12 July 1965

You might know that July is my favorite month. What’s not to like about the 4th of July and the parades, picnics and fireworks. And of course the Tour de France takes up three weeks and is the most exciting sporting event around. I look forward to July every year and am saddened when the Tour is over, marking the move into August.

But for some July is marked by memories that are painful, and have for far too long been buried.

On July 12, 1965 a Marine platoon got in a firefight with the VC over a section of jungle that most likely no one cared about, a section that would be given back and fought over time and time again. Many of the platoon were wounded and they had called for a helicopter evac. The Navy Corpsman and the Lt. dragged one after another to the chopper for evac. On the last trip, mere feet from the chopper, the Lt. was cut down. KIA. For his disregard for his own safety, putting his men first and foremost, Lt. Frank Reasoner was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor.

And for those riding in the Tour this year 12 July 2010 marked a well deserved rest day. Most of the riders have crashed and are seriously beat up, spending hours with their physio each night trying to recover enough to go at it again. There are broken wrists, large chunks of missing skin, broken ribs, not too mention sore muscles (and under carriages!). Robbie McEwan crashed early on in the tour and is black and blue in many many places. His elbow was so deeply cut they couldn’t even stitch it as there was not enough left to stitch. And then after the sprint the other day a journalist stepped out in front of him, sending him again to the deck – at 60 kph (about 38 mph). His black and blues are starting to form one large mess. On their rest day all of the riders went for rides, as it would be much too much of a shock to the system to not ride. Their idea of a rest day was to ride up the Joux Plane – where Lance forgot to eat and drink and few years back, bonked and nearly lost the tour.

For us today we started RAINSTORM with a 113 mile, 4700 feet of climbing day. I want to whine, really I do. But then I look at the above examples and realize I should appreciate the great day and move on. But really I do want to whine!

We started out late and then got a flat before we had gone 1 mile! Rolling out of Richmond we saw a bright blue indigo bunting, a falcon (too big for kestrel but flew like one), a Great Blue Heron, and many other beautiful birds (where is Dale to identify these when you need him). And some road kill (2 cats unfortunately). We skirted the weather, ended up a beautiful day. Glad for the 80 sunscreen – would have been in trouble without. Lots of corn fields, soybeans, saw some straw (what is left after they harvest the wheat) and too much sun, not enough shade (of course shade typically means climbs!).

At one point I shouted up “Car Back” and then felt my shoe connect with something hard about the time I heard the low, deep throated bark. Looking down at a huge dog nipping at my heel, knowing there was a car back and I couldn’t sprint past the group for fear of the car and leaving them to the dog I screamed up “Hit it, Move Move Move”. Now you might know me – I never, and I mean NEVER shout for the speed to pick up. NEVER! Heidi looked back with surprise (her face was hilarious!) and then caught the dog – man we flew and that bugger stayed with us for far too long! He was MOVING! Then I was afraid he would tail off and get hit by the car but he headed right back into the corn field. Probably for shade and a big gulp of water.

It was hot. Hard to get food down but kept eating. Had chocolate milk and doritoe’s for lunch! So 4 gels, 1 chew blocks, ½ banana, milk, dorito’s then corn, mac and cheese, salad and blackberry cobbler for dinner! 6,000 calories burned so figure I might be OK!

Great ride, had a good time, massage after. By the way, that 21% climb into the lodge after 113 miles – not nice.

Final count: 113 miles, 16.5 average mph, 4700 feet of climbing, 6 hours 51 minutes.

I’m twittering too: http:twitter.com/lechatestnoir

Wireless is sketchy so no pics.