Day 4 (Lebanon to Columbia)
Ed. note: Originall drafted on September 14, 2007

I was in Lebanon for the start of Stage Four this morning joined by Governor Blunt and Senator Bond, as we kicked off the event. It was nice to see all of the school children out enjoying the festival. Who knows - maybe 10 years from now we will see one of those kids cycling in the Tour of Missouri?

It’s really been a great week, and I have heard from the riders and those following the race they have enjoyed our hospitality and can’t wait to come back next year.

The other day Jeff Louder and Nathan O’Neill, riders from Team Health Net, asked if we could help them get a Tour of Missouri Bearemy Bear for their children. Jeff just became a father two weeks ago with the birth of a baby girl.

Stacey Blomberg, who worked for me in my capitol office and now works with me at the Division of Tourism, had her daughters with her at the finish in Columbia. A moment that I know her daughter Katie won’t forget was when Ivan Dominguez of Team Toyota-United gave her his podium flowers. I have uploaded a picture of her standing on the winner’s podium with her flowers to my flickr account; she is a little shy so she is covering her face with them as we took the picture.

Saturday is Stage Five from Jefferson City to Saint Charles. The race will start in front of the capitol steps, then head east through the wine country and finish up in Saint Charles.

Well, now it’s back on the road to Jefferson City. Enjoy your weekend. I hope that you can make it to the race as I know the weather will be fantastic as it has been all week. If you see me, grab me and say hi, bring your camera and we’ll take a picture together. Email the pic to me (Peter AT teamkinder.com) and we will get it on my flickr account.

Peter