Today was one of those days where things just got better and better as it went on. We didn’t have to travel too far to see the TdF stage; our hotel in Villar d’Arene is less than 10 miles from the base of the Galibier (an all-uphill 10 miles, to be sure!), and then

(OK, something bad happened here; I had 10 paragraphs typed in that all just got eaten during the posting process. May be related to the continuing internet issues I’ve been having here. I’ll get things updated later, since it’s time to get ready for tomorrow’s Alpe d’Huez stage) –Mike–

Not the easiest getting up the Galibier this morning; first, Kevin had a seizure and subsequent face plant climbing up the Lauteret (he’s ok; this wasn’t a “Chris Horner” event), and when we get to the base of the Galibier there are literally many thousands of cyclist going nowhere because they’ve closed the road. And this is 6 hours before the race comes through!!!

But that doesn’t stop us. We’re stupid, y’know? There’s a literal goat path that connects with the Galibier maybe a mile up the road, and we didn’t come all this way to see the big stage on a TV in a bar! That plus we KNOW we can get there, while all these others are turning around and making plans to do something else.

Well here we are. 700k from the finish, and having no idea why they were turning all those people away ‘cuz the middle of this climb is EMPTY!!!

Oh, it’s cold up here so good thing I loaded up the rack bag with everything possible to wear. The light rain and hail seem to be gone though. Film at 11!