Reminds me...

Having been lucky enough to do the Randonnee du Centennaire in 2003, cycling
the Paris streets in the morning, before the peloton did it in the
afternoon, watching the Tour this afternoon brought back wonderful memories
of that day. Cycling the Paris stage on the closed roads - starting at the
foot of the Eifel Tower...up and down the Champs Elysee.. those cobbles make
for a bumpy surface.. and it *is* an uphill drag... then seeing Nathan cycle
down the other side of the Champs Elysee calling out, "Hi Mum! Hi Dad!" with
a *huge* grin on his face, as Vernon and I were still cycling up the Champs
Elysee... 10000 amateur cyclists, all in yellow jerseys (Nathan sneaking his
beloved CSC jersey on under the yellow), a vast sea of yellow snaking up and
down the streets of Paris. Riders of all ages, young, old, all sorts of
nationalities... it was *wonderful*. Me, a middle-ageed woman, at one point
in a group of exceedingly fit young blokes on bikes, being cheered by a
Parisian policewoman, "Bon chance, madam! Courage!" Jean-Marie Le Blanc
greeting us all as we crossed the finish line, shaking our hands. It was an
experience I'll never forget. If there's another such randonnee on the
centenary tour, Monique, go for it - it is a wonderful experience. I know of
three Brits who will definitely be trying to get a place if it happens
again!

Cheers, helen s