey also likes to climb INTO things. Such as the pantry while Jeannie is cleaning it out.

 Nothing to see here folks, just move along and leave me with all this dog food! And can you show me how to use the can opener before you go?

 Some people call their pets "house plants". Here's Abbey imitating one.

It's like she's part cat sometimes. She loves getting up into the shelves for some reason.

 And here she's helping Jeannie clean the freezer.

 Sophie and Abbey napping ON MY LAP. Two cuties for sure.

Seriously, I wasn't snoring, was I? Really? Are you sure? I don't think I snore...not me.

And that's all the pics for now. As I said, I"m off to Minnesota for a few weeks...possibly 3 (my plane ticket has me coming home on 2 July, but if Mom is doing good I might come home after 2. We shall see and make the call at that time.

I will have my laptop with me, so I'll have connectivity to the world. Wish me luck...it's going to be an interesting trip. 

Later gaters!