Sorry no photos today. Easyinternet sucks big time. It uses Windows 98 and the USB port is completely dead. Grumble – I´ll boycott them in London so hopefully you´ll get to see some photos soon.

Barcelona has hit the top 10 of my favourite cities in the world. The old town is a walkers paradise with a myriad of tiny pedestrainised paths hiding all sorts of fascinating things. For those gunzels out there its public transport system is integrated, its prices reasonable and its metro makes it a breeze to get around.

The Spanish experience commenced on the night train, which offered a comfortable service with everything in Spanish and Spanish speaking staff only. The food on board the train was good too. We had thought we had left the French speaking world behind. But our dinner companions was an elderly artist from Paris, who had lived in Melbourne from 1947 to 1950 and wished to speak in English to us Australians because he has fond memories of Melbourne. He was travelling with his brother in law from Switzerland. It is a sad day when my French has to be relied on for translations.

We´ve seen lots of art and lots of hot sweaty bodies. Gorged ourselves on Paella and other good food. Tonight its the turn of the Tapas bar washed down with good local beer. Tomorrow we return by night train so I will be filled again with good spanish food.

I need to increase my fitness regime and go on a diet when I come back.

While waiting for the cyclists to turn up, an hour before the caravan of cars and floats goes by the entire route – rain or shine.

When we watched the start of stage 7, it rained on and off for about two hours. When this went by the lion and the guy look drenched. I don´t know if I would want to drive this the entire legth of the race!

It was disappointing that you couldn´t even by a small one of these at the sales tent… but we did get a couple of t-shirts :)

Helen asked me not to upload this photo… but she uploaded mine..

Here she stands with the full kit on breathing through the fireman breathing apparatus.

It is hot!!! and there is no fire.

We have eaten soo much French food, I know I have gained weight. We have eaten:
Frogs legs
Duck Gizzards
Sea snails
and a variety of sea food for which I can not remember the names. Not forgetting, crossants, french bread (ah), normandie butter, vast quantities of drinks. looking forward to going to the gym!

BTW – this meal was fabulous!

HK

We went on a Segway tour of Paris. The segway was better than the information provided than the guide.

HK

Maybe Kym should get a new job? He just fitted the suit. Must be all the good food we have eaten.

Christophe gave us a guided tour of the fire station where he works. It includes ambulance services as well as some of the services which we know are provided by the CFS. Very different to the South Australian set-up.

>HK

Helen, Chrisophe, Vanessa and I along with more than 1 million others watched this stunning spectacle.

Karlsruhe is a bike and public transport city. It has excellent bike paths and excellent public transport. It was very enjoyable – Adelaide could be like this!

On Sunday we had our best position for the start of the race – as the cyclists had to go by in order to get in the position for the start.

We arrived at 8am in order to get a good spot – and the race didn’t start until 12pm. Thankfully it did not rain, or have a cold wind like the previous days. During this time (it is amazing how fast it goes), a number of the sponsors come around and give you giveaways such as coffee (we have 4 small bags to bring home), hats, banging sticks which you inflate, lollies, phone cards etc.

Prior to the race commencing there are a number of presentations for junior cyclists, the caravan with all the sponsors leaves An hour before the start, as well as the cyclists signing in.

We did take an Australian flag with us – the only one we saw on this day. We didn’t get anything signed (Stuart O’Grady went to the other side of the road – must of been the flag), but we took some great photos. It was fantastic!

HK

We saw three stages of the tour de France in Lorraine, Alsace and Germany.

We saw two starts (and received lots of ree stuff)at Lunéville and Gérardmer, one King of the Mountain at Col de La Schlucht.

There was lots and lots of people and we waited a lonng time but the atmosphere and the caravan kept us going. We had shining sun, rain and cold winds – but it was all good.

At the last start Helen got some good close ups of the riders which we may post later. We screamed to get Stueys attention; while we got our knod we didn’t get his autograph on our waiting cap!

Such is the life of the Tour De France. Next time we go; we will chase the mountains in a motor home and satellite TV!!!!!!!!!!