An Urban Triathlon
Never a dull moment in the small town of Lavaur
On Sunday the main street and the surrounding streets of Lavaur, were conscripted into the task of hosting a triathlon. An Urban Triathlon to be precise.
For those who don’t know, a triathlon is a multi-sport endurance event. Start with a swim, then bike, then run. I was about to claim that the event started in Hawaii but Wikipedia states it began in France, in 1901. Wikipedia goes on to say that the first modern event was held in San Diego in 1974.
So, why did I think Hawaii? Because for a number of years Penticton, BC, hosted a Triathlon which was a qualifier to the Ironman World Championship. The Ironman proper is held in Kailua-Kona on the big island of Hawaii.
We were living in Penticton when Ironman came to town. As members of the local swim club, we were volunteered to help host the event. We manned an aid station providing water and juice to the athletes.
On this morning, as Liddy and I began our morning constitutional, we found ourselves in the transition area. That place where the athletes trade swim trunks for bicycles for running shoes, it was just outside our door. Have to say, I was hit with a tiny bit of nostalgia.
Now, you need to understand, there is no fear that I will ever show my nose at one of these events as a participant. I am strictly an indoor sports kinda guy, sign me up for the broad jump, or chesterfield rugby anytime, but this kinda thing, you had best be fit. Really fit.
I digress. Triathlon. Swim – Bike – Run. I have no idea where the swim occurred. I suspect the Agout River, it is however, in a ravine that would require the competitors to climb a steep bank and run a few hundred meters to the transition zone. Perhaps I should have found out more, but I was fascinated with all of the bikes. I would also have had to figure out how to ask the questions in French. (I know, such a coward!)
It being Sunday, there was not much else happening, so we went down for a closer look. This, in turn, ended up with us finding a table at the Crystal Café. We enjoyed a coffee and a glass (well maybe two glasses) of wine while the bikers sped by.
Not a bad way to enjoy a sunny Sunday afternoon.
So, today is Friday, the triathlon was a week ago. In my last report I promised an update on our house hunting efforts. Well, we are about to sign a lease on an apartment in the town of Nimes.
Nimes is located about forty kilometers east of Montpellier. Not right on the Mediterranean coast, but close. It has the reputation of being the warmest town in France. This should be interesting as our apartment doesn’t have air-conditioning.
The city has an
from the last century BC. It also boasts a roman coliseum that has managed to survive from the first century AD. It is still used to host bull fights and rock concerts. There are a number of other sights in the area, the Pont du Gard is nearby as is Avignon, home of the Pope’s Palace and that bridge we sang about in grade school French class.
Nimes is a very walkable city, with bus lines rather than trams on rails. The buses have dedicated lanes and traffic priority which makes them on par with trams. Getting around without a car is easy. The bike infrastructure is well developed with many routes around town.
Nimes is on the main TGV (high speed rail) line between Barcelona and Paris, so it is well connected.
Our move in date is August 3rd. The lease agreement is 130 pages of French legalese. Going to be a long weekend, me thinks.
