The Tour de France began on July 5 and runs through July 27th and will cover approximately 2200 miles. That just about wraps up everything I know about the Tour de France.
What I was supposed to be doing was participating in the Tour de Fleece, which runs concurrent to the famed bike race. The Tour de Fleece is an annual event that encourages individuals and teams to work with their fiber in any capacity they like and to do so while the riders are on their bikes.
The time dedication is immense and as I've never had that much time to set aside specifically for fiber works, I have always joined in as a solitary participant. This year is no different, as free time is at an all time low. Up until now, that is.
Five weeks ago, a family friend and his wife were here when the husband, Paul, suffered a pretty intense motorcycle wreck. He was in the trauma unit at the local hospital for four weeks and three days. They left 5 days ago after a couple of false starts and finally made it home to Missouri. Initially, they were going to transport him via private ambulance but decided that was too risky and arranged for air transport instead.
Paul and his flight crew (releases given for photo use)
Because they were stuck in the hospital away from family, we trekked up there on the regular, taking up what they needed. I also brought home the laundry of the Mrs. to wash and return the next day. It's been a rough month, to say the least. We are now settling back into our own routines, while they continue their recovery at home with their family.
It was such a busy time during the couple of weeks before the start of the Tour that I sold many of the dyed braids of fiber that I had set aside to spin. I have plenty of undyed fiber should I need it. Frankly, my mind is a bit frazzled lately so I may not get much accomplished. The weekend though??...I spun and spun...it was a way to decompress and get myself into a new routine for the week.
Life is strange...and fragile
