Impressions

How I so wished to participate in the second year of Levi's GranFondo but surgery has put a dent in biking activities. Still, I had quite the day in Santa Rosa.




I walked 3.3. miles from the hotel to the event. Along the way, I encountered many a tattoo parlor, palm reader rooms as well as a memorial park for Luther Burbank, a prominent and world renowned horticulturist at the turn of the 20th century.






I came across plenty of tributes to the characters of Charles Schultz's Peanuts. Go Snoopy!








Perhaps it was a good thing not to participate in this year's GranFondo. Not sure I could handle biking with 5,999 other cyclists. I was thrilled when I saw biking buddies P and C come across the finish line. I was so proud of them. Another great moment that everyone seemed to enjoy was watching little cyclists (kids under 10) finish. Quite the show.










Last year, I snapped a photo of Levi. A thrill. This year - the big surprise.... Oh my God, it's Patrick Dempsey! What a frigging hunk. No different up close and in person. Frigging hunk, people.






I waited and waited in the hot sun for The Boyfriend to cross the finish line and I completely missed him! While he is not a Hollywood celebrity, he is well known in other circles and world renowned too, and a frigging hunk up close and in person. He had just gotten over a cold, and returned from a speaking engagement the day before, yet, he did the 102 mile course, averaging 15 mph. Wow! What a day for interesting characters doing this event -- later The BF told me that he saw The Fat Cyclist and his wife The Runner.

2009 Amgen Tour of California Stage 3

Oh darn, what's his name!

Today, given the gloomy weather forecast, The Boyfriend met me in downtown San Jose to watch the start of Stage 3 of the 2009 Amgen Tour of California instead of waiting on Sierra Road like he has done in previous years. He stood along Tunitas Creek yesterday to see the cyclists. Despite the horrible weather, people have come out en masse to cheer the cyclists! I'm waiting to hear from my cycling budette P as to what it was like on Sierra; P also did the KOM the other day; what a babe. As you can tell from my photographs, The Boyfriend secured us a super vantage point! Thank you Mr. Boyfriend.









Floyd Landis!






George Hincapie. Damn fine looking cyclist with a damn fine clothing line.







Our unassuming camera shy hero Levi Leipheimer, and hopefully on his way to winning the Tour again.











This guy looks familar.







Let's hear it for all the cyclists participating in this year's tour! We're into Day 3 of torrential downpours and gusty winds. Yes, California needs the rain to avoid the dreaded D (drought) but let's hope the cyclists get a bit of a break for the rest of the tour. And a big thanks to the Tour Tracker that is allowing Lorraine (who had to go to class today) and me to watch it online at work. Loved the sign written in the green hillsides of Modesto that said, "We love (shape of a heart) the Tour.