100th Tour de France

This afternoon at the Chateau of Versailles, the one hundred and seventy riders of the 100th Tour de France began their final leg.  Thomas and I took advantage of this sunny (albeit hot) afternoon to find a spot on the route between Versailles and the finish at the Arc de Triomphe.  Fearful of the lack of parking and road blocks to the venue because of the race, we decided to take public transportation to Versailles.  So instead of being a 20 minute drive, it was an hour trek from our home in Garches to the Chateau.  The race was supposedly to begin at 16h00, so we found ourselves a good view location a half mile from the start at 15h30.  At 16h15, a friend at the starting line texted us that the riders were just getting off the bus.  After another hour, the yellow jersey finally appeared.  It was exhilarating.  It was exciting.  And a minute later, it was a mere memory.  Despite the fleeting nature of the moment, it was worth it though.  We were two feet from the winner. It was amazing how accessible the tour is.  Tickets for the French Open, France's famous tennis tournament, are near impossible to get.  But if you want to see a part of the Tour de France, you only need to find a spot along the route.  Today was a good France day.