Sunday, June 24, 2012

Downtown Fun


On this sunny Sunday morning Tim and Travis strapped on their helmets and rode in the Ryder Hesjedal Tour de Victoria bike ride. Riders ranged from the ultra-committed who rode 140 km, to others riding 100 km, and others who rode 50 km. Tim and Travis were in the latter group. Travis pulled ahead of Tim in the last 12 km to arrive at the finish line under 2 hours from starting. Tim was about 10 minutes behind him. 

Ryder Hesjedal is the Canadian cyclist who recently won the Giro d'Italia race.


After Tim came home, rested for a bit and had some lunch, we went back downtown. A mountain biking track, set up along the waterfront, provided spectators with the opportunity to oooh and aaah at cyclists performing 360 degree turns in the air on their bikes. There were a few falls as well. 

The activity didn't stop at biking  - buskers, fire juggling, steel drums, and more offered all kinds of entertainment on a sunny, if cool afternoon. We usually spend our free time away from crowds in more natural settings. But a few times a year we wander along the waterfront promenade and mingle with locals and tourists alike. I'm always amazed at the languages I hear downtown - Spanish, French, Chinese, German and more. 

What sights are there in your town? Do you take the time to play tourist once in awhile?

Linking to Mosaic Monday, hosted by Mary at the Little Red House.

18 comments:

  1. It was a pretty exciting day for our city, wasn't it? The riders came through our community, and we went down to see. Ryder credits his early training in the hills around Pondside for his stamina!

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  2. Sounds like a great day. Pop over and see what happened in the English Lake District.
    Lynn

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  3. Wonderful pictures. Enjoy the picture of the street performer!!! Grand!!! Cathy

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  4. Sounds like great way to spend a Sunday, congrats to your guys for taking part.
    Whenever we have visitors I play tourist as I show them around Bayeux and the Normandy beaches and museums.

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  5. Looks like a great day! Fun to do the touristy things sometimes.

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  6. There is nothing to see in my hometown! ☺ Plenty to see in your hometown, though. I would have enjoyed, as a juggler myself, watching the guy juggling with "fire."

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  7. Looks like some good fun especially since you knew a couple participants! Lovely mosaics...

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  8. Sounds like a great day!

    I've been thinking on this recently and no, we don't play tourist enough around here. I think it's time to remedy that.

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  9. You found many good sites in your hometown! The major attraction in my hometown seems to be the mighty Fraser River these days...attracting lots of looky-loos...as it threatens to sill its banks.

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  10. Congratulations to Travis, and also to Tim! It looks like an exciting event, Lorrie.

    I often play tourist in my own city as there is so much I haven't seen or done as yet in New York. It is always fun!:)

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  11. I see that you too were taking advantage of local festivities. It sounds like you had an enjoyable time. Sometimes it's nice to do something out of the ordinary.
    -Karen

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  12. What a great way for Victoria to celebrate Ryder's amazing accomplishment! It will be interesting to see where he goes from here on in the world of cycling. I love being a tourist in my home town but of course that only happens after a long journey. Here, the small town closest to us has a few summer events. It is nice to explore the lakes in the area through the summer - I suppose if i leave the house with my hat, sunglasses and sunscreen I feel like a summer tourist.

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  13. It's fun to play tourists in your own city sometimes. I love going downtown Vancouver with guests and show it off and see it from a different perspective or with new eyes.

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  14. We played tourist on Friday..Spanish Banks..hunting for sea glass...then off to Squamish and out for pasta..

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  15. Your mosaics are so fun to see, and so many many different activities in each photo..Just lovely!

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  16. You were where one day I want to visit and it looks like you enjoyed much~

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  17. Interesting read Lorrie. We sometimes play tourists in London and the next interesting sight in my local town will be the Olympic torch coming through 2 weeks today. Hope to get a photo.

    Had a YWam family from Boranal Island here today for afternoon tea amongst 6 other nations. Made me think of you.

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