Just watched the finish of today’s stage of the Tour de France, in the town of Gap. This time not too much climbing, a few in the 1,000 metres and one in the 2,000 metres range. Today the fellows had to cope however with Africa-like temperatures at least 36 degrees C.
All that heat was making the tar on the roadways soft, creating a hazard for the riders. Especially on the hairpin turns down the Col du Noyer, descents where they zoom along at 75 km/hr, thank you!
I call this race the “Tour de Force”. No matter what the weather is like: rain, hail, fog, sometimes snow on the summits, or hot temperatures like today, the Tour goes on.
And as if completing one stage is not challenging enough, let alone all 23 stages of the full Tour, any rider who gets to the finish after a time limit set by the race organizers, is unceremoniously kicked out - eliminated!
Today there were beautiful camera views along the route of the Haute-alps, taken by the photographer in a helicopter. The helicopter sent some horses running, accompanied by a lone donkey. They’re now all immortalized, on today the national holiday of France, Le Quatorze Juillet. Bastille Day.
Hopefully these past couple of blog posts have stirred some appetite to tune into this magnificent sports race, which began already 103 years ago! A bientot, Henri
All that heat was making the tar on the roadways soft, creating a hazard for the riders. Especially on the hairpin turns down the Col du Noyer, descents where they zoom along at 75 km/hr, thank you!
I call this race the “Tour de Force”. No matter what the weather is like: rain, hail, fog, sometimes snow on the summits, or hot temperatures like today, the Tour goes on.
And as if completing one stage is not challenging enough, let alone all 23 stages of the full Tour, any rider who gets to the finish after a time limit set by the race organizers, is unceremoniously kicked out - eliminated!
Today there were beautiful camera views along the route of the Haute-alps, taken by the photographer in a helicopter. The helicopter sent some horses running, accompanied by a lone donkey. They’re now all immortalized, on today the national holiday of France, Le Quatorze Juillet. Bastille Day.
Hopefully these past couple of blog posts have stirred some appetite to tune into this magnificent sports race, which began already 103 years ago! A bientot, Henri
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Tomorrow, July 14, is “Quartorze de Juillet” in France. Les francaises celebrate Bastille Day. You can be sure to see many tricoloured banners and flags along the Tour de France stage to Gap. Yes, the Tour has its history of cheaters using drug-enhanced energy inputs, but overall most of these fellows are going on their own strength. So we have recently had the amazing Paul the Octopus and his World Cup predictions, and now the amazing bike race of the Tour de France. Ah yes, there is a Canadian amongst these 120-plus riders, with the appropriate name of Ryder Hesjedal. He grew up here on beautiful Vancouver Island and lives nearby. We wish him good luck, or as the French say, “Bonne chance!”. A la prochaine, Henri
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From one very popular sports event to another. Maybe this one is not well-known in North America (although there’s a Texan by the name of Lance Armstrong involved), but I’m talking about the most gruelling sports event in the world, the Tour de France. (“Le Tour”).
Gruelling both mentally and physically. This incredible mega-race on a bike is already into day 10, with 15 more days to go. Today the riders had to climb the Col de la Madeleine in the Alps at Haute-Savoie. And that was after they already been riding 150 kms on their bikes today alone! So, for a pleasant addition, they had to climb 1 hour non-stop to the 2,000 metre summit. Then descend at average speeds of 70 km/hr right to the end of today’s stage, where again there was another 700m climb to the finish line.
I first heard about the Tour in the Lowlands when I was 3 years old, through my father. I am not a fanatic about the Tour, but I do respect the riders efforts and love the panorama and scenery these fellows have to race through. It’s a great way to follow the various locales and mountain regions of France.
Gruelling both mentally and physically. This incredible mega-race on a bike is already into day 10, with 15 more days to go. Today the riders had to climb the Col de la Madeleine in the Alps at Haute-Savoie. And that was after they already been riding 150 kms on their bikes today alone! So, for a pleasant addition, they had to climb 1 hour non-stop to the 2,000 metre summit. Then descend at average speeds of 70 km/hr right to the end of today’s stage, where again there was another 700m climb to the finish line.
I first heard about the Tour in the Lowlands when I was 3 years old, through my father. I am not a fanatic about the Tour, but I do respect the riders efforts and love the panorama and scenery these fellows have to race through. It’s a great way to follow the various locales and mountain regions of France.
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Did anyone notice the Spanish fan in Madrid dressed like an octopus? Also some people were wearing T-shirts with an octopus design. All thanks to the amazing Paul who resides in an aquarium at Oberhausen, Germany. See my posts below for more details about his exceptional record of predicting the match outcomes. Paul predicted Spain’s victory over the Netherlands.
And now there is a big demand worldwide for squid or calamari, pulpo, at the fish markets world-wide! Unfortunately, since this won’t do much to help this species. People have a strange mindset, now thinking eating octopus will help give them psychic powers. (Like in Asia where so many species are at risk or virtually extinct because of a strange mindset about aphrodisiac powers of various animal parts.)
We have our own "Paul" as you can see beside this post. Got it a few years ago on the island of Domenica, calligraphy courtesy of Natasha.
And now there is a big demand worldwide for squid or calamari, pulpo, at the fish markets world-wide! Unfortunately, since this won’t do much to help this species. People have a strange mindset, now thinking eating octopus will help give them psychic powers. (Like in Asia where so many species are at risk or virtually extinct because of a strange mindset about aphrodisiac powers of various animal parts.)
We have our own "Paul" as you can see beside this post. Got it a few years ago on the island of Domenica, calligraphy courtesy of Natasha.
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Now we have a fortune-telling or "prediction competition" between two non-humans: Mani, the 13-year old Parakeet in Singapore, who predicted all 4 quarterfinal matches and the two semi-finals correctly (Mani says Holland will win the final tomorrow), and Paul in Oberhausen, Germany, the 3-year old Octopus who has picked Spain to win it all!
Since we’re on the subject, did you know some smartalec coined the word “soccer” from the words “Associated Football”. Now I'm asking you! Some bright light of the human species spotted 3 letters and made a whole new word out of it. (A new name was necessary because "Football" in America points to another game with a ball. In that game the ball is thrown by hand more than played with the “foot”. Ho-ho!)
Speaking of words: SUK-KEGH (Sockeye Salmon)
Another item about a name. We live here on the Pacific coast in beautiful Victoria and are privileged to be able to have fresh Salmon on the menu, that I cook. As you know there are various species, and the one we're enjoying fresh these dayas is Sockeye. Now, I’m asking you again, giving a fish a name by a combination of the words “sock” and “eye”!
Who on earth coined that one, we asked? So we did some research and sure enough, some English brain heard the Coast Salish word for Sockeye, “Suk-kegh”, meaning “Red Fish”, and what he heard has been carved in stone, as Sockeye.
All we need now is to find a local native from the Coast Salish who can teach us how to pronounce “Suk-kegh”. My guess is “sook-ke”.
Back to the World Cup: now we await in a few hours the outcome of the consolation prize, and the tomorrow results of the mega trophy match. The Oracle of Oberhausen, Paul the Octopus, will he be correct in predicting Spain will win? In any event, some reincarnation from Delphi or Nostradamus had saved his eight arms from being sautéed in garlic, because he has also predicted a win for Germany over Uruguay today. (He wasn't popular after predicting the outcome of the earlier match between Spain and Germany!)
Let us not forget, Paul has as many legs as four futbal players! And maybe four times the brainpower of one who kicks a ball all over the place!
Henri
Since we’re on the subject, did you know some smartalec coined the word “soccer” from the words “Associated Football”. Now I'm asking you! Some bright light of the human species spotted 3 letters and made a whole new word out of it. (A new name was necessary because "Football" in America points to another game with a ball. In that game the ball is thrown by hand more than played with the “foot”. Ho-ho!)
Speaking of words: SUK-KEGH (Sockeye Salmon)
Another item about a name. We live here on the Pacific coast in beautiful Victoria and are privileged to be able to have fresh Salmon on the menu, that I cook. As you know there are various species, and the one we're enjoying fresh these dayas is Sockeye. Now, I’m asking you again, giving a fish a name by a combination of the words “sock” and “eye”!
Who on earth coined that one, we asked? So we did some research and sure enough, some English brain heard the Coast Salish word for Sockeye, “Suk-kegh”, meaning “Red Fish”, and what he heard has been carved in stone, as Sockeye.
All we need now is to find a local native from the Coast Salish who can teach us how to pronounce “Suk-kegh”. My guess is “sook-ke”.
Back to the World Cup: now we await in a few hours the outcome of the consolation prize, and the tomorrow results of the mega trophy match. The Oracle of Oberhausen, Paul the Octopus, will he be correct in predicting Spain will win? In any event, some reincarnation from Delphi or Nostradamus had saved his eight arms from being sautéed in garlic, because he has also predicted a win for Germany over Uruguay today. (He wasn't popular after predicting the outcome of the earlier match between Spain and Germany!)
Let us not forget, Paul has as many legs as four futbal players! And maybe four times the brainpower of one who kicks a ball all over the place!
Henri
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Who can foretell good fortune and misfortune for the same event? Paul, the amazing Octopus in Oberhausen, Germany – that’s who! He predicted so far all the wins and losses of Germany in the World Cup (associated football, which they call “soccer” here in North America).
Let me give you a prediction of my own. We see worldwide fame for this 8-armed all-knowing fortune teller. This will be expressed in Paul the Octopus toys, gadgets such as are usually made in homage of superstars or creatures that touch the imagination of the young and young-at-heart! His 8 arms will cover the globe, like ET or the Dinosaur toys. Hats, t-shirts, plates, you name it. Not just now but for a long time to come. And people will flock to his Aquarium in Oberhausen to see first-hand this amazing creature.
Now for Sunday’s final match: first, some weeks ago, I predicted Spain would win this World Cup. What makes this final game more interesting, for romantics and aficionados alike, is neither Holland nor Spain have ever won the World Cup trophy. On Sunday, one of these countries will be added to the ‘sanctum sanctorum’.
Now there are two matches to go for Paul to predict. This is the first time he’s predicted a non-German team match. He says Spain will win. See the story here at Huffington Post . And for Saturday's game, he has just predicted a victory for Germany. So maybe he won't be turned into a 'grilled with garlic' dish?"
And now there is another Seer, again from the non-human species: Mani the Psychic Parakeet. Based in Singapore, 13-year old Mani has predicted Holland will win the trophy.
I go with Paul. Coming from a Hollander, how is that for a non-biased prediction? Hup Holland Hup! Ole, Ole Espana! Henri
Let me give you a prediction of my own. We see worldwide fame for this 8-armed all-knowing fortune teller. This will be expressed in Paul the Octopus toys, gadgets such as are usually made in homage of superstars or creatures that touch the imagination of the young and young-at-heart! His 8 arms will cover the globe, like ET or the Dinosaur toys. Hats, t-shirts, plates, you name it. Not just now but for a long time to come. And people will flock to his Aquarium in Oberhausen to see first-hand this amazing creature.
Now for Sunday’s final match: first, some weeks ago, I predicted Spain would win this World Cup. What makes this final game more interesting, for romantics and aficionados alike, is neither Holland nor Spain have ever won the World Cup trophy. On Sunday, one of these countries will be added to the ‘sanctum sanctorum’.
Now there are two matches to go for Paul to predict. This is the first time he’s predicted a non-German team match. He says Spain will win. See the story here at Huffington Post . And for Saturday's game, he has just predicted a victory for Germany. So maybe he won't be turned into a 'grilled with garlic' dish?"
And now there is another Seer, again from the non-human species: Mani the Psychic Parakeet. Based in Singapore, 13-year old Mani has predicted Holland will win the trophy.
I go with Paul. Coming from a Hollander, how is that for a non-biased prediction? Hup Holland Hup! Ole, Ole Espana! Henri
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