The Mellow Johnny's Classic

Today was the bike race, called the Mellow Johnny's Classic at Lance Armstrong's ranch. Scott finished 14th out of 17 (out of 20 if you count the three who didn't show) in the 20-29 age group in the beginner's category (called Cat 3). The goal was just to finish, so expectations were exceeded.

Brad and Scott, ready to ride.

This was their group at the starting line.
And they're off...

While they were racing, Renee enjoyed the views near the finish line.

Where the vendors were set up and the start and finish lines were placed was on the top of a hill, and although the day started cloudy it got really pretty by midmorning.

Scott crossing the finish line!

It rained a couple days ago and the course was really muddy in places. Scott didn't fare too bad, especially since he didn't crash this time :-) There were a lot of riders, especially in the early races that came back covered and splattered in mud.

Just as Scott finished, the pro category (Cat 1) was getting ready to go, which is the one Lance was racing in. This picture is from right after they left the starting line, and they were going so crazy fast we weren't able to get a picture of Lance. He's in this group but behind some people so you can't see him in the picture. We went over to the finish line to try and get him when he came back after the first lap but they announced he had gotten a flat tire and withdrawn from the race. He may have come back to the staging area eventually but we left shortly thereafter. Long story short, no pictures of Lance and since it's so hard to recognize anyone with a cycling outfit and gear on, especially when they're going past you in a group at what seems like 100 mph, we really didn't even see him. He was in there somewhere towards the front :-)

Austin

Saturday we went to Austin to pick up Scott's registration packet for a bike race he entered for next weekend at Lance Armstrong's ranch. Scott is in the beginner's race, which is 8 miles long and pretty rocky. There is another race that is 24 miles long that Lance himself is racing in. It is at a later time and is the same course, just a couple more laps. We picked up the packet at Mellow Johnny's Bike Shop, which is Lance's shop. He did not appear to be working this particular day as we did not see him.
Downtown Austin.

Mellow Johnny's.
This is the bike Lance rode in this year's Tour de France. A 2010 Trek Madone.
Sunday Scott and his friend Brad (who is also racing) went to Lance's ranch to do a practice ride. Lance's house is at the top of the hill.
Scott crashed and went over his handlebars within the first couple of miles. This is him hobbling back to his bike...he skidded a good ways down the hill once he and his bike parted ways, luckily no serious injuries.

Weekend Flights

Friday a friend of one of the pilots Scott works with brought his home built Vans RV-7 in. He was nice enough to give Scott a demo flight. Scott now wants one.

Saturday Scott went flying with his friend Brad and they flew over a C-5 military plane doing touch and gos at Lackland Air Force Base, and got this cool picture.

Saturday Morning on the River Walk

Saturday morning we went to the River Walk and the Alamo since the weather was supposed to be so nice and we hadn't been there together yet. There were a few other people there but nothing like in the summer and we pretty much had the place to ourselves.

This is just the trees and street outside the Alamo, it was such a crisp and pretty morning Renee took a picture.

The River Walk is below street level so it was awhile before the sun reached it. There are several footbridges that cross it in arches so the tour boats can go under them. The tour boat guides were dressed in different Halloween costumes too. We saw a deviled egg (fried egg with horns), banana, and vampire.

There were lights hanging from a lot of the trees and wrapped around posts and rails and we decided to come back sometime at night, it looks like it would be really cool with all the lights.

The Alamo.