Travis's Pics from Provins

Adding to the collection are a few more pics from Travis for Provins. Check out the lack of crowds (small for Le Tour, large anywhere else).

Provins

Stage 5 - Epernay to Montargis.

Provins - We chose to watch the tour today from a small town at about the half way mark rather than the frantic finish as in Reims. The morning started a little earlier than we would have preferred. We parked about 100ft off the road behind about 10 RVs at the entrance to Provins, an amazing world heritage site. We parked in town and wandered around checking out a church with sections dating back to the 11th century. In fact, everywhere we look lies evidence of a history here much older than we are accustomed to seeing. It all makes the USA feel so young. Watching the tour come through was a more pleasant experience today. The crowds were only 2 deep at worst so, Travis and I had great viewing. While waiting, we met two other Americans, Matt and Cynthia, both doing the journalist thang. After the riders went through we met up for some beers and watched the rest of the stage on the flatscreen. After that, to the shops for some vin, fromage and pain in the park. What a way to close out the day!

A great pic from Reims

For the Reims finish Travis had a much better position than I and a sweet 300-600 2.8 lens. Here's a nice long shot of the lead riders coming out of the final turn into the straight for the finish.

On the road to Provins

After some fine espresso in Reims following the completion of stage 4. Wow, what a crazy atmosphere! I've never seen so many people spectating cycling before! Rather than head strait to Montargis on the fast road we decided to take the same route the riders will follow for tomorrow's stage. It was such a better idea than the motorway. We stopped a few times along the way to photograph more old churches and the like. This is also some insight into what else happens on the route. Campers everywhere. Farmers along the route clear sections at the edge of the road for spectators to set-up for the night stay. It was around dinner time so many were out sitting around little fold-out picnic tables, bottles of wine and baguettes. Seems that is the main meal here at any time of the day.

We found our own camping spot on the hill amongst other campers on a similar journey.

Reims

After a debacle on our part sent us in the wrong direction, to Montargis a day early, we now find ourselves in Reims. Here is our first tour viewing day, something totally new to me, Travis has been to the tour in the past. The scene is wild. It took us a while to navigate around blocked roads and get within walking distance of the finish. Loaded up with camera gear we head off. The last kilometer of the course is barricaded so we are trapped on one side of the road, the only way around is to walk behind all the event and team support vehicles so, we do it. Everything is so new and crazy here that I don't really care how far we have to go. The greatest part of the experience is watching all the people. i can't believe so many fans come out to watch cycling. We wouldn't get 10% of this in the US.

After picking up some tour merchandise we head over to watch the megatron, a huge TV positioned above the course to see where the riders were and when to expect them through the finish. First to arrive is the caravan. This is a parade of marketing madness. All the tour sponsors have badged up cars and trucks and made funny floats shaped like the product they are peddling. Pretty women throw a variety of marketing merchandise and product samples. Everything from hats, pens, bottle openers, mini cakes and sausage samples. Its a feeding frenzy! Of course I pick up a few things, have to get tour junk! Besides, the food sample come in handy for out on the road.

When the riders finally come through, it's nothing but a blur of bikes. I am trying to take photos. Travis is propped up in a window behind me with the big honking 300mm lens and I am trying to shoot through the crowd. Suddenly it's all over. Wow. Amazing! I came all this way for this flash of color zipping by. After a nice espresso we are heading out of town with new plans for tomorrow's stage, a smaller town closer to the mid point, less people and better opportunity to see the riders.

En Paris.

Finally here in Paris. Plane was a little delayed out of Heathrow but, still made it on time thanks to powerful jets on the plane, I guess we had some new ones that can go real fast... why don't they fly that fast all the time? I think that was the easiest customs/immigration pass ever! Never said a word and Bang, through the gate! Travis was there waiting. A quick coffee and into the rental car, a Citroën C8. We were prepped with maps and a GPS in the car, you'd think we could get out of Paris and on the road quickly but, NO! We drove nearly the full circumference on Paris before we finally got on the correct road and then, voila, we figured out the GPS.

On the road to Montargis, the finish of the next days stage and the start for the day after that... or so we thought. We arrived at about 10:30PM and luckily there was a Hotel open with a restaurant still serving. After a very filling meal of chips and beauf and wine we decided to find a highway rest stop to sleep but, not before realizing all the signs for Le Tour were referring to the 8th and 9th... today was the 6th! Shit! We were not getting off on the right foot.

After getting things straight we mapped out a new plan... get to Reims, the REAL finish for the next days stage.

Heading to Paris!

Just another quickie to let you all know I am on my way to Paris! Well... almost. i am sitting in Heathrow with a Starbucks coffee... yes Starbucks! Can't escape the wide web of American franchises!

Spoke with Travis and he is waiting for me, mapped up and ready to go once I arrive.

Got to go, plane leaves soon.

Avebury, England

This is how I spent my 4th of July this year... being amazing by some very old stones and ditches.

John, our tour guide for the day, insisted we visit Avebury on the way to Stonehenge. I'd never heard of it before but, what the heck. Once we arrive it was not long before the value of John's choice became clear. For Stonehenge is impressive for it's scale, Avebury is even more impressive for it's detail. Avebury, as a Henge monument, was created over 5000 years ago and took more than 100 years to construct. The value of a guide is immeasurable here. The skimpy brochure they provide offers very little insight into the significance of this site. Although I have forgotten most of what John said I'll recall what I do remember. Firstly, the 50ft deep, one mile and a bit in circumference trench all excavated by hand using antlers and ox shoulder blades as shovels. Then there is the outer circle of large (over 10 ft tall) stones and then another center circle of stones. Additionally, there is an kind of passage lined with stones leading into the monument. Without getting more history crazy I'll just add one more thing. This is all built on a ley line, as well as Stonehenge. Look 'em up.

Stonehenge

All I could think about was Spinal Tap and the dwarfs ("druids") on stage with 18" styrofoam stones. Okay, they are big and impressive. I have no idea how they got them up there nor why. I did take more than the required number of photos. I figured, I'm here so why not?

In ancient times...
Hundreds of years before the dawn of history
Lived a strange race of people... the Druids

No one knows who they were or what they were doing
But their legacy remains
Hewn into the living rock... Of Stonehenge

Stonehenge! Where the demons dwell
Where the banshees live and they do live well
Stonehenge! Where a man's a man
And the children dance to the Pipes of Pan

Hey!

Stonehenge! 'Tis a magic place
Where the moon doth rise with a dragon's face
Stonehenge! Where the virgins lie
And the prayers of devils fill the midnight sky

And you my love, won't you take my hand?
We'll go back in time to that mystic land
Where the dew drops cry and the cats meow
I will take you there, I will show you how

Oh!

And oh how they danced
The little children of Stonehenge
Beneath the haunted moon
For fear that daybreak might come too soon

And where are they now?
The little children of Stonehenge
And what would they say to us?
If we were here... tonight

Bath, England - The Roman Baths

While in Bath we had to see how the town got it's name. Not that long ago while excavating for a modern project, the original Roman structure was discovered. Today the excavation continues underneath the existing town. Touring the baths occurs mostly underneath the street. The orginal baths were built here because of a natural hot spring which runs a few hundred feet down. If you want more info check out this site. It was amazing to be walking on ground that was shared with people from 2000 years ago. More info is available here with more detail on the history. I'm afraid the English Heritage site is more about visiting than the actual history.

In Bath, England

I'm here! Finally got on line to post this. The ride over was pretty smooth on the plane. Meal was good and I had my customary bloody mary mix (spicy tomato juice). Took my sleeping pill which knocked me out but I woke up before it was finished with it's job. That sucked! I was feeling very sleepy for the last hour of the plane ride. Getting through Heathrow was pretty smooth. After wondering around the bus ramps asking questions for half an hour I finally wandered in to the information counter to page Mark I found his brother, Kyle. Whew! I was starting to think I missed them all and was going to find another way to Bath. We all loaded onto the bus and 2 hours later we were checking into The Abby Hotel. Very cool little english city. Jackie, myself, Julian and another friend hopped into Julian's car and drove to Bristol to collect camera gear, a rental car and someone from the airport.

After the trip to Bristol and some supper we grouped out the front of the hotel for a tour of the ancient Roman baths discovered under the city. More on that later...

Waiting in JFK.

Hey family and friends! I'm almost off to England, France and Switzerland. I'm sitting in the airport in Burlington, the plane is running 1 hour late but, this still gives me plenty of time to make my connection to Heathrow. FYI - I am headed to Bath, England to photograph my cousin's wedding then to Paris on the 6th, meeting up with my good bud Travis to follow about 8 stages of Le Tour De France!!!!!!!! On the way I'm making a diversion to Switzerland to visit my brother and sister-in-law and nephew for a couple of days.

Thanks to everyone whom helped me out!

Todd