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| The "Y" stands for Yorkshire |
This year, the planet's number one cycle race - The Tour de France - did not actually begin in France but in a much more civilised, cultured and beautiful part of Europe - namely Yorkshire. This past weekend, fans of the Tour de France have been treated to images of our great county and the incredible support of the Yorkshire people who came out in their droves.
At lunchtime today, Shirley and I jumped in the car and headed towards nearby High Bradfield - only to be astonished by the number of cars that were already parked up miles from the race route. We decided to park at Dungworth and then quick marched our way to Bradfield - nearly two miles away.
Just outside the village, we found a cosy place to sit on grassy banking above a hidden drystone wall. And then we waited and waited. An amazing number of vehicles passed by below us as we waited for the cyclists and they all blew their horns as they approached "The Old Horns Inn". There were British police motorcyclists and French gendarmes, ambulances, official race cars, cars and vans belonging to the various racing teams and then the so-called "caravan" which is basically dozens of motor vehicles whose sole purpose seemed to be to advertise things from the French "Carrefour" supermarket chain to Yorkshire Tea. We thought that caravan would never end so we ate our ham salad sandwiches and supped our water.
And then finally the cyclists appeared in their bright helmets and racing spectacles and their colourful lycra outfits. We saw them approaching, they flashed by and then they were gone. Afterwards we made our way through the crowds back to Dungworth - picking up two Londoners along the way. We took them back into Sheffield and one of them said to me - "Wasn't the caravan fantastic?" And I said "To tell you the truth, I thought it was all a waste of petrol."
Naturally, I took some photographs...
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| Walking up to High Bradfield |
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| Girls spinning in an adjacent field as we waited for Le Tour |
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| Waiting for :Le Tour just outside High Bradfield |
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| A typical part of the advertising caravan |
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| Geraint Thomas leads the way for Team Sky |
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| Roberto Brague and Tomaso Gowans for Team Blog |
The advertising caravan is a bit over the top isn't it? So out of place. Does that lead the whole race around? Incredible ~ they are like floats in a street parade.
ReplyDeleteYes that "caravan" always leads the Tour de France. Being susceptible to the cunning wiles of advertisers, our fridge is now bursting with "Fruit Shoot" and the cupboard is replete with Yorkshire tea. I'm already planning to go to France to shop at "Carrefour".
DeleteIt looks as if it takes up an awful lot of time for just a minutes look.
ReplyDeleteI started watching it on television whilst waiting for the Grand Prix. I had to stop as I was getting a distinct feeling of inferiority. They can't all be that well endowed. I guess it is probably drugs......Why do cyclists need penis enlargement pills?
Ee by gum Ade, piking cyclists' crotches! What's up wi thee lad? Besides, that's weer they keep yon banana snacks!
DeleteI have it sorted now. They wear incontinence bags.
DeleteI wonder if they use the same brand as you Adrian?
DeleteI'm too poor. I just leave it hanging out and paint it blue to match my jeans. No one notices.
DeleteIt has to be a problem for them they can't all do what that lass of ours did during the marathon in Athens. I find athletics boring but almost wet myself when she stopped for a tiddle.Best bit of the Olympics.
Sport throws up some wonderful things. I am a big fan of Kimi Raikkonen. I'll never forget Martin Brundel interviewing him when he had missed Pele's presentation.
DeleteMB.." Do you regret missing Pele?"
MR.." No I was having a shit."
I was really happy when he got out of the car yesterday. It was one hell of a cuckoo.
My uncle & aunt were watching from the road near High Bradfield, too - I looked at your pictures very carefully to see if I'd spot them, but it would have been too much of a coincidence, I guess. They parked at the garden center further down, paying a tenner which will be subtracted with their next purchase at the garden center (and they go there all the time), and had to be there at around 7.00 in the morning because they were told the roads were to be closed from 7.30 am unti 7.00 pm. They texted last night, saying they'd had a great time.
ReplyDeleteI spent most of the day out on a country walk, the weather was way too nice to sit in front of the telly, but watched bits of Le Tour later on a sports channel I have never watched before - just so that I'd catch glimpses of the beautiful Yorkshire countryside. The (German) commentator was rather annoying. He kept saying "York-sheer" and "Sheffilled".
PS: Love the picture of the girls!
DeleteMiss Arian - the English commentator was annoying too. He referred to THE Fountains Abbey, said the cyclists were heading for THE Ladybower Reservoir (which they weren't!) and wrongly pronounced the River Ure sayying "Errr" rather than "Ewer". He might have known a lot about cycling but very little about geography.
DeleteIf I were a commentator or newsreader or something like that on telly or the radio, I'd always make sure to pronounce people's and place's names the way they should be pronounced. It is not so hard to come by this kind of information in our day and age, is it!
DeleteIt was a dual commentary and the other commentator seemed to get everything right but the cycling expert clearly wasn't listening. I think you would make a great commentator Miss Arian..."and welcome to Brazil with me - ace sports reporter Meike Hölscher for the semi-final of the World Cup - Germany versus Brazil!"
DeleteI love the photo of the two little girls playing as well. Who needs Xbox? That part of Yorkshire looked fantastic from the aerial views on TV.
ReplyDeleteI hope I don't get arrested for snapping those two little girls and yes - the Tour coverage was a super advertisement for Yorkshire - pity the route didn't include Brough and 'Essle Rooard.
DeleteDon't worry, we've still got the City of Culture thing in 2017, God help us!! Hope they clean up Hull before the visitors arrive. I love the way Hull people say 'Essle Rooooooard.
DeleteYou don't say it like that Molly! It's 'Essle Rooooooooooooooooooooard! And who is this "they" you hope will clean up Hull? It's up to local people like you to get stuck in. You will need overalls, rubber gloves, wellies and a winning spirit. You could arrange a minibus to transport the Brough clean up team into the most needy parts of Hull - like Greatfield Estate. It will give you both a sense of purpose and a sense of achievement when the job is done.
DeleteHa ha, not bloody likely! I'm not actually in Brough itself - I'm in South Cave.
ReplyDeleteI was looking out for you and Shirley on Calendar News tonight. They filmed a bit of High Bradfield but it went too quickly. You should have jumped up and down in front of the camera.
South Cave? Bloody hell - I never realised you were so posh ma'am! I doff my cap to thee and thy ducks! I am surprised you didn't see me on Calendar News. I was the one dressed in a sausage costume. Shirley was the tomato sauce bottle.
DeleteI'm not posh, I'm from Glasgy! We're at the non-posh end of the village.
DeleteI was extremely proud of my Yorkshire " roots"
ReplyDeleteA great weekend for Yorkshire. The whole world got to see the wonderful landscape of our glorious Yorkshire nation and the wholeheartedness of our people. As for your "roots", I am sure the hairdresser was also impressed.
DeleteHello Mr. Pudding
ReplyDeleteI've nominated you for a Liebster award, I hope you have fun with it. The details are on my blog: http://peakwalking.blogspot.com
By the way I found the commentators on the Tour de France coverage really annoying too, mispronouncing placenames, mentioning places that weren't on the route at all, and getting Haworth, where the cyclist went, confused with Harworth near to me in Doncaster - where they didn't go.
It's funny the things people get annoyed about.
ReplyDelete