Changes

Trying to change things up a bit with our format. After looking in on a couple of other blogs I'd have to say ours is a little bland. Maybe I'll learn something and make this more entertaining for us all?! Trying to learn to load a video from our archive, not sure if it's going to work or not, but stay tuned!

Tour De France

Sunday, July 1, 2007

Tour de France

First leg of the race started in London and ended in Canterbury. We were fortunate enough to be able to drive over and take in the festivities.

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Setting up the street the morning of the big race.

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Jailee (sleeping) and mommy under the "Tour de FUN" sign. The rights to the actual tour logo is so locked down that the only signs toting it arrived with the promotional crowd later in the day. We couldn't even buy a T-shirt until we went to the finish line area where all the promoters set up camp!

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The Tower Bridge is on the big screen which is set up in the town center. The same location as the street ball the Friday night before. We watched the start of the race from here.

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After watching the start of the race we roamed around the open markets and other festivities of the day. Above: Jailee meets "Bumble", a British childrens program star. He is FiFi's best friend in FiFi and the Flowertots, one of Jailee's favorites! She was very excited to see him and even said his name before we told her whom it was, but as far as actually touching him - all he got was a fearful Hi-5 as she held mommy with a death grip!

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This is a miniature bike trail set up for the kids. They could ride through the world in just a minute or so. Places represented were USA (Hollywood sign), Egypt with pyramids, Italy with Romanesque columns, The antarctic with ice-like tents,.....etc

Although it was meant for the kids we did see a few adults racing their bike through the course as well.

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Below is the promotional procession. Basically its a commercial on wheels brought to you by most of the Tour de France sponsors.

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Finally!!!,...they arrive

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As quickly as you can scroll to the next picture, they had whizzed by us~

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Yep, hours of waiting for seconds of fun.

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These are the last of the stragglers, arrived maybe 15 seconds after the first.


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Now the race is over, we've sat on the grass to enjoy our wine, cheese and salami bought earlier at the market. We make our way toward the finish line to find that as quickly as they've come into our lives, they are leaving.

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The grand stand, after the race

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Packing it up, and it's only been over for about 45min! You can see Canterbury Cathedral in the background.

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Things are slowly returning to normal.

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All in all it was a great day. The weather was wonderful, even got a little tan while we watched the race. Afterwards we enjoyed a cold one on a grassy area across the street from a pub where we made our purchase and watched as things were dismantled.

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Below,....on our way back to the town center a couple of potty's caught our attention.

This one says "Loohire" - you all know the Brits call the bathroom the Loo. A far stretch from Honeybucket!

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This one really called our name!

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Hope you enjoy the pics!!!!

jx4

Canterbury England

A few pictures from our trip to Canterbury and a nearby Winery.

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Canterbury Cathedral in the background

(not sure who the little bratt is in the foreground)

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The two above where taken on opposite sides of a small bridge.

Just thought it was pretty scenery.

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Canterbury Castle

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Canterbury city centre. The French style street ball

~Jailee found her way to the dance floor

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She also made lots of new friends before the night was through.

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What's this?!!! We've stumbled onto a Winery??!

Learned a few things: (1) Before a wine can carry the name of the vine on it's label it must first be tasted by a panel of experts and they ALL must agree that it is worthy, if not it is simply classified as a table wine. (2) The wine made in England is a lighter variety because the country doesn't get the heat and sunshine that other areas get and enabling a fuller bodied wine to be made. ~ Now you know.

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Jackie and Jailee sipping "juice"

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Ta!!!! Da!!!!

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We've had our glass and now it's time for photos!

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Jim and Jailee looking for bunny rabbits.

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And I'm spent!

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What a great weekend!!!

jx4

Dover Castle

Saturday, July 7th 2007, we took a side trip to Dover Castle while staying at a B&B in Canterbury for the Tour de France weekend. Dover Castle is situated atop the White Cliffs of Dover and can be seen from the Ferry terminal below. Built around 1066 it also housed secret wartime tunnels used in WWII while fighting the Germans. The tunnels contained a hospital, dorms, kitchens, and were also a command center from which Vice admiral Ramsay initiated the evacuation of over 300,000 British and allied troops from Dunkirk - the beaches of Northern France. http://www.english-heritage.org.uk/server.php?show=conProperty.182 A little link for some extra info if you're interested.

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Dover Castle

(picture from the car park doesn't do it justice)

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The White Cliffs of Dover

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Shadow of the castle onto the courtyard.

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The Port Dover

On a clear day you can see all the way to Calais, the port city in France!

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Us in front of the Chapel on the left and the Lighthouse on the right.

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Jackie and Jailee inside the tower

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Thought this was an interesting tidbit of information. In case you can't read it this is what it says: Rain water from the roof was collected in this tank to supplement the main supply from the well. The tank was lined with lead.

This "tank" is located inside the castle walls.

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Entrance to the secret wartime tunnels. This is the hospital and street level.

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Jailee and Daddy making their way along a path leading to the castle and tunnels that go under the road

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We had a great time at the Castle. They also had a falconry show going on at the time, but seeing as how we're not bird fans we hurried out of the area quickly.

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jx4

Ladybug Birthday Bash

Here's a few pics from Jailee's birthday bash in Washington.

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Our little ladybug!

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Her cake from Borracchini's!!

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Papa Fitt, Danny, Cousin Jeff, Uncle Mike, Grama Micky!

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H.G. Milo, Uncle Nate, H.G. Monnie, Grandma Marti in the background, pink sweater.

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Grandpa Gary

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Uncle Lance and Auntie Theresa; Uncle Mark is cooking alongside daddy in the background.

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Too many to name!!!

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Jailee with Auntie Jan

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The party was held at Gene Coulon Park in Renton. The weather wasn't too warm, but there were no rain drops!!! Lots of family and friends showed up to help us celebrate and we had a great time - despite the mix up with the rentals!!

jx4