Watching Sylvain Calzati trying for a gutsy breakaway in the Tour de France…
Last night we went down to Avery Point to watch the SailFest fireworks. The fireworks were actually a mile up river from the point and the best viewing location is historic Fort Griswold on the Groton side of the river, or Fort Trumbull from the New London side. Of course we generally try and avoid crowds and we love Avery Point so much with it’s large fields bordering the water. There were probably a hundred or so people there to watch the fireworks, but on the grounds of Avery Point it was not at all crowded.
When we arrived we found a spot of grass right on the edge of the river to watch from and Johann began running his fields. He switched between pretending he was a Brazilian striker on a fast break run down the pitch to score a goal and pretending he was a Tour de France rider in a finish line sprint. Between one of the runs as he sat down with Tammy and I he spied the man just up the coast from us smiling at him. “I was just riding in the Tour de France!” he told the man excitedly. The man smiled and replied in a European accent that had a hint of French to it “And you pronounce it so well too!”
What followed was an hour and a half of friendly conversation as we got to know a very interesting couple and they got to know us. He is an interesting character born in Eastern Europe, going back to university in Israel at the same age that I am and now, and now running a start up company in the UCONN incubator program in Storrs. He was quite taken with Johann and at least half of the time we spent talking to him was conversation between he and his wife and Johann. Tammy and I were highly complemented when he expressed that Johann was definitely on the fast track for becoming a scientist or scholar.
Just before the fireworks they presented us with his business card so that we could get together in the future for a glass of wine and conversation. I really need to get some cards printed up as I had none to present to him in return, and Tammy didn’t have hers with her. All in all it was an excellent evening with such great conversation an unexpected bonus that rivaled (and in many ways, because of the future promise eclipsed!) the magnificent fireworks show.
And Calzati took the stage!! With McEwen taking 4th and the remaining Green Jersey Points in another beautiful sprint! Great finish.
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