London Calling

Good Morning

Having fun in sunny(no that's not the right word) rainy(not really)occasionally spitting (yes that's it) London. We arrived Tuesday in the midst of an airport security lock down. Plane arrived early but we spent an hour waiting for a parking stand. We finally got off and the airport was a nightmare. Terminal 4 was closed to outgoing flights. Angry people on blue mats every where. Someone left and unattended parcel. In NJ the message is unattended packages may be destroyed or damaged. In London the message is they will be destroyed. Subtle difference. We got out of there as quick as possible. Found the tube and road to King's cross. Waited about 20 minutes to get a cab. London was busy on Tuesday night for some reason. Finally got to Sean and Kathy's about 11:00. Great pizza and beer!

Wednesday up and out with Kathy. She is walking to work and will point us in the direction of the Tower. Need money, stop at a bank machine. My atm won't work. Weird I called bank before I left so it would work! Try another machine Kathy says. Doesn't work. Just try the third. It eats my card! We go in and try to argue to get my card back. Bank can't do it it is against the law! Oh well I borrow money from Kathy and continue on. Steve and I have a great day at the Tower. Lots of history. Amazing to be in a place 800 years old. Lunch was at the the George. Good food and beer. We get a card, drink beer in eight pubs and get a free wallet. We drank in three as we stumble back to Kathy's. Quote of the day "Bob I am half in the bag and it's just the afternoon!" Back to Kathy's for lasagna and more beer. Mmmmmm Lasagna! I think I will have a piece for lunch today. We watch Big Brother on the telly. Kathy and Shawn are addicted.

Sleep in till 10:00 on Thursday! Turn on the TV and you can watch Big Brother live. They are sleeping. Like watching water boil. This is must see TV? Head off for St Pauls The audio tour was incredible. Cool to hear about the volunteers who saved St. Pauls during WWII. We had lunch at the Wattling. I had Toad in a Hole. Sausage, potatoes, veggies, and Yorkshire pudding. Mmmmmm good. hey they have a beer contest too. Drink in five bars and get a tshirt. We have a new quest! We meet Katy at the Globe Theater and see Loves Labor Lost. Stand in the pit for five pounds. Funny play about not falling in love and how women trick you and it happens. That never happens. We made it to intermission before tired legs took us to a pub.. Dinner was before the play with Pawny at his local Panasian watering hole. Nice cheap meal. On the way home we stop at the Jerusalem and the Belgium pub. Quote of the day, "loud and happy is the stereotypical American" Hey I resemble that remark. I drive Kathy nuts with my bad Shakespeare impression on the Millennium bridge. "do you always embarrass your kids like this?"

No one is hung over today. How did that happen? Yeah right. Kathy is already talking about detoxing after we leave. So far we are not as bad as Laura and Chris. Have to make up for that today. We need 5 pubs for our wallet and four for our tshirt. Plan is to boat ride today and see the opening Tour ceremonies tonight. Prologue is tomorrow and Sunday is the 1st stage. Plan on Sunday is to watch the Tour parade out of London and then hop a train to see them smelly and racing in the country.

Ok that's all from London. Kathy and Sean are the greatest! We promise to drink moderately(yeah right) and stay away from Podium girls(fat chance we have of meeting any way).

cheers

Bobby


Hello from London

Took a boat ride to Greenwhich yesterday. Had another great lunch of pork belly and coconut rice. Saw the observatory. Steve got a certificate that he was at the prime meridian. Great boat ride back we all took a nap on the way home.

We saw the opening ceremony yesterday in Trafelgar square. Weird French dancers. Discovery was introduced third and we left to follow them to their bus. I was not stalking Johann Brunnyeal their coach! We were part of handful who choose to do this weird. Saw Johann, Vino ,Oscar Frierre, Valvadere, Sastre, kloden, Boonen, all up close.wow! Just missed Discovery getting in the bus. Kathy thinks Oscar Frerre is hot All the riders were cold and ran into their buses Look for us today on the teli today we will be wearing BHV jerseys. Almost forgot I shook Phil Liggetts (versus sports commentator) hand. Told me "Don't look back, your making the race!" not sure what that meant.

Afterward we caught up with Pawney and Kathy's friend Leslie. Nice Indian dinner and pubs afterward. Favorite beer is Strawberry Fruli. Love Belguim beer.

We will be back next Thursday fat and out of shape from too much fun. Oh wait we left that way.
Plan is to chase the Tour tomorrow and see them in two places, on the Blackfriars bridge and in Tumbridge Wells.

Talk to you soon

Bobby

I feel the need to relate the true story of Bobbo and Johann Brueneil. As most of you know, Bob and I are in London England to view the Tour de France. On Friday we went to the opening ceremonies. After team Discovery left podium, Bob had the brilliant idea of seeing where the team buses were parked. Little did I know Bob had ulterior motives. Shortly after leaving Trafalger Square Bob spotted Johann, and the chase was on. Before I knew it, we were stalking Johann. The sight of Bob dodging from tree to tree, bush to bush was really rather amusing. But Bob was on a mission from God..he was going to obtain Johann's underwear at any cost. Finally, after chasing Johann for what seemed like hours, Bob cornered Johann at the tour bus. Bob begged and begged Johann to meet and discuss team tactics but alas....Bobbo was shot down by Johann. Bobbo then sunk below his normal respectful demeanor and asked for an autograph, and once again Johann shot him down. Bobbo finally resorted to trying to de-brief Johann...Bobbo thought the least Johann owed him was a pair of his boxer-briefs. The next thing I know, Bobbo had tackled Johann and had Johann's pants were down around his knees. Security and the bobbies showed up and were dragging Bobbo away. Out of no where a fat man with a german accent and t-mobile hat show up and talk the bobbies into releasing my good friend. Afterward Bobbo bought me and our new friend, Jan, a pint of ale in a local pub. So now you know the true story of the Johann saga.

Stay tuned for more stories of our adventures in London......

Steve

Jan called me Mallorca, before he left for London, just to see what's up n stuff. I mentioned to him that you two were going to watch the first couple days of the Tour. I told him that my friend Steve is a level headed guy and would be fine at the show, but on the otherhand I was worried about my pal Bobbo. I had an inckling that he wouldn't be able to handle himself amongst so many cycling celebs and perhaps Jan could keep an eye on him from afar. Jan said "you got it" and I told him I owed him one but he just laughed and said he could never repay me for all I've done for him. Whatever. So I guess I was right, Bobbo flips out and goes for Johan's tighty whiteys and needs to be bailed out. But, Steve, Jan kind of over did the rescue, he was supposed to let Nunnick go to the slammer until just before your flight was ready to leave, and Jan was going to let you borrow his Porsche and hook you up with some retired podium girls he knows and have them show you around London while Bobbo had a tea party with the other hooligans in the klink. Oh well, maybe next time

pk