Etape 8 - painting Mt Ventoux beige

My Havianna deflated after about half an hour, so I did not have the best night of sleep. I was thinking of spooning with TBU, however thought that considering he had been away from his creature comforts for a week that it was not the best idea. For me.

After the usual hanging out, we rode back to the second checkpoint and were informed that it was to be closed to all traffic at 11am. It was 10:25am.

Back down to the van and we did the quickest pack up of all time. Back packs were loaded with roos, flags, paint, rollers, tray (more of this later). TBU and I rode the last 5km with a havianna each on our backs, which made it virtually impossible to see more than ten meters ahead. The wind at the top was gale force and may have had something to do with the policeman at the checkpoint telling us to walk our bikes up (which we did until the first corner before mounting them).

We realised at this point that we were on the opposite side. A bit of cross country work over some pebbles and we arrived at the barricaded section about 1-2km from the top. I have to make mention of how helpful the gendarme were at this point. They did not want people over the barricade in this section, however we mentioned that we just wanted to get down to a lower location to watch. All of a sudden they were helping us lift our bikes and ourselves over the barricades, and all in the name of common sense - so that we did not get in the way of others.

We found a spot about 2-3km from the top which was the very last part without barricades. The barricades actually started next to us. A quick kip on the haviannas and I declined the offer of sun cream from "Bruce the non-Australian", which I would pay dearly for later.

I chalked up our, now standard "Big Unit Tours" slogan on the road and we went back to hanging out and waiting for the boys in lycra to come through.

When TBU arose, he was quite vocal in suggesting we paint the road with the two litre can he had lugged up the hill along with the roller and tray. I was keen, however a bit nervous taking the plunge. So TBU lead from the front and started rolling over the chalk marks. Right in front of the world press (who loved it and started taking photos) and right in front of a young gendarne who had sole responsibility for this stretch of road.

That was all the inspiration I needed and I could not get the roller in my hand quick enough. The funny thing was that, despite the concern that we would get in serious trouble from the gendarne for graffiting the road, all he cared about were two things:

1) That we did not block the vehichles coming up the mountain, and
2) That we only painted this and nothing else (as if we wanted other things taking the attention away from our masterpiece!).

Hooray for the gendarne again!

We were now pumped and once the caravan rolled through, we were ready for action. Then the silence and anticipation.

Then they came.

The usual suspects Andy Schleck trying for the last time to get time back on Contador, then Lance, Wiggins, et al. I had a chuckle when all the press were commenting about whether Armstrong had come through, when I already had a photo of him. Number 27 from Astana popped a wheelie as he came past, which confirmed we were in the primo viewing location.

So many groups. Then the final group with the sag wagon behind them (that is how you know it is the final group!).

The integrity of Big Unit Tours was underlined when TBU made sure we did not leave any Aussie paraphenalia on the side of the road.

Now to find somewhere to stay for the night!