Final day of the TDU

Well we have made it to the final day of the TDU. We won't be watching the action today as we will be heading to the airport. But I will be getting updates on the iPhone :)
So it looks like Alan Davis will be the winner of this years race (barring any disasters). Lance of course has been doing his bit to keep the fans happy.
So what other things have happened this week? Highlights, or lowlights depending on your point of view include:
The PM gatecrashing the Hilton wearing lycra (just kidding ...... About the lycra)
Running into Stuart O'Grady's family in the lobby and his boy telling us his daddy's name is Stuie!
Grayson feeling up Mattie White's butt in the lift
Running into Phil Ligget and having a chat ....... well it was more like "Hi Phil!" to which he said "Hi, how you going?". I think that qualifies as a chat!
Getting one of the Astana team water bottles from one of the mechanics. As far as I know it could have been Lances ...... No, it must have been Lances!!!!!
Stalking Johan Bruyneel and taking his photo at every opportunity .......... I think I started to freak him out :)
And various other cycling related adventures.

I am blogging from the tram from Glenelg and when we get back will head out to the airport.
See you all back is Brisbane.

What a week!

IMG_0495
Originally uploaded by b boy.

Hello again, Grayson doing blog duty this time.
Things I have learned this week
- How to say the word "peloton"
- Ditto "Go Lance!"
- How to wack mummy/daddy/innocent bystanders with blue inflatable sticks that are just given to people standing by the road (provided bikes are coming soon after)
- One gets a much better view of things if one is seated on top of the father unit's shoulders
- I like motorbikes! (mummy edit - meep)
- When mummy and daddy go down to the bar in the evening for a glass or two of champagne, I like to keep them on their toes by running around the Hilton foyer, and up the stairs, and around the first level, narrowly missing (famous) cyclists and their entourages
Tonight I excelled myself by going to the bar's pool of water, splashing all the people around the pool with some water (well, it has been hot) and then repeating what daddy said upon picking me up and taking me away from previously noted soggy mess (freak, freak, freak)
It has been a lot of fun in Adelaide this week.
Back to Brisvegas tomorrow!

Detour to the Barossa Valley

Day 5 of Lance watch and we decided to take a different approach today. We hired a car and drove to the Barossa Valley leaving behind our tour buddies on the bus. Today was also the challenge race which means 7500 amateur cyclists hit the road to ride the tour route ahead of the pros. Let me tell you .... there is a reason some of these guys are not riding professionally!!!! I was surprised there was only reports of 4 people being taken to hospital by ambulance. Anyway after narrowly avoiding running down a few superfluous riders we made it to our first stop, Menglers Hill lookout. This is where the king of the mountain points would be won today (we weren't hanging around for that one as it was 3 hours away and we wanted to go to Maggie Beer's for lunch).
We then made our way past what was left of the challenge riders and found ourselves at Pheasant Farm for lunch.
It is very relaxing eating farm house food for the gourmand with such a pleasant view out over the pond. Grayson got to feed the resident turtles and ducks before running amuck in the gardens.
From here we visited a few wineries and found time to catch the professional peleton race by on their way into Angaston. Very convenient route they had planned ........ right past all the cellar doors we had anticipated visiting :)
And yes, we did spot Lance in the group. I mean it wouldn't be a very good "Lance watch" without seeing Lance.
Well the Aussie boys seem to be doing themselves proud so far but everyone is expecting Lance to do something impressive on the Willunga Hill climbs tomorrow so we are back on the bus for more TDU fun in the morning!

TDU 2009

Day 4 of Lance watch......
Today we took a more leisurely approach after our rather successful day yesterday. We sat back, drank coffee and acted like we had all seen it before :)
Of course there were a few opportunities to snap a few of the big name riders along the way.
The bus couldn't get to the KOM in time so we diverted to the sprint point instead. But after the sprint our bus driver snuck in behind the back of the peleton and we felt like part of the action ....... until a cop came and made us pull over :( Oh well if was fun while it lasted.
As you can see Grayson found a good vantage point and got a decent view at the start line.
Tomorrow we take a day off and head to the Barossa for a sensible lunch at Maggie Beers. Of course by some coincidence the TDU seems to ride past her farm so I guess we will get to see some of the race after all!

TDU 2009

Day 3 of Lance watch and today we hit the jackpot! We staked out the Astana team support vehicle just before the start line and waited. Just before the race was due to start Lance showed up. He was very kind to allow us to take his photo ........ Not that he had much choice :)
But the coup de gras was when we managed to get him to sign Grayson's yellow bike shirt that mamma pikies gave him for Christmas!!!
I even got a photo of Lance signing it.
Alan Davis has just won the stage and we are blogging while waiting for the tour bus to take us back to our hotel ........ Or as I like to call it, Lance central ;)
Photos will be added back at the hotel if the dodgy Internet connection permits

TDU 2009

Day 2 of Lance watch started with a bus trip to the start line. Once there we were able to get what we came for ....... Some up close and personal with Lance. Well as close as a zoom lens can get you anyway!
After the start we headed for the first KOM point and got some more views of the riders. After a rather hot bus ride (39 degrees and broken aircon on the bus) we ended up at the last sprint point before finally making our way to the finish line.
Back at the tour village we even managed to get our hands on a Astana team water bottle (used of course!) .... For all we know it might have been the boss's!!!
Hopfully the next few days will be a little cooler ...... Just thinking of the riders :)

Day 1 Lance spotting ... Or TDU 2009

Well we made it to Adelaide and have checked in to the Hilton. It is still an energy zapping 37 degrees C at 6.30 pm! Welcome to the TDU!!
The race starts tomorrow but I have already had my first glimpse of the great man himself. Over a glass of "the widow" we spied him on the mezzanine level of the hotel. Now If I can only work out how to have breakfast with team Astana in the morning we will be set! Tomorrow we head out on the tour bus for the first stage. So stay tuned for updates and some photos.

We're off to Adelaide!

Risky business impersonation
Originally uploaded by b boy.

Ok, I needed a title. G again, trying to update a sadly neglected blog.
Well, ok - we have been a bit stressed lately. And a lot of those reasons I can't really discuss in this entry.

But only three sleeps to go, before we get on a big plane and travel to Adelaide to watch this cyclist that mummy and daddy keep going on and on and on and on and on about. (Apparently they saw him in France four years ago and when they heard he was coming to Australia there were some very rapid transactions made on the credit card....)
I don't really see what the fuss is about. Yet.
As long as there is cake, Peppa Pig DVDs and cuddles I am usually fairly happy.

Other updates?
I have been sleeping in my own bed for the past 4 nights. Daddy is very happy with this but mummy keeps saying she can't sleep without me...
Aaaah. Its nice to know she cares
And that I have hand in this relationship - MWAH

I have been learning how to play cricket - although the bat keeps being taken off me when I inadvertently connect with some vital part of the parent unit's anatomy, or try and hit the ball towards the TV, or a glass of champoo (parental edit - Grayson's word for mummy and daddy's favourite beverage)

We have also been trying to cheer Nanny up a bit. I find that dancing around the room to my favourite song (edit - Metro Station's "Shake Shake" - sigh) usually does the trick. Today, Daddy tried to swap the music to a chill out album or Pink Floyd or something. DADDY!!!! You can't really dance to Pink Floyd!!!

See what I have to put up with?

Now, mummy is on call all weekend, so that means daddy and I need to pack for the tour down Under. What to wear??? When should I bring out the yellow shirt and livestrong armbands?
Decisions, decisions...

Sometimes it is hard being the Grayson