Camille Graeser. Vom Werden eines konkreten Künstlers, Edited by Vera Hausdorff and Roman Kurzmeyer, Foreword by Sabine Schaschl, Wienand Verlag, Köln, 2020 [Haus Konstruktiv, Zürich. Camille Graeser-Stiftung, Zürich]
Contributions: Vera Hausdorff, Roman Kurzmeyer, Eugen Gomringer, Hans-Dieter Huber, Rudolf Koella, Antje Krause-Wahl
Tanzsolisten: Paolo Valenti / Andrea Giola / Kezia Coulson
Gesangssolisten: Lorenzo Di Girolamo / Simon Loughton
Ensemble: Jessie Vos, Frederik Stuhllemmer, Keny Oslen, Ian Vrolijk, Artem Salastelnyk, Demi Hubers, Nicole Klünsner, Rachel Bahler, Anne Hoth, Carina Fitzi, Chloe Lee Hill, Alice Giammerioli, Ginevra Serra Cassano
Orchester: Stage Operettenhaus, Dirigent: Martin Gallery
I had such a good time. I'm dumping my thoughts behind the readmore.
Everyone was fantastic, I was really curious to hear Rob Fowler as the new von Krolock and Anja Backus as Magda live especially.
The stage in Hamburg appeared a bit narrow compared to what I've seen online from other shows, I was a bit nervous with all the capes flying around during Rote Stiefel. During Einladung zum Ball Krolock's cape caught on the door to Alfred and Abronsius' room, but it was a quick fix with a tug lol.
I was actually really amazed Sarah took Krolock's hand towards the end of Einladung zum Ball and started to rise out of the bath. And during Totale Finsternis she went in for a kiss (that didn't happen) but holy shit, this Sarah was on it.
I really enjoyed Alfred, but it only just hit me how jarring it is to have Für Sarah right before Die Gruft. One song is about how brave he'll be, but the other how he's scared. Sure you can play it off as funny and ironic, but it tripped me up a bit this time round. It was so charming to hear Für Sarah live. And bless Vincent Van Gorp for having to crawl back on stage again during Tanzsaal to grab Abronsius' helmet he needs for the quick change.
I was trying to keep my eyes on 5 different characters during Tanzsaal, I think I missed Herbert doing something to the Vampire in the blue wig's sleeves. >.< I enjoyed this Herbert. I was a bit nervous because my mother was with me and I don't quite know her opinions, but imo this Herbert was not as giggly as some I had seen in recordings and so Wenn Liebe In Dir Ist seemed less as a joke. I know we as a fandom love Herbert and you may have a different opinion, but the whole 'make the bite attempt look like SA' as the punchline of the scene and whatever Chagal and Magda have going on are the things I warn people about when I recommend the musical.
I also liked this less screechy Abronsius. I thought the sound system could have done his fast songs more justice and it's a shame that this version of the musical doesn't have Abronsius call for Alfred at the very end any more. I love the Finale, but it kicked in so suddenly I missed some of the callback to the beginning of the musical and the tragedy of it a bit.
My mother had clocked that Sarah's family was Jewish with the Menorah during Das Gebet but she asked me if it was a recent addition. I was glad I had looked into it once. As far as I understand it, Roman Polanski (who is Jewish, that's the only thing I am focusing on here) had written 'Fearless Vampire Killers' to get back at Vampire Stories being based on antisemitic stereotypes. The Satire being that Chagal was actually Jewish this time. You want a Jewish Vampire? You're getting one, that kind of attitude. I read that the film was even supposed to have a scene in it where Chagal couldn't have his coffin in the graveyard with the other vampires because he was Jewish. Even as a Vampire he would still face antisemitism, to hold a mirror up to the vampire genre, but this was deemed too controversial by the the editors or someone and it was cut out of the film (which I have never watched, btw. Didn't really want to give Polanski more of my time than I had to, because of the Reasons). So my theory is that Magda and Chagal get pushed into the crypt in a wooden box as an allusion to this cut scene. But yes, in short, the Chagal family have always been Jewish. Whether or not Tanz der Vampire succeeds in being satirical or not I cannot judge for sure. (I had the compulsion to look all of this up because Chagal singing about it's totally OK sucking other people's blood worried me... I wanted to know what place this was coming from)
I was happy that Magda and Chagal got to sing some of the "Was ist dabei..." at the end if Geil Zu Sein ist Komisch outside of the coffin as well. It gave the performers a bit more time visible on stage.
One thing I thought was a bit of a shame was that the mirrors for Wenn Liebe in Dir Ist were rather narrow and in parts obscured by a column so that it was really hard to notice the dance double playing the reflection. We were also sat right in the middle of a row looking straight ahead to the stage. I don't think my mother noticed the dance doubles in Tanzsaal, either. I knew to look out for them, but it wasn't easy to see from the middle.
Sitting right at the back we also got the full blast of the flash lighting that happened during Einladung zum Ball, Carpe Noctem, and the second Finale. It was really unpleasant. If you are light sensitive, I'm afraid this would ruin your visit to the show. I don't know how it is in other areas of seating, but it's worth asking about if you ever do want to see it and are photosensitive in any way.
I had briefed my mother beforehand that the melody she was going to hear was Total Eclipse of the Heart because I didn't want her to be thinking and wondering where she had heard it before and be distracted from taking in the show or nudging me to say what the song is.
EDIT: I just remembered, the switch from Sarah to dance double Sarah in Rote Stiefel in this Hamburg production is a magic trick. All of a sudden there were two Sarahs and I don't even know where she came from. Super cool.
I think I mentioned everything I wanted to dump down soon after seeing it.
Oh wait, I am so glad I got to see Carpe Noctem live. Black Vampire my beloved. Grateful the dancers seem to be able to freestyle to some degree. Andrea Giola didn't do that jump where Black Vampire does the splits in mid air, and I'm grateful because otherwise my mother might have brought up when I used to do gymnastics XD
Made a shirt for going, btw. Didn't quite finish, but it was wearable ^^;;
Actually, I'm just going to add this thought here too while I'm at it: I'm just so enamoured by the fact that not all performers in a musical are native speakers and will learn the songs for their role in a language that is not necessarily known to them. When I was little, I was told if I want to do anything with languages I should become a translator and my mother kept talking about politics, being an ambassador, etc. But even now I never felt that kind of job is me. I'm not saying a musical performer's job is easy, it's very demanding and takes incredible dedication, but I'm a bit sad no one ever highlighted the language aspect to me. When Drew Sarich mentions in interviews he was sent to Germany with nothing but a lead role and a language coach and now I feel like his German sounds cleaner than mine, or Ivan Ozoghin says he only had two weeks to learn the German versions for Krolock, I'm still so impressed even though I will also learn Japanese songs I like by heart like the little weeb I am. What I am trying to say is: the arts also have space and reasons to learn another language, the musical industry is more international than I had ever thought it was, and there is more to "I want to do something with languages when I grow up" than being corporate. I now have a 9-5 office job that has nothing to do with languages, but sometimes I do wonder what turns my life could have had if my parents didn't have this vision of me in a business suit.
Join us at the Brooklyn Mirage in New York City on June 24th for an unforgettable experience and night! 12 hours, 6 parties, 3 stages = the greatest pride ever!
This is not a mandatory event - however, under the cut all celebs have been put into a specific color group! If you plan on having your celeb attend, please have them dress in that color (outfit entirely up to you!) and let's turn the dash into a rainbow! If you do not see your celeb in a group, please message us and we'll give you a color! #hfrppride23, #hollywoodfameoutfits
Everyone's invited! Adults only.
Credit to planetpridenyc for the video and graphic.
Nyarlathotep is called 'THE CRAWLING CHAOS' by Lovecraft. The title became more definitive as his tales progressed through the years. But, what does the term mean? Certainly Azathoth, who Lovecraft variously calls Chaos, would seem to be something akin to the origional state, the 'vast emptiness' as Chaos was known to the Ancient Greeks. (Lovecraft was fascinated by all things Greek and Roman since childhood) What is Nyarlathotep's function in Lovecraft's synthetic mythology? Is he a great destroyer being? A personification of rust, verdigris, mold, disease, decay, and ruin on a cosmic order? Is he likewise a daemon trickster, the polluter of souls, the tempter of mankind's baser instincts, appealing to the 'Seven Deadly Sins as a way to bring us down? Certainly Lovecraft in his private life was a moralist - a moralist without a religious foundation? Gluttony, Lust, Greed, and the rest, HPL found repulsive. Was such a being as Nyarlathotep also Lovecraft's fictional stand in for Satan and is it his unavoidable mission to obliterate everything? Questions that should be considered for those of us who look for the deeper meaning in all true ART. Coloured drawing by Richard G. Huber ( your curator ) (Exhibit 257)
This episode we’re talking about Audiobook Fiction! We discuss narrators vs casts, sound effects, music, adaptations, footnotes, and more! Plus: How do you picture the hosts in your mind when you listen to us?
You can download the podcast directly, find it on Libsyn, or get it through Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, Google Podcasts, or your favourite podcast delivery system.
In this episode
Anna Ferri | Meghan Whyte | Matthew Murray | Jam Edwards
Things We Read (or tried to…)
Gemina by Amie Kaufman and Jay Kristoff, narrated by a full cast
Coasting Trade by Robin McGrath, narrated by Robert Joy, Rick Boland, and Anita Best
Things We Lost in the Fire by Mariana Enríquez, translated by Megan McDowell, narrated by Tanya Eby
The Sentence by Louise Erdrich
Convenience Store Woman by Sayaka Murata, translated by Ginny Tapley Takemori, narrated by Nancy Wu
What Are You Going Through by Sigrid Nunez, narrated by Hillary Huber
Other Media We Mentioned
The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy Tertiary to Hexagonal Phases (Wikipedia)
The War of the Worlds (1938 radio drama) (Wikipedia)
What We See When We Read by Peter Mendelsund
Welcome to Nightvale (podcast)
Mostly Void, Partially Stars: Welcome to Night Vale Episodes #1 by Joseph Fink and Jeffrey Cranor
99% Invisible (podcast)
The 99% Invisible City: A Field Guide to the Hidden World of Everyday Design by Roman Mars and Kurt Kohlstedt
The Anthropocene Reviewed (podcast)
The Anthropocene Reviewed by John Green
The Princess Bride by William Goldman
Control (video game)
Control || Talking Simulator
Nimona by N.D. Stevenson
Nimona by N.D. Stevenson, narrated by Rebecca Soler, Jonathan Davis, and Marc Thompson
The Stanley Parable (Wikipedia) (it’s not quite as narrated as Matthew and Jam implied)
Official website
Gadsby (novel) by Ernest Vincent Wright (Wikipedia)
“does not include any words that contain the letter E”
A Void by Georges Perec (Wikipedia)
“entirely without using the letter e”
War and Peace by Leo Tolstoy, translated by Richard Pevear and Larissa Volokhonsky
Illuminae by Amie Kaufman and Jay Kristoff
My Brain is Different: Histoires of ADHD and Other Developmental Disorders by MONNZUSU
Project X: Challengers - Seven Eleven by Tadashi Ikuta and Namoi Kimura
Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir, narrated by Ray Porter
The Sandman (audiobook version)
Leave the World Behind by Rumaan Alam, narrated by Marin Ireland
House of Leaves by Mark Z. Danielewski
Links, Articles, and Things
Episode 133 - Flash Fiction
Episode 108 - Visual Novels
Serre - Kinda bilingual anglos play French-language Visual Novel
Episode 027 - Non-Fiction Audiobooks
Audie Awards
Turns Out Not Everyone Can Picture Things In Their Mind And Sorry, What?
Lowly Worm (Wikipedia)
Let's Play (Wikipedia)
Oulipo (Wikipedia)
24-hour comic
Episode 047b - Terrible Stories by Matthew (you have been warned)
Episode 142 - Sequels and 2022: The Year of Book Two
ISO 8601 (Wikipedia) (date standard)
June Is #audiomonth: Narrator Trading Cards Giveaway
Two-Fisted Library Stories (Twitter bot)
Digital Accessible Information System (Wikipedia)
20 Fiction Audiobooks written & read by BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, & People of Colour) Authors and Narrators
Every month Book Club for Masochists: A Readers’ Advisory Podcasts chooses a genre at random and we read and discuss books from that genre. We also put together book lists for each episode/genre that feature works by BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, & People of Colour) authors. All of the lists can be found here.
Counterfeit by Kirstin Chen, narrated by Catherine Ho
Firekeeper's Daughter by Angeline Boulley, narrated by Isabella Star LaBlanc
The Night Watchman by Louise Erdrich, narrated by the author
Brown Girl in the Ring by Nalo Hopkinson, narrated by Peter Jay Fernandez
Ninefox Gambit by Yoon Ha Lee, narrated by Emily Woo Zeller
The Memory Librarian and Other Stories of Dirty Computer by Janelle Monáe, Yohanca Delgado, Eve L. Ewing, Alaya Dawn Johnson, Danny Lore, Sheree Renée Thomas; narrated by Janelle Monae and Bahni Turpin
Nightcrawling by Leila Mottley, narrated by Joniece Abbott-Pratt
Convenience Store Woman by Sayaka Murata, translated by Ginny Tapley Takemori, narrated by Nancy Wu
Binti by Nnedi Okorafor, narrated by Robin Miles
War Girls by Tochi Onyebuchi, narrated by Adepero Oduye
The Swimmers by Julie Otsuka, narrated by Traci Kato-Kiriyama
The Beadworkers by Beth Piatote narrated by the author, Christian Nagler, Fantasia Painter, Drew Woodson, Phillip Cash Cash and Keevin Hesuse
Dating Dr. Dil by Nisha Sharma, narrated by Soneela Nankani, Sunil Malhotra and Vikas Adam
An Unkindness of Ghosts by Rivers Solomon, narrated by Cherise Boothe
Four Aunties and a Wedding by Jesse Q. Sutanto, narrated by Risa Mei
The Strangers by Katherena Vermette, narrated by Michaela Washburn
On Earth We’re Briefly Gorgeous by Ocean Vuong, narrated by the author
Zone One by Colson Whitehead, narrated by Beresford Bennett
The Seed Keeper by Diane Wilson, narrated by Kyla Garcia
Interior Chinatown by Charles Yu, narrated by Joel de la Fuente
Give us feedback!
Fill out the form to ask for a recommendation or suggest a genre or title for us to read!
Check out our Tumblr, follow us on Twitter or Instagram, join our Facebook Group, or send us an email!
Join us again on Tuesday, September 20th when we’ll be discussing the winner of our “we all read the same book” poll and discussing Hurts So Good: The Science and Culture of Pain on Purpose by Leigh Cowart!
Then on Tuesday, October 4th we’ll be talking about the genre of Fictional Biographies!
Wrestlemania Main Event Reviews - Wrestlemania XXXIX (Sunday)
Roman Reigns (c) w/ Solo Sikoa & Paul Heyman def. Cody Rhodes for the Undisputed WWE Universal Championship in 34:29
First to the ring is Cody Rhodes as the crowd sings along! Lots of wide shots that make this feel like a really big deal. The sound of that “Woah!” though! Woah! Lots of pyro for Cody here, and commentary are fully letting the moment breathe. Cole only pipes up to let us know who Cody’s family are at ringside. Rhodes has an emotional moment holding his daughter in front of the crowd, then hands his weight belt to Brodie Huber. So sweet. I am actually mad at this finish all over again watching this but against my better judgement, I’m excited for Wrestlemania XL. Anyway, there's a bunch of pianists with their pianos on the stage and they start playing Reigns’ theme. As they finish, here comes the titantrons and then here comes The Tribal Chief with Heyman & Sikoa. I’m going to take a quick moment to acknowledge how beautiful this set is and how I hope XL’s set lives up to it. Loads of pyro for Reigns! I am already more invested in this than I was last year. Cole uses the exact same commentary tidbit of who reigned longer than Reigns with the exact same delivery. It's a good tidbit but that's hilarious. He lists everyone Reigns has beat as champion but leaves out Edge, Kevin Owens, Rey Mysterio, Bray Wyatt, and Xavier Woods. Still a pretty long list though admittedly. This crowd is hyped for Cody! Roman steps into the middle before we can begin to tell Wrestlemania to acknowledge him.
Lock up and Rhodes has the upper hand until there's a rope break. Lock up again, Rhodes headlock and reverses a power-out attempt into a grounded headlock. Reigns rises back up, sends Rhodes off the ropes, but baseball slide and a slap to Reigns. He makes his way to the outside and speaks with Heyman. He tells him to smash Cody and he returns to the ring. Reigns gets a waistlock, standing switch by Rhodes but Reigns hits two elbows in return. Strikes in the corner but Rhodes dodges a running Reigns then hits a dropkick. He attempts a pin then targets the arm. Springboard by Rhodes but Reigns catches him with a powerbomb. No 3 but Reigns is in control now. Snap suplex by Reigns but it barely gets a 1. Another from Reigns and he waves at the Rhodes family. Throwing Rhodes to the outside but he skins the cat. Rhodes gets back in behind Reigns and throws him out. He goes for a running kick from the apron but Reigns catches it and drops him face first. He throws Rhodes to the ramp and hits a bodyslam on it. Rhodes reverses another and hits his own on the ramp! Fighting on the outside now, Reigns tries to send Rhodes’ face into the apron but he reverses it and does it himself. Some striking and Reigns is sent inside. Sikoa grabs a steel chair and hits Rhodes in the side as the referee is distracted. Reigns now hits a Drive-By Dropkick but only gets 2. Rhodes fights back against Reigns and comes off the ropes, but Sikoa grabs the legs and Reigns then hits a big lariat. Rhodes again kicks out though. Irish whip to Rhodes into the corner, then again he is thrown to the outside. Reigns clears the announce table very slowly. He sets Rhodes up on one before breaking the count. He stands atop one, throws up the one, then attempts a piledriver it seems. Rhodes is able to reverse with a back body drop through the other table though! Back in the ring, Reigns hits a forearm but Rhodes follows Reigns’ run-up to hit his own. He hits that dropdown punch, reverses a charge in the corner, and hits a scoop slam. The crowd goes wild before a Cody Cutter gets a 2-count. Stomps from Rhodes and Reigns gets out of the ring only to be met with a dive! Reigns is sent back inside but Sikoa hits Rhodes with the weight belt while the referee’s back is turned. However, he hears it hit and ejects Sikoa. Reigns grabs the weight belt as the referee tries to take it, allowing for Rhodes to hit a superkick and a Cross Rhodes, but it's only a 2!
Rhodes raises Reigns but he hits a jawbreaker and some strikes. He throws Rhodes out again and picks him up out of skinning the cat to hit a uranage. Rhodes kicks out at 2 though! Reigns lines up tor a Superman Punch but Rhodes reverses into a Pedigree! Kick out by Reigns though. Rhodes fires himself up, Reigns pushes him, he goes for the Disaster Kick but Reigns counters with a Superman Punch! Kick out by Rhodes! Reigns is doubting it, he lines up for the spear, Rhodes sunset flips though! Reigns is out but Rhodes locks in a Figure-4 Leglock. Reigns is in pain but he rolls over and Rhodes has to grab the ropes. Rhodes is up on the apron and the pair start exchanging strikes. Rhodes gets the advantage, drops Reigns with the rope and goes up top. He has to leap over a charging Reigns, he hits the ropes, but Reigns hits a spear! 1, 2, kick out! Grounded forearms by Reigns and then he locks in the Guillotine Hold. Rhodes is passing out but he keeps the arm up! Reigns responds by applying the body scissors but Rhodes is able to free himself! He rains down strikes on Reigns before accidentally taking out the referee. Reigns hits a Superman Punch but Rhodes hits a clothesline on the rebound. Both men are down but Rhodes rises first. He beckons Reigns up, prepares for the Cross Rhodes but the Usos intercept with superkicks and a 1D. They try to drag Reigns over Rhodes but here come Zayn & Owens! They fend off The Usos before hitting a Stunner and a Helluva Kick on Reigns! The Usos fight off with them, Rhodes drapes over for the pin as the ref comes to, but Reigns kicks out! Both men on their knees and they exchange strikes and headbutts. They continue onto their feet, Rhodes dodges a Superman Punch before hitting a Flip, Flop and Fly combo on Reigns! He hits a Cross Rhodes, then another, he wants a third as Heyman distracts the referee. Reigns backs them into the corner, when Solo Sikoa returns with a Samoan Spike to Rhodes. Reigns comes off the ropes twice, hits a spear, and 1, 2, 3. Oh. Someone throws a rubber chicken at Rhodes at some point.
Pros: Big fight feel, hot crowd, exciting moments, pure face/heel goodness, Zayn/Owens get to appear
Cons: Wrong winner, boring finish, Reigns maybe gets a bit slow with his methodical pace, though it works for Rhodes
This is definitely still a very enjoyable match, but man, that finish does it such a disservice. It's one of those matches that is really hot, enjoyably structured, and has some nice big moments, but it is all about it being that big finale where the face gets the big win. Taking away that final element makes for a definitely muddier match, and especially so with what I class as a pretty underwhelming finish. I just feel like if we HAD to do this, you do it with a more intense finish. I don't know. It's a good “American Main Event” style match performed well but damn, that finish still leaves a sour taste in the mouth.
Das Spiel hätten wir beim besten Willen nicht verlieren brauchen. Die Heimmannschaft war einfach effektiver. Wir hatten eigentlich mehr vom Spiel und auch die besseren Spielansätze, aber der Zug zum Tor fehlte ein bisschen. Und die Gäste schlugen zu Spielbeginn und gleich nach der Halbzeit gnadenlos zu. Außer dem Tor von Floris Ditzinger, der nach einem Freistoß von Lennard Schilling abstaubte, wollte nichts gelingen.
TSV Dühren 1 – TSV 1 / 2 : 1
(Torschütze Mathis Ditzinger)
Zurzeit läuft es überhaupt nicht bei uns. Man ist nicht schlechter als der Gegner, aber einfache Gegentore verhindern etwas Zählbares (und wie in Zaisenhausen gleich zu Spielbeginn und direkt nach der Halbzeit). Und unsere Verletztenmisere wird leider immer schlimmer. Mit Roman Schilling haben wir den nächsten Langzeitverletzten. Es war wie in den letzten Wochen. Unsere Gegner können mit wenig Aufwand Tore erzielen und wir schaffen es nicht, unsere Chancen zu nutzen. Jetzt befinden wir uns erst einmal im hinteren Tabellendrittel. Ziel muss jetzt sein, schnellstmöglich da heraus zu kommen. Auch wenn die Spielerdecke sehr dünn ist, müssen wir jetzt unbedingt punkten.
SV Bargen 1 – TSV 2 / 4 : 2
(Torschützen, Marius Zimmermann, Mathias Pojda)
Nachdem es am Vorabend noch ganz schlecht ausgesehen hatte, ob wir überhaupt eine Mannschaft stellen können (hier noch einmal einen Dank an den SV Bargen), zeigten wir unsere beste Saisonleistung. Wir hatten sogar die 1. Chance. Danach übernahm Bargen immer mehr das Kommando und konnte bis zur 10. Minute nach einem Doppelschlag mit 2:0 in Führung gehen. Bis zur Halbzeit hatten wir einige brenzlige Situationen zu überstehen, aber unser „Nottorwart“ Daniel Huber zeigte eine sehr starke Leistung und hielt alles, was zu halten war. Gleich nach der Halbzeit gelang der Heimmannschaft per sehenswertem Schuss das 3:0 und die Partie schien entschieden. Unsere Mannschaft kam danach aber immer besser ins Spiel. Nach Vorarbeit von Daniel Mayer gelang Marius Zimmermann der Anschlusstreffer (unser erster Treffer der Saison, entsprechend groß war der Jubel)(60.). Und als Mathias Pojda per schönem Schuss nach erneuter Vorarbeit von Daniel Mayer den Anschlusstreffer erzielte, schien sogar eine Sensation möglich. Kurz vor Schluss gelang dann Bargen aber das 4:2. Trotzdem sehr starke Leistung, Jungs.
FV Landshausen 1 – TSV 2 / 8 : 0
Das Ergebnis sagt leider schon alles. Wir waren chancenlos. Die verletzungs- und urlaubsbedingte schlechte Personalsituation schlägt sich besonders auf die 2. Mannschaft nieder. Ohne Mithilfe der AH wäre ein Spielbetrieb nicht mehr aufrecht zu erhalten. Und in der B1 kann man ohne seine Stammspieler fast nicht mithalten. Aber es kommen noch die anderen 2. Mannschaften in dieser Klasse und da müssen wir punkten. Am Wochenende haben wir aber mit Berwangen einer der stärksten Mannschaften dieser Klasse als Gegner.
Rendez-vous était donné à la pharmacie de St Marcel, par l’intermédiaire de Whatsapp, une opération rondement menée par Philippe (merci) et qui a fini par obtenir l’adhésion et l’engagement de 7 « cyclocops », présents à 7 heures 15 comme prévus. Un mode opératoire encore en phase expérimentale et qui manifestement s’avère être une réussite .
Pour un peu de changement, tout en tenant compte des capacités de chacun, nous nous orientons vers la Drôme des collines, via St Donat en passant par Clérieux qui nous permet d’éviter la grimpette de St Bardoux. Hubert ne manifeste évidemment aucune frustration malgré son attachement bien connu pour ce circuit devenu mythique.
Nous n’évitons pas cependant la route montante qui va nous conduire jusqu’à Batherney sous la conduite d’Éric S. qui mène le train. Ce n’est pas tout à fait une ballade de santé : le vent du Nord contrariant notre progression, sous des feuillages qui heureusement tamisent la chaleur ambiante et nous offrent une ombre salutaire.
Pieds à terre à Batherney, sur la placette de la mairie et rencontre chaleureuse avec le maire de la commune à peine désolé par le fait que nous dédaignions les aménagements prévus pour le stationnement des vélos. Pour nous amender, nous l’invitons à poser avec nous sur la photo du jour ainsi que la secrétaire de mairie, elle aussi, opportunément de passage...Un peu de féminité (que diable !) dans une équipe essentiellement masculine . Nous apprenons que Batherney devrait prochainement être reconnu comme site et circuit remarquables pour les cyclistes, parmi d’autres dans notre département comme le col de Tourniol et celui de la Bataille...L’installation toute prochaine d’un chef étoilé y apportera également une notoriété et un attrait touristique renforcés. Bravo pour ces initiatives dynamiques prises par une petite commune d’environ 200 habitants.
La route présente encore quelques raidillons jusqu’au village de Montchenu où les premiers arrivés attendent les suivants. Ce n’est pas l’épreuve de la planche des belles filles qu’ont connu nos champions(nes) du dernier de tour de France 2022, mais néanmoins un petit exploit à notre mesure, amateurs chevronnés.
Descente (ou presque) en direction de Romans que nous traversons finalement faute d’avoir pris la bifurcation envisagée vers St Donat...erreur qui nous vaut d’éviter la grimpette finale partant de Chateauneuf.
Retour à St Marcel à 10 heures30, contrat respecté ! 72,5 km au compteur à St Marcel, au-delà de la distance projetée et un peu plus de 24 km/h de moyenne, même si, comme de coutume, la recherche de la performance ne s’avérait pas être un objectif mais une sortie amicale malgré les aléas de décrochements ponctuels.
Les 7 cyclos au départ étaient bien à l’arrivée : Patrick, Éric V . ÉRIC s., Philippe, Claude, Huber et Jacques, prêts pour certains à engager des vacances reposantes, en famille.
Prochaine sortie peut-être, en Ardèche par le chemin du Tram. À confirmer.