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Well, it snowed. And there was a bike race.

Standing around in the cold waiting for others to exert themselves for one's entertainment is exhausting.

Also, it snowed overnight on Friday. I didn't think it would because I no longer believe the forecasters when they get all excited about the barest hint of a chance of snow, or a big storm, or whatever. So I didn't heed the warnings and completely forgot about throwing a sheet over my hydrangea and its juicy new leaves. Saturday morning found me, before coffee even, standing outside in my slippers and bathrobe and sub-freezing temperatures, picking snow and ice off hydrangea leaves. I tried using a broom, but that knocked the leaves off the bush, which pretty much defeated the purpose of removing the snow.

After I gave up on the shrub and downed some coffee, it was time to go back outside. The 2007 U.S. Open Cycling Championships were coming right through the neighborhood. For the tail end of the men's Williamsburg to Richmond race, they were biking in on Route 5, up through Libby Hill Park, then looping through downtown and back to the park. Eight times.

I bundled up, inadequately as it turned out, and walked down to the park. On the way, I shot a few not-too-exciting pictures of snow on dogwood blossoms, snow on wisteria blossoms, and snow on azalea buds. I got to the park a little after 10:00. They had a Jumbotron set up so we could watch the race in progress. The Church Hill Association was having a bake sale (I neglected to bring money, so no muffins for me). People, dogs, and babies were playing in the snow and practicing their cowbell ringing. The sun came and went. We waited and watched. The footage of the race through the central Virginia countryside looked really pretty, what with the snow on the trees. The cyclists didn't look all that happy about it, though, especially when they were getting blasted with snow.

Thanks to the snow, the race started over an hour late. Much of the morning looked like this:

Oz was sleeping in. I called him to let him know where I was. He moseyed on over to Chimborazo and called me. "Wrong park, dude!" Then he moseyed down to Libby Hill. I had a good spot picked out at the top of the hill. I used Oz as a windbreak for a while. Other photographers with big cameras and press credentials showed up and tried to edge me out. Someone from engineering school walked over and we caught up for a bit. The wind kicked up and low clouds rolled over the river valley. White stuff was in the air. "Are those flower petals?" "No, there were flower petals before, but that's snow!" "So much for the Easter bonnets and little dresses."

Finally the sun came back out and the leader appeared.

Then the rest of the guys appeared.

Cowbells were rung, hands were clapped, and kids stopped saying, "Can we go now?"

Photos were taken by all and sundry!

We watched the circuit through downtown on the Jumbotron and watched them come up Libby Hill for the second time. Then we split for coffee. I think I spent the rest of the day trying to warm up.