Andrea’s Weblog

Some of the worlds best cyclists came to conquer Georgia in the third Tour de Georgia this past week, and the McPhersons were there to watch. Here’s an abridged version for those of you who don’t follow cycling: Elizabeth looked cute in her team CSC onesie, we got lots of autographs from famous cyclists, we got snow Brasstown Bald.

The fun started on Monday when Lance Armstrong held his press conference announcing his retirement. Elizabeth and I went into the hotel where it was being held and commenced a stake out for a Lance autograph. As we were waiting around, American Bobby Julich (who in the last year became an Olympic Bronze medalist and the first American to win Paris-Niece) sauntered over to a table of Augusta brochures. Realizing who it was, I whipped out the team CSC onesie I made for Elizabeth and asked him to sign it, which he did. We still waited for Lance, mostly because there were only 4 others there waiting with us. I freed Elizabeth, who was sick of sitting in her unmoving stroller, and let her crawl around. I watched as Lance’s coach, Johan Bruneel headed our way. Suddenly Elizabeth darted out and I said “Elizabeth, don’t trip Mr. Bruneel!” Johan, who it turns out has a fifteen month old, stopped to chat with us. I couldn’t think of a darn thing to ask him about his job, but did manage to ask what our chances for getting an autograph were. He said Lance would be sneaking in a back door, so Elizabeth and I left and headed to the team presentation ceremony. Somehow Elizabeth managed to fall asleep there while I was ringing a cowbell in her ear.

Tuesday the race kicked off downtown. As we walked around, the cyclists were signing in and warming up. There was also a bunch of media there. We managed to get autographs from our favorite OLN commentators Phil Ligget, Frankie Andreu and Bob Roll. Elizabeth and I stumbled upon the CSC team car and filled her onesie with more autographs. We also got autographs from Levi Leipheimer and Jonathan Vaughters. Woo hoo!

The rest of the week I spent making another onesie for her to wear (couldn’t get the autographed one dirty!) and decking out the stroller and making signs. On Friday we headed to the finish in Dalonega, about 3.5 hours away. We made it just in time for the finish after being caught in the pouring rain. Elizabeth was so zonked after cheering with us that she slept in her stroller while me and Frank ate a romantic dinner.

Back at the hotel we checked the weather (50’s) and set our alarm for 6 am. In the morning we headed out to the finish on Brasstown Bald, the highest point in Georgia. We had to take our time driving because poor Elizabeth kept getting carsick. There was nothing we could do but put a bib on her.

They only allow 100 cars in the parking lot near the top of the mountain, so while Elizabeth and I waited in line to park, Frank took off up the mountain to push the stroller up the 3+ mile 13% average slope. (Elizabeth and I were going to hop on a shuttle if we couldn’t park.) As luck would have it, we were car number 100 and we drove up the mountain, waving at Frank as we passed him. At the top, we were greeted by 30 degree weather, for which we were not prepared. I put Elizabeth in her PJs and pretty much any layers I could find for her. She hopped in her sling and we climbed up the rest of the mountain. I don’t know if climbing was easier last year when I was pregnant, but at least this year I could breathe better. We ended up getting the same spot as last year, and our same neighbors greeted us from either side. It was like a big reunion. It was so cold that when Frank showed up, we decided to head down to the car to keep warm. It turns out it was -15 degrees with the windchill. We sat in the car watching snowflakes for a few hours before venturing out. It was hard work keeping Elizabeth occupied when her main goal was sinking her teeth into the steering wheel. We were so cold that we climbed the mountain with the goal of retrieving our chairs so we could stand closer to the car. Warmed by the climb and sheltered from the wind by the mountain, we decided to stay on the mountain and wait for the cyclists.

Elizabeth quickly discovered that it was quite cozy nursing and took a nap. Before the cyclists arrived, Elizabeth and I headed up to the top of the mountain to the bathrooms. Unfortunately, the real toilets were out of order and we had to use the port a potties. Having left the sling in the car, there was no way to try and hold her while peeing in the port a potty. A nice older lady, bundled in two blankets offered to hold her. I thought through the chances of this woman abducting her and decided the chance was slim. Even if she did try, 1) everyone in line knew it was my baby 2) she couldn’t run very fast 3) there were people with radios everywhere and only one way off the mountain. So after the quickest pee ever, Elizabeth headed back down to watch the race.

And what a race it was! All the big names were in a breakaway at the front of the pack. Elizabeth cheered “yaaaayy.” I yelled. Frank took pictures. It was great. But almost as great were the seat heaters we turned on in the car when we made it back. Next year we’ll be prepared.

For more race info watch OLN’s Cyclism Sunday this Sunday or go to cyclingnews.com.