The Real Time Canine II

After spending 2 years writing the Real Time Canine, the adventure continues with The Real Time Canine II. Read along as I look for just the right puppy to continue the experience. After false starts with Tim and Jed, I am currently training young Tam, and Spot, which are both off to a strong start. Please visit the RTC II to read about training sessions as they occur.

Sunday, February 22, 2009

Don't blink

This has absolutely nothing to do with sheepdogs, but it was a pretty big deal in my little hamlet. 7-time Tour de France champion bicyclist, Lance Armstrong, made his come back after 3 years off in a race called the Amgen Tour of California, and he together with a group of about 100 other world class cyclists, hauled ass through town today.

We were waiting for them at the 90 degree corner shown above (that's my feed store!) where we thought they would have to slow down and we could get a good look. There was no slowing, and I had just enough time to take 2 pictures of them and one of those was the tail end of the group. Now, mind you, I didn't have time to watch them and take pictures, so in the time it took me to click the shutter twice, they were gone.

We were stationed near the end of the 8th and final stage of the race that took them today almost 100 miles from about 500' above sea level to the top of Palomar Mtn. at 4300' that included a 7 percent uphill grade 12 miles long. I always worry about my truck going up that mountain. You would think they'd be tired, and maybe they were, but there was no way for me to tell.
They were going way too fast and came and went by me in under 10 seconds. And the corner? Well I couldn't see that it slowed them down at all. These guys are amazing. This photo is of the Pelaton, which must be French for "a bunch of guys on bikes." In it somewhere is the overall winner, Levi Leipheimer and 7th place finisher, Lance Armstrong. Not a bad finish for Lance after a 3 year hiatus that included recent hobnobbing with the likes of Kate Hudson and Matthew McConahay. Who's who? Your guess is as good as mine, but after looking at the photo, I think the 6th guy back in the yellow jersey is Levi. Alay, alay! Or, as we say in this sunny So Cal border town...Andale Bato!

2 comments:

  1. Great shot. you did catch Lance he's in the front with the yellow helment in the astana jersey.

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  2. Thanks for pointing that out. Now that you mention it, I see the black socks he's famous for.

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