Tour de France…in Yorkshire ??

I know, I know…. lots of people were confused !

http://www.letour.fr/le-tour/2014/us/grand-depart.html

So, how does the TdF start in Yorkshire ? – same as it did in Corsica last year says Jotown… and I was there again !, ready for the ‘Manx Missile’ to get the coveted yellow jersey/? – as most of Britain seemed to want, and were present in Harrogate for the first days long awaited sprint finish…

I had planned my position weeks before, on a recce I’d taken out there, even managing to get some ‘free’ stickers from the Yorkshire tourist board – as it happened the only free things they did give out !

Just a couple of days before though my son Joseph told me of some Grandstand tickets available…for lots of money, which after deep deliberation… I bought one !

I set off from home early on the morning of Saturday 5th July, arriving on the outskirts of Harrogate shortly after 7 a.m., along with thousands of other people – parking at the Great Yorkshire showground, and walking the couple of miles into the town centre, to survey the scene.. although the town was already busy, I could have found a good spot on the finishing straight…although I would have had to stay there all day, and so having wandered around I  returned to Wally , collected my stuff, and returned just as the Grandstand was opening, and so got a great spot right on the back row, with great views of the finishing straight, and finish line… was I excited ??

It was hot sunshine, as the crowds continued to build as the afternoon wore on, with lots of celebrities being seen around the place, with the crowd certainly wanting Mark Cavendish to win..sadly not to be, as he tore up the road towards us, in a great position, suddenly crash,bang,wallop…he was down, on the ground,the entire crowd groaned as Marcel Kittel, his big rival zoomed past us all to win …. disaster !!

Cavendish managed to limp in after some treatment, to a great roar from us all… we even cheered for the winner as he received his yellow jersey ( once again, torn from a Brit’s shoulder !!)

I was able to spot Prince William,and his wife Kate as they left the area, then had a wander round, before settling down to stay the night, in a lovely ( and cheap ) field !

I was up bright and early the following morning, as the TdF again travelled through Harrogate, and I was there at the side of the road to cheer them all on, although sadly by now we all found out that Cavendish had withdrawn due to injury !

It was time to go home, and watch the rest of the TdF on the tele !!

Oh, I did get something free….Ugh !!