tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31598621.post5452288402768838447..comments2024-03-25T22:21:09.417-04:00Comments on A Brooklynite on the Ice: Tour de France, part deuxThey say it's a cold worldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09059089212388940864noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31598621.post-39003473282129008092010-07-29T17:27:04.291-04:002010-07-29T17:27:04.291-04:00July 29th, Macnamara writes:
"Made it through...July 29th, Macnamara writes:<br />"Made it through Lyon today, very tired! Lots of good times along the way. May be back on foot by Monday." (The plan being not to ride a somewhat hefty one-speed very far eastward into the Alps, but to go back to hiking...)They say it's a cold worldhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09059089212388940864noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31598621.post-55258780966691014192010-07-29T17:24:20.977-04:002010-07-29T17:24:20.977-04:00July 27th, Macnamara emails to say:
"(the) bi...July 27th, Macnamara emails to say:<br />"(the) bike cruises. Hit the Saone today and will start south towards Lyon tomorrow. Rode the canals from the Loire to the Saone to keep it on the flat. You've got to get on this bike and camp. So funny, Euro campsites. Like this is totally normal over here, you know? People come over and chat but don't think I'm a wacked-out freak on this bike from Paris. It's like, no worries...people pulling their kids behind them in bike trailers. Good stuff. Camping for 10€ a night and having supper yummy dinners with glass after glass of wine..."<br /><br />Okay, now I'm jealous, and I want my bike back.They say it's a cold worldhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09059089212388940864noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31598621.post-59076542490768091532010-07-28T16:25:31.566-04:002010-07-28T16:25:31.566-04:00Paris ≠ Antartica, head towards Gibraltar, keep go...Paris ≠ Antartica, head towards Gibraltar, keep going south...<br /><br />I never meant to imply you did anything nefarious. Hey man, liberate! Steal this book, etc.j_Senderhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06449000179118322138noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31598621.post-74307916170997326702010-07-27T20:15:13.265-04:002010-07-27T20:15:13.265-04:00@j: Of course the secret is to flee the scene, and...@j: Of course the secret is to flee the scene, and the building, before the original neglectors of the bicycle have a chance to notice that you have done all the sprucing, oiling and pumping that they have been endlessly putting off for a sunny day. <br />In my defense, the bike was a geological specimen when I started with it, and I suspect the owner would have had to come back from the dead to claim it.<br />I don't think Madamoiselle Macnamara will need a bed, and I hope she won't need a wrench. The favor I want to ask is more along the lines of wondering whether you might have a bicycle room in your building's basement, or something like it, in which you could stash the bike until either I have a chance to come and collect it, or forever, whichever comes first. Mme. Mac's plans don't include passing by Paris on her way back to Antarctica, so the idea is to lock it somewhere where it might survive until I pop round and get it. In fact, it's a pity you've already run off to the Carrefour and shelled out. Maybe Carla wants to ride it....<br />Since you've unwittingly revealed that you have access to precisely such a space, it sounds like you could be just the man for me!They say it's a cold worldhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09059089212388940864noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31598621.post-34613639535545595472010-07-27T19:51:41.340-04:002010-07-27T19:51:41.340-04:00I have a somewhat similar story, but in my own bui...I have a somewhat similar story, but in my own building last fall. Almost got tuned into the gendarme municipale for "borrowing" a dusty bike in my building. It was in one of the basement bike rooms, I did so after being assured that it was perfectly fine by a wayward NGO working Oregonean who gave the impression that at an earlier time, he was rather pre-occupied with "sticking it to the man". Just my subjective impression. <br />After a month of biking around town, I got busted by the returning owners one day coming out of the ramp in the basement. A couple of ex-pat Spaniard grand-parents who live in the adjacent building. I explained in my worst Spanish how and why I was riding their bicicleta, THe Oregonean connection was conveniently away on "mission" in Central America for a few months. I went over to Carrefour and bought a new bike a few days later. <br />That was last October and I have yet to see either of the Spanish grand-parents out for a ride. I also found out that my "friend" from the north-west coast made a profit of 5 euros when he offered to have a copy of the bike room key copied for me at the Saturday market from the keyguy. <br />One of the small trials of being a stranger in a strange etc...<br />As for Madame Macnamara, a bed or a wrench?<br />Let me know, certainly a possibility, have to check with the others.<br /><br />Jonnyj_Senderhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06449000179118322138noreply@blogger.com