Bike Race 2018

In late June our community opened its doors to host a very special bike race.  This race is actually one part of a ten day race.  Bikers race on a circuit over and over for a certain amount of time.  Amazingly, this year the race went past OUR house!  Since our street has a major hill they were working pretty hard each time they past our house! What a thrill!   Because there are so many categories,  the races run most of the day.  I walked the circuit many times throughout the day and watched races from many different places.  It was so much fun and addicting.  The downtown had a festival atmosphere, but instead of a smell of alcohol in the air there was a smell of protein bars and sunscreen.  It was such a special crowd of athletes and fans!  

We watched the final race at some of the key downhill curves which just happens to be at some of our good friend's house!  We witnessed a scary crash where a biker hit someone who was carelessly crossing the street.  It was quite a tragic sight to see.  

One of my highlights was early in the day during the kids races a boy who was about 12 years old was working hard up our hill and said to another competitor, "This is a very nice neighborhood."  That made me smile.  

The view from the front of our house. 

Heading down the hill with the church and our house in the background!

Really fast!

Bottom of the longest downhill (another church in the background on this one).

Where we viewed the final race. (You can see if bit of our church at the top of the hill)

Coming around the curve and heading down the hill!

Our neighbor S decided to take full advantage of the festival atmosphere.  Our kids helped a bit.

M and T: Business was good.  We sold out!

M decided he didn't want to watch that much of the bike race and went up to the top of a different hill where police were blocking off the road.

M: It was fun chatting with the police. 

 M stayed with his police friends for the entire race.  I bet he talked with them for two hours!  I am so thankful he has such a good relationship with the local officers.  They were very good to him and let him check out the car and even turn on the lights!

M: What a day!

M: I could get used to this!

M: These guys were great!