Lulu

Lulu and her person came into Trial House where Tobi and I were having coffee this morning after class. It's a coffee place with a bicycle repair shop in the back. You can sit at the back counter with your coffee and watch them work on your bike or you can sit in the front on the couch, play with the games stacked on a shelf or read the newspaper. There are a couple of televisions with continuously running sots of dirt bike competitions, trail bikers and, of course the big tours.

Speaking of which, I was saddened to learn of the death of Paul Sherwen, long time bike race commentator with Phil Liggett. We have watched the Tour for many years and these two have been constant companions during the Tour de France in July and the Tour of California. Paul himself rode in the Tour and was asked by Phil to join him in the announcer's booth, providing color and detail while Phil announced the race. He always knew all the details of every historic building the helicopters flew over and gently corrected Phil if he got the riders mixed up or couldn't make out the numbers on the riders' backs. As the younger member of the duo, it was shocking to hear of his death from a heart attack at age 62.

Back in trail House, Tobi was watching a big guy carrying his bike and Lulu through the rainy parking lot and struggling to open the door. Tobi opened it for him and held Lulu and while the fellow took his bike to the back. I'm surprised that Tobi let him have Lulu back when he returned. She was completely calm and settled right in with us.

Originally Lulu belonged to the fellow's grandmother who had designated another relative to adopt Lulu because the fellow only wanted to have a big dog. Unfortunately, when the grandmother passed away, the relative's house had burned down and was unable to give Lulu a home, so this fellow, who rides in bicycle competitions all over the country, took her in. He said  she travels everywhere around the countrwith him...even into the bike store/coffee shop.

It's typical that we learned Lulu's name immediately, but never did find out the name of the nice fellow who had obviously been won over by Lulu.