Final Stage...then a Red Eye HOME!

Waking up Sunday morning was exciting and a downer all at one time. I was ready to pack my duds one last time, get off a bike for a day or two and get home to see Susie and my pups. The downer...it has all gone by so fast. As Jamie who drives the "speaker car" up front announcing said at the start...it is kind of like leaving summer camp!

Mt. Palamar was the story for the day....word had it that folks had been camping along an 8 mile stretch 2 days prior. I wasn't sure what to expect from the last day....thousands of photo's had been shot off the bike....what scenario had we possibly missed?

Apparently we had missed quite a bit...Doug must have had 10 shots of espresso as he worked my ass off in the peleton and roadside!
Back to the mountain...the crowds reminded me of watching the Tour on TV.....huge, in the road, dressed to thrill...dressed to kill....dressed to be arrested....I haven't seen so much skin since, well that is another story.

The decent was insane! We stayed at the top, shot the leaders and jumped in behind the main field and for 11 miles looked for an opportunity to overtake the field down the hill. Instead we were bangin' and rubbin' team cars as most of the ride down we were 3 abreast at 50 mph plus!
I have described this job as 5 hours in the saddle and 15 to 20 minutes the pucker factor redlines!

Doug wanted to follow the group down to 4 miles to go off a decent just to be sure everyone cleared the grade....especially the leaders. We passed in a wide spot and hauled into town to get to the finish line in time for him to set up for the finish. After our thank yous I motored over to the curb pulled off my helmet and sat there for a minute wondering if I was just that tired or did others feel like the day was a feeding frenzy. Come to find out...3 other photo drivers felt the same as me....earned their money for the day!

As Lance came across the line, 4 officers on bicycles and 2 police motors escorted him to his rig...his days of anonymity are over.

A great week...the longest race I have ever worked....a ton of experience gained...and ready to get off the moto and drive the Mini a few days!

Thank you for your interest and reading my happenings....check in from time to time as I will continue to update over the year. No Georgia this year...bummed about that....maybe it will come back...really loved that race!