Jim & Holly's Tour des Alps

Jim and I took the train from Dole to Paris on Sunday. After much hilarity in trying to find our way across the Champs-Elysées to our hotel. We managed to get checked in, take a much needed nap and head back out to the Champs-Elysées to watch the final stage of the Tour. Thousands of people lined the Champs-Elysées and Jim and I found a quiet little spot just off the street to watch from. We did see much but at that point we were not worried about not seeing Lance up close and personal. We just wanted to be there in the moment. We ended up watching Lance accept his 6th GC win on the giant Jumbo Screen in the midst of the crowd. This irony was not lost on us taht we were in Paris watching the tour on a giant t.v screen. Regardless, hearing the National Anthem and knowing that less than 500m away were some of the greatest cyclists of our lifetime was extremely satisfying!

The rest of our trip involved relaxing, eating some good food, hitting the major sights (Nortre Dame Catherdral, Eiffel Tower and Louve) briefly and just enjoying a full day in France without a bike.

It is safe to say that for both Jim and myself, this trip was more than we expected in so many ways. Nothing can prepare you for the French Alps the first time, nothing. It is beautiful, difficult, barren and overwhelming. We are coming back again someday to ride these Cols again. I have some unfinished business with the Col de Glandon, the Col de la Croix de Fer and the Col de la Madeline.

VIVE LE TOUR!