Tour de Dung 2014

Yesterday was the annual Tour de Dung bicycle races. That’s “Dung” as in “Dungeness,” the region in Sequim where the races are held. This race is held annually to prove how ridiculously slow I am at photographing speeding bicycles. (Sorry to the many bicyclists who have shown up on my editing screen cut in half. I’m glad you haven’t seen yourselves.) Yeah, and there’s something about bikes and races and stuff.

This is the first of two weekend races. There will be more next Saturday as well.

Local drivers, please have a care – and patience, if necessary. The race is well organized and cars accompany racers. But there are a lot of bicyclists on the road, singles and in groups. Bicyclists appreciate your sharing the road. And, for my part, I didn’t like avoiding a head-on collision with a truck that was hell bent on passing a bicyclist on the shoulder.

Theme Day: People on the Street

This month’s City Daily Photo theme day challenge was taken in a three hour window as I visited Seattle last week. Although people everywhere are interesting I doubt if I’d have found a cross section like this as quickly in Sequim. Click here to see other interpretations of “People on the Street” from around the world.

Alternative Superbowl

Last Saturday our friend Burtt (No. 10) competed in a Special Olympics basketball tournament in Bremerton. This competition is becoming an annual tradition for us. Burtt’s dad and his team coach, David, was a good friend in college and after many years that have taken us in different directions it’s good to be living in the same region again. That’s David’s back in the middle left side of the collage. His shirt reads: “Work for a cause – Not for applause – Live life to express – Not to impress.”

The urban vibe

We took a Sunday walk through Tuilleries Gardens, which dates back to the 1570s. It was originally the site of tilemakers (tuileries) who were cleared out to make way for the grounds and palace that became today’s Louvre Museum. In the late 1600s Andre Le Notre was commissioned to design the gardens that are still enjoyed today.

As we walked to the Orangerie, a nearby museum, I was struck by the seemingly unending mass of humanity filling the gardens. When the heavens loosened a downpour, within moments this crowd all but vanished.

Place des Vosges

One of my tourist guides told me that Place des Vosges is the oldest city square in Paris. As our trip wore on and the crowds seem magnified we found parks like this a wonderful respite from the urban crush. The weather almost always agreed, making outdoor people watching a real pleasure.

The square around Place des Vosges included this promenade with beautiful brick arches.