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David and Max spent the night with us last night. They managed to sleep a little later this morning. David didn't come in my bedroom till around 7:30am instead of the usual 6:30am. We got up and had some breakfast. Grammy and I watched the Tour de France despite the guys playing all around us. The Tour climbed Ventoux today. Armstrong and Contador were strong enough to hold their positions. It must have been a tough, tough stage. I saw a photo of Hincapie asleep in the team transport. Once it was over, Bev asked the boys if they would like to do something special. I had suggested we take the boat out. I wasn't sure it would even crank. We drove up to the public launch near Childersburg and took about an hour's ride. They had a great time. I let each one do a little driving. Boys like having control. Maybe after a few more rides, they will be ok to take a fishing trip with me. This fall should be excellent Spotted Bass fishing on Lake Logan Martin.

I picked up the frame from the post office this morning. When I got home, I went to work assembling the bike. Only a few things had to be tinkered with to get them to fit. The rear brake cable housing had to be trimmed. The front derailleur cable had been cut short and had to be replaced. By a stroke of luck, I had a Campy cable that I had ordered by mistake. Fancy that. I have the derailleurs tuned and ready to go. I just need to get some head-set spacers, the seat, and replace the pedals and the bike is ready to go. I'll leave the old pedals on for Paul to give it a trial. I am hoping Paul likes it better than his Orbea Orca. That would be the ultimate compliment. I was just tinkering with the prices of the components and came up with a surprising number. Allow at cost new for all these items: Campagnolo Chorus Carbon 10 speed group $1,275 - Campagnolo carbon crankset -551 FSA Carbon Crankset 280 Carbon ...

The seller apparently had a problem mailing the frame. I had a similar situation with that Fisher frame I sold. I didn't get much cash for it, then when it was mailed, the labels got switched. So I had to buy new postage and mail them to the folks to get it sorted out. So overall, I gave the frame away. But it should be here by Monday. Then I can get busy putting it together. The Ultegra derailleur is on. I haven't test rode the bike yet but it should be fine. It was a different configuration from the other.

Paul made a generous offer. He is loaning me all the parts off his Orbea to build Beverly a road bike. I purchased a frame off Ebay that should do. I looked at a lot of high end frames. They were asking anywhere from $500 to $2000 for carbon frames all the way down to brand name frames. I found this Scattante frame for $105.50. Then the seller agreed to throw in the seat post and collar for an extra $20. That would be half the cost of buying new ones and who can say if Paul's would be the right size. So I am excited about getting all the parts together and building it up. Unlike the Red Tandem, these parts are used so they will need to be cleaned and lubed prior to assembly. But that can be a rainy day project sometime soon. I am expecting it to take a week to get the thing here. Who can say. Then I'll still need cables to finish off the project. If that is all that is left to get it together, I may just purchase them at Bike Links. Tomorrow, I expect the Ultegra front deraille...

The prayers from the movie were moving. Indicative of a mindset prior to one's end: Muslim's prayer: Merciful Father.... I have squandered my days with plans of many things. This was not among them. But at this moment, I beg only, to live the next few minutes well. For all we ought to have thought and have not thought... All we ought to have said and have not said. All we ought to have done and have not done. I pray thee, God for forgiveness. The Viking prayer: Lo there do I see my father. Lo there do I see my mother. Lo there do I see my brothers and my sisters. Lo there do I see the line of my people back to the beginning. Lo they do call to me; they bid me take my place among them in the Halls of Valhalla, where the brave may live forever." Why would be beg the forgiveness of God? It is ourselves a...