By chance, I was in Lowestoft the year before last when a cycle race went through. It was exciting, not that I had a clue what was going on - men on bikes are men on bikes to me, impressive though they were as they shot through. But the entourage was astonishing.
Better coverage from you than from the BBC News network, I would say.
In Cambridge, on Parkers Piece, it was all hype, hype, and hype. The race itself came a very poor second, and as I watched from the roadside, instead of seeing the backs of everyone's heads, all I could see was a forest of cameras held at arm's length above those heads. Not being a partying type, I must admit that I was less than impressed by the whole performance. It seems that the actual race, and the cyclists, have become completely overwhelmed by the razz-ma-taz, which is all Joe Public gets to see, and possibly all he wants to see.
You had the better view of the race, and you certainly did not miss much elsewhere. Was there honey still for tea?
Posted by Temp on 7 July, 2014 at 8:55 PM
Ages ago, before Blog Silence I had every intention of inviting any and all blog readers to a blog party today. Somehow today crept up on us and I realised this morning that I really should have made more of an effort...
It was probably better in being less than worried about preparations. No crowds down our road, just us and our neighbour drinking tea in the drive watching the show go past, catching freebies thrown at us at literally about 60 mph as they sped on to the next highly populated areas.
Probably never to be repeated and glad I didn't just go to work as was the plan before a work need later in the week gave me the opportunity to be at home today.
Would have been a terrible shame to have missed a motorcycle policeman high fiving our neighbour at about 30 mph on full blues and twos. A great PR coup for the UK police, they were enjoying it as much as we did.
An excellent report. By chance it came past where I was working yesterday too (as well as the end of our old road)....maybe I should resurrect Planarchy for one day for some photos of the Tour Londres Est
- Borage is lavender blue/mauve when it first comes out, and goes to a more royal blue as it gets older and nearer seed stage.
- The bright, sky blue fields are linseed (also known as flax seed).
Most people get them confused.
They're both grown in great quanitites around East Anglia as they command a much better price than OSR (as the former are used in the pharmaceutical industry and the latter is used for oil, biofuel or animal feed).
I'm unconvinced that bees work linseed, but I don't know for sure as we've not had any within 5 miles of here, whereas we have thousands of acres of borage. It's keeping the stripey familars out of mischief...
PS For the old school bloggers amongst you - and those who like non-blurry 'proper' photos of cyclists, do click on Nic's name/link in his comment above... Planarchy lives (albeit sadly for only one more day)!
By chance, I was in Lowestoft the year before last when a cycle race went through. It was exciting, not that I had a clue what was going on - men on bikes are men on bikes to me, impressive though they were as they shot through. But the entourage was astonishing.
Posted by Z on 7 July, 2014 at 7:42 PMBetter coverage from you than from the BBC News network, I would say.
In Cambridge, on Parkers Piece, it was all hype, hype, and hype. The race itself came a very poor second, and as I watched from the roadside, instead of seeing the backs of everyone's heads, all I could see was a forest of cameras held at arm's length above those heads. Not being a partying type, I must admit that I was less than impressed by the whole performance. It seems that the actual race, and the cyclists, have become completely overwhelmed by the razz-ma-taz, which is all Joe Public gets to see, and possibly all he wants to see.
You had the better view of the race, and you certainly did not miss much elsewhere. Was there honey still for tea?
Posted by Temp on 7 July, 2014 at 8:55 PMAges ago, before Blog Silence I had every intention of inviting any and all blog readers to a blog party today. Somehow today crept up on us and I realised this morning that I really should have made more of an effort...
Hundreds of pounds of honey still for tea.
Posted by Blue Witch on 7 July, 2014 at 9:04 PMIt was probably better in being less than worried about preparations. No crowds down our road, just us and our neighbour drinking tea in the drive watching the show go past, catching freebies thrown at us at literally about 60 mph as they sped on to the next highly populated areas.
Probably never to be repeated and glad I didn't just go to work as was the plan before a work need later in the week gave me the opportunity to be at home today.
Would have been a terrible shame to have missed a motorcycle policeman high fiving our neighbour at about 30 mph on full blues and twos. A great PR coup for the UK police, they were enjoying it as much as we did.
Posted by mr bw on 7 July, 2014 at 9:14 PMI grabbed three of the same freebies as you, but the Yorkshireman next to me got the squeezy cow keyring.
Never again, but blimey what a sight.
Posted by diamond geezer on 7 July, 2014 at 9:32 PMAn excellent report. By chance it came past where I was working yesterday too (as well as the end of our old road)....maybe I should resurrect Planarchy for one day for some photos of the Tour Londres Est
Nice one Witchy.
Posted by NiC on 8 July, 2014 at 11:23 AMLovely blue field, btw. I'd have assumed it was flax, but I'll take your word for it!
Posted by Z on 8 July, 2014 at 11:32 AMAh, the blue is borage, is it? I've got a few similarly-toned fields, and didn't recognise the flower/colour.
Amazing how one finds these things out, innit? :-)
Posted by Lyle on 8 July, 2014 at 1:01 PMWhen viewing a field from a distance:
- Borage is lavender blue/mauve when it first comes out, and goes to a more royal blue as it gets older and nearer seed stage.
- The bright, sky blue fields are linseed (also known as flax seed).
Most people get them confused.
They're both grown in great quanitites around East Anglia as they command a much better price than OSR (as the former are used in the pharmaceutical industry and the latter is used for oil, biofuel or animal feed).
I'm unconvinced that bees work linseed, but I don't know for sure as we've not had any within 5 miles of here, whereas we have thousands of acres of borage. It's keeping the stripey familars out of mischief...
Posted by Blue Witch on 8 July, 2014 at 1:09 PMPS For the old school bloggers amongst you - and those who like non-blurry 'proper' photos of cyclists, do click on Nic's name/link in his comment above... Planarchy lives (albeit sadly for only one more day)!