Last Saturday whilst Nathan and Joseph were away at Waddington air
show ( cue music -'It's the most wonderful time of the year' for Nathan), Ben,
Seth and I went on a little adventure to find le Tour. We travelled with
grandma and Aunty Alice to collect Aunty Hope from 'Sleepy Saltaire' at 7:50am.
Caught the 8:11 train to Shipley meeting a hoard of other eager traveller. By
the skin of our teeth we were able to squeeze onto the train towards Ilkey. At
Baildon, Menston and Guisley there were crowds of people waiting on the
platforms and somehow a few on each managed to find a small space on the train
but the majority had to wait for the next train - it was travelling sardine
style. Rather than travel to Ilkley we took the less popular choice and
departed at Ben Ryhdding, where Grandma works. Ben and Jack had a joyful
reunion on the platform which was really sweet. We could not believe our luck
finding ample space to sit on a wall in front of 'The original factory shop'
perfect for buying some new sunglasses as I had forgotten mine and for a toilet
( these things matter when you're a mum!) Also next door to a Tesco
Express perfect for Costa hot choc, chocolate croissants, ice - cream,
stones to play with and a corner which in fact was the actual
Bat-cave!!!
Not the most picturesque venue of the day but totally practical
and if you looked carefully the cow and calf at Ilkley was in our
backdrop!
(Seth not sure
what all the fuss is about!)
We arrived at
9:15 ish an hour or so later the beginning of le tour caravan began to come by
in drips and drabs - different sponsers which their themed cars - fruit shoots,
mcann chips ( not sure how they promote cycling but hey!) a boy next to us
caught a freebie of yorkshire tea. The atmosphere was cheerful and
friendly.
Ben and Jack
played really well together and it made the wait so much easier that they had
each other, Seth napped. It could have been a nightmare but it wasn't at all.
Then finally at 1224 they came.
At this point this is where Ben was - he wanted to
go to the Bat cave and was not impressed with Mum making him watch some bike go
by!! lol!
( Team Sky at the front of this picture -
could be Chris Froome??)
The crowds cheered waved their freebie
flags, clapped and cheered some more as all 200 cyclists rode by. It was a
great sight. Over in a matter of seconds really but definitely worth the wait
to say we had been there to see, been there to partake and add to the
atmosphere. A day to celebrate being Yorkshire.
Watching the TV footage of the thousands, no
hundreds of thousands of people that had lined the streets was really something
special. Seeing the thousands of people who had hiked to the
heights of the Butter Tubs, literally in the middle of nowhere, was moving. A
great day.
Vive la Yorkshire!
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