havecarryonwilltravel

Today is the final stage of the 2015 Tour of Alberta. Murray and I look forward to this stage as it is an 11 lap circuit in downtown Edmonton, has some exciting hill climbs, crazy fast descents and is walkable.

We park in our secret spot, walk to the hairpin turn at the bottom of Bellamy Hill and only have to wait about 10 minutes before the peleton swooshes by. I hold my breath as the riders pass as I am in the path of a miscalculation around the corner. I am ready to jump out of the way, if necessary.

The next two circuits we spend at the top of Bellamy Hill as lap 3 is part of the KOM and I want to cheer on Ben Perry, a Canadian, riding for Silber. Perry does not disappoint and there is a race up the hill to garner the KOM points. (He goes on to win the KOM title.) I clang my bell and clap my clapper along with the rest of the crowd cheering.

The bottom of Bellamy Hill.

We then spend the remaining laps walking along the route, stopping each time the racers rush by, Murray to shot photos, me to cheer. We meet people from the different segments of our life and stop to chat. The stage brings out Edmontonians and the turn out is great.

The finish is fast and loud. We wander along the team buses, Murray chatting to a coach from the Hincapie team and an Austrian rider from the Giant team. We pick up a couple of water bottles, always a good find.

All of a sudden the Tour of Alberta is over.

Up early again. Outside temp at Wabasso Campground is a balmy 2 C. We break camp in record time and scoot up Marmot Road. Get stopped at the gates to the ski hill. G & M, folks we met yesterday, are just turning around and we both park just outside the gate. It’s 7:30 and now we wait.

We walk up the road to the finish line. We hang out in the lodge, read, chat, watch the clouds lift. We go back down to the car, eat lunch, reorg. We walk back up the hill, sit outside, listen to the entertainment, watch the race live when it comes onto the big screen. When the peleton rounds the corner onto the last climb we walk down the hill to a spot good for cheering and taking photos.

We cheer, I rattle my bell and clap my clapper, Murray takes photos. The peleton is once again spread out over the hill. Another great climb on the Tour of Alberta.

We are going to miss Stage 5 tomorrow as we are attending the ITU Triathlon in Edmonton where Murray has gotten official photographer credentials. (WHO HOO!) We will be in downtown Edmonton for the last stage of the tour. See you then!

Panic. Slept in. Managed to miss two alarms. 45 mins. behind and haven’t even started to pack the tent. We don’t know if we will be able to turn right out of the campground and get up to the finish and they are closing the road at 8am. I’m thinking the closure is at Highway 16 but best not take a chance.

We make the corner at 7:30, 32 minutes to pack, and 30 minutes ahead of any fellow in red that might appear. We reach the top and things are in full swing. There really isn’t much room up here. We drive right past everyone like we own the place and park way in the back near the picnic area. Waking up late does not allow time for breakfast so we pull out all the supplies, clear the snow off the table and eat. No one says boo. The temperature has risen slightly from the 4 C and it just might be a pleasant day.

Scouting out the best spot to watch the race on the way up we leave our spot and park just outside the 300M barriers in the gravel off the side of the road. This is going to be the spot from where we watch the race. I think the riders that want a stage win will try from here.

A couple of hours are whiled away in the RAV 4 reading. The hot pool beckons. It is warm, real warm, they say  40 C. It is nice to have heat deep inside our bodies for the first time in 3 days. Clean and warm we eat lunch in the lobby of the pool.

1pm and the race appears real time on the big screen TV at the finish line. 1/2 hour later and the obnoxious announcer screams at us. Generally knowledgeable guy but his announcing style is in your face and frankly not needed north of the 49th. We persevere for another 1/2 hour or so, the riders are at the bottom of the climb and it is time to take up station.

The flashing lights are in the distance, the riders appear. Make noise and cheer. The climb has had a devastating effect on the peloton. It has been ripped to shreds. A group of 15, then 5, ones and twos, another small group, and on and on. The time gaps will be big and the race is on.

Tomorrow is another day to pull out some time but today’s stage was hard and there will be some tired legs.

The face says it all.