Paris France - a new adventure begins

On the road again for work.  The start of what is setting up as a whole new adventure.
My first trip to Paris was in the very early 90s with a friend.  There was a parade in the center city as we were coming in from the airport so the taxi couldn't get us anywhere near our final destination so he dropped us off at a metro station next to a train station and handed me a napkin with 3 words on it.  Those words were the three stops we had on the metro on our way.  We wandered up to the station and  back before someone helped us sort it all out.  I never could quite place that spot on later trips.  Yesterday as I came around the corner to my hotel I stopped cold and it was as if it was 20 years ago and it all came back.
My hotel as it happens is adjacent to this spot.
Lovely time of year to have a bit of time to wander and enjoy the streets of Paris.

Minneapolis MN - Urban Assault Ride 2011

The gang at work started talking about the Urban Assault Ride and encouraged me to find a partner and join the fun.  Tom and I jumped in.  Mary and Alan followed.
The State shut down delayed things but we finally were off to the races on Sunday.  It couldn't have been a more perfect day - don't often say I had a July sunburn going in September.
It was a bit of logistics, scavenger hunt and stupid human tricks all wrapped in a 20 mile ride around the city.
Other than losing Alan in the last 4 blocks the event was a success - he has been found!

Duluth MN - Pat's official "I turned 60" party - part 2

And a sampling of the evenings entertainment...