If we do nothing, nothing will change

July 18 - Stage 14  / July 19 - Stage 15 / Rest Day / July 21 - Stage 16 / Tour Scenery / July 22 - Stage - 17

July 23 - Stage 18 / July 24 - Stage 19 / July 25 - Stage 20 / July 26 - Stage 21 / Photo Gallery

July 24 - Stage 19

Early start of the day as we we up and at the train station at 5:15 to catch our train out of Geneva. Not that we like getting up that early, but it certainly cuts down on the crowds a bit. We had already turned our car in yesterday so we wouldn't have to mess with that. Nice quiet train ride to Lyon, where we changed to a high speed bullet train to Paris. The first few years we came to the Tour, we ended up driving from the south of France to Paris. Partly because of the route, but partly because we had not really considered dumping the car and taking the train. Love being able to sleep for a few hours instead of a beating of a drive! No real problems with the train except dragging our luggage and the tandem around. Angie drags the luggage and I drag the bike boxes. We bought the tendem specifically to travel with. It's a Co-Motion Copilot, which breaks down to travel It fits in 2 boxes, not over weight or over size. Our helmets and bike tools fit in the cases as well as a few bike clothes. The cases have rollers, just like a suitcase, so it works pretty good.

Always enjoy seeing the way people dress when they travel. It's just interesting. Had to share this guy. Don't know if he was asleep when he got dressed or if he thinks something he has on matches.

Made it to Paris, caught the metro to downtown near the Arc, a short walk (considering dragging the luggage) and we are set. We walked around the corner and ate lunch. Had some really great fish and chicken. I know that's not much of a description, but it was great! Back to the hotel to watch Cavendish take the stage. Not really a surprise, but as they were approaching the finish I thought it looked like a small split appeared and sure enough, Lance was in the front, always attentive, and picked up 4 seconds on Wiggins and Andy Schleck. Ya never know how important those seconds will be.

We're planning on catching the LiveStrong Stages Art show either later today or in the morning. Have to clear the afternoon for watching the Ventoux stage. We plan on meeting some friends that we met in Paris at the Tour several years ago. Will be nice to see them again.

Went out to grab a quick pizza for dinner at  little restaurant that we saw close to our hotel. Pizza was great but we ended up meeting and making friends with two girls from Colombia, Margarite & Angelita, and their French friend Arnold. They were a lot of fun and bought us a glass of wine to keep us there chatting. Fun unexpected dinner. It's amazing how often we meet people and end up exchanging email addresses. They asked us to come back and stay with them in France, where Angelita now lives or go to Colombia and vist there. Arnold is a big basketball fan and wants to come to the United States and go to Chicago to take his picture with Michael Jordans statue and New Orleans. He loves the Jazz! Another fun day at the Tour concluded!