Theme Day -- "numbers"

It's the first of the month again, and that means theme day on the one hundred and...... well a bunch of City Daily Photo sites. This month's theme for April 1 (April Fools' Day) is "numbers." The photo above, taken at the Bonnet Carre' Spillway shows the height of the Mississippi River.

The river has been slowly going down (in fact this photo was from last week -- the height is probably a few inches lower today. The spillway let about 10 percent of the river water take a short cut to the Gulf and go around New Orleans -- not so much to lower the level as to slow the flow through New Orleans and keep levees from being washed away.

By the time the river gets to New Orleans, it has fallen about 4 feet o 16.5 or something like that (changes daily).

One little known fact about the Mississippi River is that the last natural tributary to the Mississippi is Thompson Creek just north of Baton Rouge. The river from there to the Gulf (about 150 miles) is basically a flowing lake.

You get extra points if you name the only other natural tributary to the Mississippi in Louisiana -- hint, it is upstream from Thompson Creek and is a bayou.

Enough of all that -- here are some of the other City Daily Photo blogs that are celebrating theme day today. Browse around. You'll find some really creative stuff here.

--steve buser


Albuquerque (NM), USA by Helen, American Fork (UT), USA by Annie, Arradon, France by Alice, Aspen (CO), USA by IamMBB, Athens, Greece by Debbie, Auckland, New Zealand by Lachezar, Austin (TX), USA by LB, Avignon, France by Nathalie, Barrow-in-Furness, UK by Enitharmon, Barton (VT), USA by Andree, Belgrade, Serbia by Bibi, Bellefonte (PA), USA by Barb-n-PA, Bicheno, Australia by Greg, Bogor, Indonesia by Gagah, Boston (MA), USA by Sarah, Whit, & Leyre, Boston (MA), USA by Cluelessinboston, Bucharest, Romania by Malpraxis, Budapest, Hungary by agrajag, Buenos Aires, Argentina by Karine, Busan, Korea South by iamnbinb, Canterbury, UK by Rose, Chandler (AZ), USA by Melindaduff, Chateaubriant, France by Bergson, Cheltenham, UK by Marley, Chesapeake Daily Photo (VA), USA by ptowngirl, Chicago (IL), USA by Focused Light, Christchurch, New Zealand by Michelle, Clearwater (FL), USA by Smaridge01, Clearwater Beach (FL), USA by Smaridge01, Cleveland (OH), USA by iBlowfish, Cologne, Germany by April11, Concordia Sagittaria, Italy by Patrizia, Coral Gables (FL), USA by Jnstropic, Corsicana (TX), USA by Lake Lady, Dallas (TX), USA by turtle, Darmstadt, Germany by Elsch, Dunedin (FL), USA by Smaridge01, Durban, South Africa by CrazyCow, East Gwillimbury, Canada by Your EG Tour Guide, Evry, France by Olivier, Forks (WA), USA by Mary, Geneva (IL), USA by Kelly, Glasgow, Scotland by Jackie, Greenville (SC), USA by Denton, Gun Barrel City (TX), USA by Lake Lady, Hamilton, New Zealand by Sakiwi, Hampton (VA), USA by ptowngirl, Helsinki, Finland by Kaa, Hobart, Australia by Greg, Hong Kong, Hong Kong by Rachel A., Hyde, UK by Gerald, Inverness (IL), USA by Neva, Ioannina, Greece by Christos-Ioanna, Jackson (MS), USA by Halcyon, Jefferson City (MO), USA by Chinamom2005, Jogjakarta, Indonesia by Jogja Portrait, Joplin (MO), USA by Victoria, Katonah (NY), USA by Inkster1, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia by Edwin, Kyoto, Japan by Tadamine, Larchmont (NY), USA by Marie-Noyale, Las Vegas (NV), USA by Mo, Le Guilvinec, France by ds2944, Lisbon, Portugal by Sailor Girl, Lisbon, Portugal by Maria João, Lodz, Poland by ritalounge, London, UK by Ham, London, UK by Mo, Mainz, Germany by JB, Malaga, Spain by Paula, Manila, Philippines by Heyokity, Maple Ridge, Canada by Susan, Marseille, France by Alex, Medan, Indonesia by KT, Melbourne, Australia by Mblamo, Melbourne, Australia by John, Memphis (TN), USA by SouthernHeart, Menton, France by Jilly, Mexico City, Mexico by Poly, Mexico City, Mexico by Carraol, Minneapolis (MN), USA by Mitch, Minneapolis (MN), USA by Greg, Minsk, Belarus by Olga, Misawa, Japan by misawa mama, Monrovia (CA), USA by Keith, Monte Carlo, Monaco by Jilly, Monterrey, Mexico by rafa, Montpellier, France by Marie, Moscow, Russia by Irina, Mumbai, India by Kunalbhatia, Mumbai, India by Magiceye, Nancy, France by yoshi, Nashville (TN), USA by Chris, Nelson, New Zealand by Meg and Ben, New Orleans (LA), USA by steve buser, New York City (NY), USA by Ming the Merciless, New York City (NY), USA by • Eliane •, Newport News (VA), USA by ptowngirl, Norfolk (VA), USA by ptowngirl, North Hampton (NH), USA by Amy, Norwich, UK by Goddess888, Nottingham, UK by Gail's Man, Ocean Township (NJ), USA by Josy, Omsk, Russia by Nataly, Orlando (FL), USA by OrlFla, Oslo, Norway by Lothiane, Owasso (OK), USA by Jennifer, Paderborn, Germany by Soemchen, Paris, France by Eric, Pasadena (CA), USA by Petrea, Pasadena (CA), USA by Can8ianben, Penang, Malaysia by Maltelda, Perth, Australia by Elevation7, Phoenix (AZ), USA by Cheryl, Pilisvörösvár, Hungary by Elise, Port Angeles (WA), USA by Jelvistar, Port Elizabeth, South Africa by Sam, Port Townsend (WA), USA by raf, Port Vila, Vanuatu by Mblamo, Portsmouth (VA), USA by ptowngirl, Prague, Czech Republic by Honza03, Quincy (MA), USA by Cluelessinboston, Rabaul, Papua New Guinea by Jules, Ramsey, Isle of Man by babooshka, Riga, Latvia by Riga Images, Rollag, Norway by Stormel, Rotterdam, Netherlands by Ineke, Saarbrücken, Germany by LadyDemeter, Saigon, Vietnam by Simon, Saint Paul (MN), USA by Kate, Salem (OR), USA by jill, Salt Lake City (UT), USA by Eric, Salt Lake City (UT), USA by atc, San Diego (CA), USA by Felicia, San Diego (CA), USA by Zentmrs, San Francisco (CA), USA by PFranson, San Francisco (CA), USA by Louis la Vache, Seattle (WA), USA by Kim, Seattle (WA), USA by Chuck, Selma (AL), USA by RamblingRound, Seoul, South Korea by Phil, Sesimbra, Portugal by Aldeia, Setúbal, Portugal by Maria Elisa, Sharon (CT), USA by Jenny, Singapore, Singapore by Keropok, Sofia, Bulgaria by Antonia, St Francis, South Africa by Sam, Stanwood (WA), USA by MaryBeth, Stavanger, Norway by Tanty, Stayton (OR), USA by Celine, Stockholm, Sweden by Stromsjo, Stouffville, Canada by Ken, Subang Jaya, Malaysia by JC, Suffolk (VA), USA by ptowngirl, Sunshine Coast, Australia by bitingmidge, Sydney, Australia by Julie, Székesfehérvár, Hungary by Teomo, Tacloban City, Philippines by agnesdv, Tel-Aviv, Israel by Olga, Terrell (TX), USA by Jim K, Terrell (TX), USA by Bstexas, Tokyo, Japan by Tadamine, Torun, Poland by Torun Observer, Torun, Poland by Glenn, Toulouse, France by Julia, Turin, Italy by Livio, Tuzla, Bosnia and Herzegovina by Jazzy, Twin Cities (MN), USA by Slinger, Vichy, France by Delphsnl, Victoria, Canada by Benjamin Madison, Vienna, Austria by G_mirage2, Virginia Beach (VA), USA by ptowngirl, Wailea (HI), USA by Kuanyin, Washington (DC), USA by Rachel, Wassenaar, Netherlands by Rich, West Paris (ME), USA by crittoria, West Sacramento (CA), USA by Barbara, Weston (FL), USA by WestonDailyPhoto, Williamsburg (VA), USA by ptowngirl, Willits (CA), USA by Elaine, Yardley (PA), USA by Mrlynn,

Encouragement

Everyone needs a little encouragement to get through the day. This balloon street artist in the French Quarter of New Orleans is always able to draw a smiling face out of the air, as it were. If that doesn't work, there seems to be plenty of crowds around these day to stop and gawk at his uplifting creations.

-- steve buser

The Quarter Funnels

Just having fun today with a French Quarter scene in New Orleans. The balconies, the hanging baskets, the horse drawn carriages, the waving flags -- all icons funneling off into the distance

--steve buser

Believing in your abilities

Should he jump? It's a long way down to he ground. The fence is a little closer. And there is the tree a little ways to the left. He stood there frozen for about a two minutes, twitching occasionally, sticking his claws over the edge of the roof in anticipation. In the end, discretion won out over valor. He decided to look for a better way down. He was not yet sure of the limits of his jumping abilities.

-- steve buser

Sparkle in the rain

It's raining today in New Orleans. Dark, dreary. But there's always a little sparkle if you look for it.

Lights out

Just a quick shot of the sundown over Lake Pontchartrain, shot from a car on the Causeway heading into New Orleans.

--steve buser

Life in the French Quarter

Ah, yes it is life in the Quarter! On the street, above the street, by foot, by buggy. Strutting, strolling, at a trot, but certainly not at car-driving speeds. It's a carefree, life-in-the-moment, involved, smiling, comfortable time. If you're a people watcher or a people who likes to get watched, this is your stage.

Life in the Quarter. Rouler les bon temps. Rouler. C'est la vie. After all, Louisiana was founded in 1699 --- on Mardi Gras Day: that's joie de vivre.

Sun stopper,

This has to be the ultimate parasol -- the shot is from the French Quarter Festival recently in New Orleans. I saw this guy through the crowd, but couldn't make my way through to get a close up shot. The flamingos are a trip through memory lane from the old days of Audubon Park where the pond with a whole flock of them was a favorite attraction and pure eye-candy.

The parasol, of course, is a popular symbol for jazz parade marchers to rally around.


--steve buser

New Orleans Daily Photo is 1 year old

Before I explain the picture, let me do a little rejoicing. Today is the anniversary of New Orleans Daily Photo. On April 21st of 2007, I started the adventure. Please don't go back and look at those first few days, because I had no clue how to do all of this. It was about a week later that I started letting people know about it -- had to get rid of the rookie jitters first.

Now, the picture. We went up to Norco yesterday to check out the Bonnet Carre' spillway. Because of high waters flowing down the Mississippi River from heavy rains and Spring melting, the water is about as high as anyone cares to see it. The Bonnet Carre' allows water to bypass New Orleans on its way to the Gulf. It lets the water flow into Lake Pontchartrain.

The purpose is not so much to keep the water level low as it is to keep velocity of the flowing water to a manageable level that doesn't erode and weaken the levees.

While were up on the levee, we notice a tanker ship out in the middle of the river with three tugs apparently trying to push the ship toward the opposite side of the river --the west bank . The tugs were huffing and puffing -- you could tell by the smoke billowing from them and from the fact that they were tilted to one side straining.

When we left about a half hour later, there were only two tugs -- one at the bow and one behind the ship -- they appeared to be just holding the ship stationary. I suppose they were waiting for reinforcements because the ship was closer to our side -- the East bank -- than when we first started watching.

Oh, the picture. The levee by the spillway gates was crowded with people there to observe and be part of the event. There were quite a number of fishermen and three or four people with casting nets like these guys. Apparently water isn't the only thing spilling over the gates -- logs, dead cows and a lot of fish that got swept away from their tranquil creeks are just some of them.

Okay, now I have just 364 more posts until my second anniversary.


--steve buser

Caught in the act!

Our story of the young Mourning Doves ends here. When we woke up yesterday morning we found that only one of the two young squabs had survived. No hint of where the other one was. Then we got back late yesterday night -- too late to check on them.

This morning they were both gone. The nest was laying on the ground. Only the father was around -- perched on the garage looking around. Occasionally he would walk down to the eave and look at the ground. At least once he flew down and examined the nest.

Later in the morning the mother joined him on the perch and they kept peering around. About an hour later I looked out and saw them pecking at each other around the neck. The female was shaking her tail feathers up and down. They continued this before it moved to another stage -- since this is a G-rated blog I won't go into any detail.

Early this afternoon, I look out and noticed a couple of squirrels scampering across the roof of the garage. One jump away to an nearby tree, but the other was too afraid. Soon the companion came back to join the squirrel on the roof and then they scampered through the trees outside our windows. When they came to the tree where the nest had been, each in his turn took a few seconds to poke around where the nest had been (the photo above is the first one sniffing around the tree where the nest had been yesterday). They obviously were looking for something in that spot. Then they scratched their way up the tree and jumped off.

Were they the villains? I doubt that they were carnivorous. But just ordinary clumsiness of poking around could have easily upset the nest and sent the baby to the ground. Maybe it was the eggs they were looking for. I have read some writers who say squirrels can cause the untimely death of the Mourning Dove young.

All I know is that this pair of Mourning Doves has now tried twice (that we have seen) to raise a brood here and it ended in failure and death both times. I think they will be back. I wish they would learn that the spot is not safe.

-- steve buser

Your getting too big, son

Another shot of our Mourning Doves because there was a lot of drama around here this morning.

I woke up this morning and was photographing the family when I noticed that there was only one squab in the nest. Just a minute or two and about a half dozen shots after that, I heard a scratching sound and looked around outside the window but didn't see what was causing it. I noticed that the mom was getting pretty rattled and starting to sit up straight.

Then, I caught it out of the corner of my eye -- a squirrel, hiding behind the tree next to one the Mourning Doves were nesting in. He was making stealthy moves toward the nest, peaking around the tree every once in a while. His diabolical intentions were pretty plain. I then realized that he was probably the attacker of the other squab. I didn't want to think about that chick's fate.

I was wondering what to do -- I figured I had about 10 to 15 seconds to do something to stop a calamity. Not enough time to run outside. Then, I just instinctively started making a hissing sound that turned into more of a "tsk tsk tsk tsk" -- like a hiss and click at the same time. The squirrel stopped dead in his tracks, head down on the trunk where he had been inching closer to the nest. He didn't see me at first because I was sitting on the floor inside the window. But then he found my eyes and we stared at each other for a few seconds.

Suddenly, I burst out in another series of "tsk tsk tsk tsk" and made the most menacing face I could as I leaned into the open window. His eyes went wide open and fear pour out. He turned and scrambled up the tree and made his escaped jumping branch to branch, tree to tree. His scamper made Tarzan look whimpy.

I had done it. I had saved the squab. But, no time to celebrate. He will be back. Though I glanced out the window many times during the day, I can't be there all the time. The little guy has no idea how much terror lurks around him.

-- steve buser

I was here first

How would you like to have a couple of these youngsters cramming their beak down your throat? After all, it is feeding time.

Mourning doves feed their young with "crop milk" from a sac in their esophagus -- they regurgitate it into the chicks mouth. It isan energy full mixture produced in the crops of both male and female parents. After a few days, mom and dad begin mix in more seeds to the regurgitated food. Soon the young'uns are fed only regurgitated seeds. The squabs start the feeding process by getting up under the mom or dad's neck and pushing their beak to try to get the mom/dad to open theirs. It seems that each gets at least a couple feedings for a meal.

Sorry about all the bird photos, but it is so exciting to have a new family in the neighborhoodl

--steve buser

Waves of pride

I've been trying to figure out what struck me about this shot at the Kenner's Rivertown (Kenner is a suburb of New Orleans). Maybe it's one of those past and present things. The cannon is obviously a thing of the past. You couldn't find anything like that in use today. But, it and guns like it were used to build and protect this country. And the present is the flags that wave out in front. Proudly.

-- steve buser

Tired mom

Mom is having a little hard time staying awake as she gives the new little ones and extended time out from underneath her. The weather in the New Orleans area was warmer today and the new chicks are starting to show off their new feathers. The scene is just outside our bedroom door. We're kind of excited to have a new family around. When we get home from work we run to the window to see if the kids get to come out to play today.

-- steve buser

Dove do over.

Our Mourning Dove is back and she has a couple new little chicks. That surprises me. After her last disaster, I figured she would never come back to this place -- even the nest was gone and she had to start over. But she's back. Here she lets on of the little ones take a look around. She had just traded places with the male who I guess was baby sitting and started feeding them. I had to look it up to figure what was going on. They feed their young with "crop milk" from a sac in their esophagus -- they regurgitate it into the chicks mouth.

--steve buser

River talk

The glow, the ambiance, the 60ish degree temperatures made the banquette along the river a perfect spot for a conversation and meeting people at the French Quarter Festival in New Orleans this past weekend.

The perfect temperatures and bright blue skies graced the annual free festival and that drew out overwhelming crowds.

In the background, you can see the Crescent City Connection Bridge.

--steve buser

Eye opener

I wasn't going to shoot a picture. I had put my camera down out of the way and was there to enjoy the party. Then this guy jump right in front of my eyes as I walked toward the fence at my sister's New Orleans house. What kind of flower it is, I don't have a clue. Can't say that I ever saw one like it. But I do know this -- it was a picture begging to be taken. A get down on its knees and lay prostrate kind of begging. I obliged. I calmly, but with purpose, walked over and grabbed my camera bag. I shot a couple dozen pictures -- turns out the best one was this one: the very first one.

How did the flower know I was a photographer? Hmm. Interesting, but unanswerable.

Make sure you click on the picture to see the big version. You'll be glad you did.


--steve buser

French Quarter Festival

Billed as the Biggest Block Party in the world, the French Quarter in New Orleans is in full swing this weekend with whopping crowds. When they count the final numbers after tomorrow, I have no doubt this will be the largest crowd ever. We talked to one vendor who said that he had sold what he had prepared for today and tomorrow -- apparently he has a long night's work to get ready for tomorrows opening.

The picture is Dwayne Dopsie (pronounced doopsey) and the Zydeco Hellraisers -- an amazing, full energy show. A lot of hard beating favorite blues songs with a heavy bounce and lots of exclamation points. They quote a reviewer on their web site saying "Zydeco Powerhouse who plays high energy Zydeco at something approaching the speed of light."

I am hurting from a full day at the N'awlins fest -- they had about a dozen stages going simultaneously all over the French Quarter and Waldenberg Park -- so we did a lot of walking to take it all in.

--steve buser

Rocking on the River

With the Mississippi River flowing fast and furious through New Orleans as a backdrop, the French Quarter Festival kickoff with nearly a dozen stages featuring the best of Crescent City and Louisiana music. Here Marva Wright and The BMW's get the crowd excited with true New Orleans style blues at the Harrah's Casino pavillion. Across the river is Algiers Point. The River Lows from right to left here -- heading directly north, then turns sharply into a south easterly direction.

Thirty-nine bands entertained today and there will be an equl number tomorrow and again Sunday for the free festival. I believe that with the cool weather that is expected, we will see record crowds.

--steve buser

Point to ponder

I had to park on top of the parking garage today after lunch and as I was coming up to the parking space, I noticed a bird in the middle of the drive that wouldn't move. I squeezed past it and then walked over to check on it. The wind was blowing so hard, I could barely walk toward it. There was a stiff breeze blowing in from the south and the the buildings were concentrating in to a full gale force wind. The bird raised its wings and struggled to fight against the wind, eventually finding a safer place near the building.

As I hopped in my car, they announced that Corps of Engineers was opening the Bonne' Carre' spillway above New Orleans to divert some of the Mississippi water around the city and into Lake Pontchartrain. It will be open two to four weeks. It's because of the rain and melting snow water pouring down into the Gulf.

It make me think that when nature is putting on a show of force such as these two, it's time to just sit and take it all in. This bench sits on the Moon Walk by the river. The photo is run through a sketch filter.

Have a seat. Watch the power of nature. Observe.

-- steve buser

World (Trade) View

Several weeks ago we held a reception in the Versailles Room of the World Trade Center in New Orleans. What a wonderful night and what a wonderful view. I snuck up before the event while there was enough light to capture the image -- just to show what it looks like, I think its about 31 floors up. The World Trade Center can handle several receptions at a time. This room has three sides looking out over the Mississippi River. Other rooms capture the sundown view.

You can see the Crescent City Connection bridge just up river from the WTC. The river at this point is flowing from the South to the North as it passes Canal Street and the Central Business District (CBD).

-- steve buser

Crowding the candidate

Boudreaux gets the crowd excited as he gets ready to throw a trinket at the New Orleans Zephyrs game this past weekend. The Zephyrs field -- the shrine on Airline -- saw the first professional sports action in the New Orleans region after Hurricane Katrina back in 2006.

While it seems a little far-fetched that Boudreaux will get the nomination, the Zephyrs have a "Vote Boudreaux" campaign going on with signs around town. Hey, if nothing else, it give you another choice in this election year.

-- steve buser

Stop, thief !

This thief was trying to find a way to crack the safe this weekend outside our window. He worked his way up and down, from top to bottom, trying to get to the treasure. He finally gave up because the only way he could get to the bird feeder was from above and the small limb holding the feeder didn't seem a safe course of action for him.

The squirrels in the New Orleans area seem to be out in large numbers this year.

Lagniappe -- another shot from our son's Triathlon on at Galveston on Pixel Eyed today

--steve buser

Spring training

We were at the Zephyrs game yesterday -- they are our local minor league Triple A baseball team. It was kids day. After the game, kids had the fun time of running the bases. You can imagine what was going on in their heads.

Oh, yeah, the home town team went down to their first defeat of the season. They are now three and one.

For a little history, the Zephyr was the large roller coaster at Pontchartrain Beach -- an amusement park out on Lake Pontchartrain in New Orleans that closed in 1983.

Lagnapppe --

Today on Pixel Eyed -- our grandson practices the fine art of wave jumping in the Gulf of Mexico at Galveston

--steve buser

The Great Mississippi River Ride

As the Mississippi River rises, it seems like the birds have added a new amusement ride -- The Great Mississippi River Ride. Just hop on a log floating slowly by in the slack water -- the area up on banks of the river that is usually dry. Notice on the left of the picture, the two logs out in the fast water -- apparently, that is only for the bravest of birds.

They say that the river will rise for about 10 more days -- rising another 2 feet. Already, the spillway gates ( the Bonne Carre' Spillway, which is opened every 10 years or so to allow the Mississippi water to bypass New Orleans into Lake Pontchartrain, easing the pressure on the river's levees) are leaking through enough water that the fill the broad spillway to a foot or two depth.

Looks like this ride will be open for a pretty good while.

--stee buser

Ghostly gator

This is the famous white alligator at the Aquarium of the Americas located at the foot of Canal Street in New Orleans. The foot of Canal seems to be pretty much a favorite location for tourists and locals alike. Shopping, Mississippi River walking, casino, great eating, street cars, French Quarter -- it all comes together right there.

-- steve buser

Ducking duck

The evidence is still there with the drops on his head. This little duckling out on the Kenner Lakefront near New Orleans was still learning to bob for tasty treats. Though you can't see her, mom is just out of view. Schooling this day, lasted about and hour before mom decided is was time to swim on.

- steve buser

Pelican pals

This pair of Brown Pelicans came flying by the other day, just looking for something to eat. I love to watch them skim just inches over the water looking for fish, but they move so fast, I have never been able to get a clear picture of them doing that. When they are standing on the ground, they look so awkward, but when they are skimming, they are the epitomy of grace.

-- steve buser

Sparking interest

They are filming out front of our office this week. World Wrestling Entertainment feature film 12 Rounds has the crew filming on the street car tracks that run down the middle of Canal Street. It's been fun to watch, but it seems to take them forever to set up shots. This shot has been in the works for three days now. Apparently, the shot is to make it look as if the street car hits the black car in front. If you look very closely you can see there is a forklift like device under the car that is hooked into the street car. As it goes down the street, the device is suppose to flip the car and some pyrotechnics will be shot to make it look like the car explodes.

The man on the ladder is setting up the camera -- the camera is also attached to the car and street car -- the car, the camera and the street car all move together.

So what is the film about? Their web site says "Detective Danny Baxter is about to have the worst day of his life when an evil crime lord kidnaps his girlfriend and forces him to go "12 Rounds" around the streets of New Orleans."


--steve buser

Water weary

We were in Galveston this weekend for our son, Charlie's (Chuck) first triathalon event. He ran his first marathon in January and ran another one last month. So he decided to see how he would fare with a triathalon. He ran the quarter Ironman -- here he emerges from the 800 meter swim in Galveston Bay, stripping off his wetsuit (the water was 70 degrees) to jump on his bicycle for a 28 mile ride before finishing with a 6 mile run.

The event was even a better spectator event than the marathon, because they came back near the transition zone several times -- we saw him 5 times during the race.

--steve buser