Feb 19, Tuesday - The challenges of day three in the Tour of California began for us in the wee hours of the morning when a group of hired hands quit in the midst of building the numerous tents we required for the Lifestyle Festival. Upon our arrival to the site, we were well behind schedule but our work crew pulled together and pushed hard to complete festival preparations just as spectators began appearing. Once our work was complete, we were free to relax and watch the race caravan hit town.

Included among the vendors is Rock Racing with a booth that exudes a sexy, rock and roll image. The big budget outfit is owned by the controversial and flamboyant Michael Ball who conspicuously arrived earlier this week in his Rolls Royce. Their over-the-top, edgy aura was not so delicately altered today when a police horse deposited a manure pile directly in front of their exhibitor space. After the mounted police lady responsibly cleaned up after the animal, the high comedy continued as we watched spectators blindly trudge through the remnants with predictable results. The last laugh was on us, however, when we discovered that lady cop had dumped the scoopings into our unlined trash can.

The state capitol building served as the hub for a circuit the cyclists would circumnavigate three times after rolling in from Santa Rosa. The sky remained overcast throughout the day and the peloton seemed to bring the weather with them as a light, misty drizzle fell on the rain-ready spectators. Speeds on the circuit's long wide finishing straight were frighteningly high as the riders shot past three times on their way to the final finish.

A quick tear-down had us on the rainy road for San Jose, minus one trash can.

The Terminator's office.

A clever kid backpack with roof and windshield.

Flowering trees were in full bloom.

The offending equine.

Lucky me, kissed by an angel.