TdF: Staying with the Group

In the Tour de France Knit-along today our intrepid knitter churned out a front panel. Yesterday she did both sides to the back panel so she is solidly within the peleton.

No progress was made on the biking front, however, as yesterday was just too hot and today we had afternoon appointments to get the Squidlings to. Papa Squid and I did walk around, however, in search of an antique watch. The search was in vain but we did find this cute cat outside of Myers of Keswick. We think it may be the one who was trapped a year or so ago. I was wondering why she was rolling around on the ground for so long and then ... she adopted the pose in the last picture. Uh, got it! I had a cat when I was a kid, I know what this means!

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The Squidlings went to the ophthalmologist earlier and now have HUGE pupils. It's kind of funny, actually. The upshot of this that Little Squid has joined the ranks of the optically challenged. No more reminding him to put on sunglasses! Woo Hoo! (We will get Transitions lenses in his glasses.) I promise pictures when he has his new glasses -- give us two weeks or so. Now I can clean 4 pair of glasses at a time! Saturday we go choose frames for me and the kids -- time to finally replace my damaged pair.

Tour de France: Crash and Recover!

When last seen, our knitter had a strong start from the gate. It looked like the vest was on course to win the first day's time trial with a completed back panel. One inch, two inches, three inches ... 17 inches! Then the knitter consulted the pattern for the next step. Knit 1, ssk, knit 28 ... knit 28? Um ... there aren't enough stitches to do that. Crash! And back to the start for our knitter. Think it was the fault of the British?

Day two dawned clear and comfortable with our knitter well rested. The stage was mostly flat and she now understood the directions. Knit. Knit. Knit. Purl. Finish up that kinky ripped out yarn. And at the end of stage 2 our knitter had recovered her place in the pelleton.On to Stage 3. Now the bikers are in Belgium and our knitter is aiming to finish the back panel. Knit. Knit. Knit. Uh oh, it's raining in Belgium. Watch the spectacular crash in the bikers version of the Tour de France. Ouch! That must hurt! Knit, Knit. Purl. SSK. And our knitter, stalled by the crash, comes in with the same time as the rest of the pack. Maybe she can pull ahead in Stage 4 -- the side panels.And somewhere in there our Knitter turned biker and rode 24 miles -- 12 of them in 95 degree heat and the 5.5 of the other 12 with a violin on her back. Her children? 11 miles to and from summer programs. Ice cream was consumed upon the completion of the second journey -- as a prologue to dinner.

Tour de France: The Rainbow Jersey

Just to prove that I am paying attention to the Tour (at least today) I noticed the rider wearing the rainbow jersey. Huh? Never heard of it.

Fabian Cancellara is apparently the only person entitled to wear it for the time trials as the reigning world champion time trialer, and he may have just won the first time trial. The Rainbow Jersey is worn during road stages by the reigning world champion road racer.

And there you have it -- a TdF update. On the knitting front, the first 12 rows on the back of the vest are done.

The Tour de France

Let's say it right now -- Fr ahhh nce.

In just two hours I can start my project! Weee!
For the record, I am knitting the Cheveron Shadows Vest from the latest Knitter's Magazine.
No, I'm not cheating, this is my swatch. I'm roughing it and did a quick and dirty swatch that seems to measure right. The yarn was washed after spinning and was not stretched so it should be in its resting state and fairly stable for the knitting. (Yup, the excuses are piling up fast and furious here!)

Mike has located our local TdF channel and once we come back from the Greenmarket -- off we go!

(Since we are not riding this weekend I have to get my thrills where I can. )

On the NYC front ...
No, it does not mean what you think it means. Apparently the old owners had the last name of Bard.


This is, by the way, the Hotel Chelsea. Very famous -- I'll give you more another day.