The Tour de France experience ooh la la!

I watched with interest the Saturday morning news which featured a lot of coverage on the Tour de France in Yorkshire.
I have always liked cycling sports, and have watched every stage of the tour on TV some seasons. This year though my interest has been particularly piqued by the English Grand depart in York.
My wife is a keen observer of sport, i was however somewhat intrigued if she had any interest in the Tour.

On her return from work Saturday i proposed a walk with the dogs around a nice reservoir as a surprise on Sunday, the location would be a secret.
I spent the next three hours working out where to park, what time to arrive and where would be quiet enough for us to observe. The best place to view in my opinion was at the bottom of the climb up 'Cote de Midhopstones' not far from the end of Underbank reservoir.

The secret was fairly safe with me, though the good wife made a couple of attempts to find out what i was up to.
Later that evening i could not contain my self when i heard that the British favourite was out, due to a crash at the finish on a Saturday. As the news was read out i yelped "oh bloody hell" to which my wife asked why are you so interested in that? I then watched as the penny dropped, "are you planning to take me to watch that tomorrow"? she asked. At this point i came clean and said ? "yes, we should go and take a walk around Underbank reservoir with the dogs and then watch the race pass". "Ok" came the reply, "i am looking forwards to it".

Sunday morning arrived, we packed the car, and set off with the intention of arriving at about 9.30am before anyone else could get there.
It was a steady journey up the motorway and as scheduled we arrived in the village. it quickly became clear that there were already some considerable amount of people on their way to the race. Parking was at a premium, even though we parked a mile from the race road.

First sight of reservoir.

We walked for about 3/4 of a mile through the town and then down the side of the reservoir before reaching the outdoor activity centre.
The place was very busy selling tea, coffee and other refreshments, at what i have to say was a very reasonable price.

A young girl takes the leap of faith.

Children were playing on the leap of faith while campers took there tents down below.

Camp site at underbank outdoor centre.

We passed the outdoors centre after participating in a nice cup of coffee priced at only 80p. within half a mile we were bearing down on the road where the race was to pass. I didn't take me long to realise that space was going to be at a premium. The first sight of the road took me back a bit as a huge exploding falis had been painted red on the road.

Not a Banksy i am sure.

We decided to go to the bottom of the hill where the riders would turn off the main road to begin the climb. Here a narrow bridge was being manned by security staff and a single bobby. We found a pitch about 3ft wide at the end of the bridge. we could site here and rest our backs against the wall. we would also be only inches from the road.

The bobby, the wall and mi Julie.

Sitting against our wall on the bridge.

As we looked up the hill we could see the crowds growing. This was not going to be a quiet pitch like i had planned.

Looking up the hill.

When we looked to the road junction we noticed that the crowed there was growing too. we later found that a block of 20 toilets were sited here plus a disabled persons viewing area.

View to road junction.

The Mustard pot pub was very busy.

As soon as we took our place we noticed the high volume of people still coming into the area. Lots of cyclists were streaming through on their precision machines, glistening in the sun. We witnessed everything from scooters to tandems coming in to the area. I snapped as many of the bikes as i could, in fact i almost ran my battery out before the race came through. 

The excitement was beginning to build as more of the tour vehicles began to come through.

Lots of tour vehicles stream through hours before the race.

Lots of motorbikes.

The crowds were becoming quite noisy, cheering any vehicle that cam past. Police motorbikes came through every couple of the minutes. The officers on board were to the main getting into the spirit of things giving  high fives to the crowd. The Skoda team cars were beginning tome past with their multi tone horns sounding off which is a sound i associate with the tour de France.

Police scramblers, high five's to the crowds as they passed.

One of the wonderful bikes that came through.

Men women and children.

Young and old.

One of the joys of being there was to see the people. I really do enjoy people watching, especially when extrovert characters are  about.

Crowd pleaser.

This guy turned up and made us all smile.

Extremely new and expensive i would imagine.

Vintage bikes.

Fully kitted out.

Crazy Yorkshire man.

The lucky people who owned the property behind where we sat were having a tour de France garden party. The alcohol was flowing freely, as the day went on they got louder and louder. At one point they dispatched a messenger to call the crazy Yorkshire man over to join them. He was having non of it, insisting that they bring him some beer over. at the rear of the bridge we could see a huge camping site which i think was associated with the Mustard pot pub. Somewhere over there a brass band struck up adding to the atmosphere.

Camp site at rear of pub.

The time for the caravan to pass arrived. Vehicles began to come through with all sorts of sponsors logos plastered on them.Almost all had loud music blasting from their roof mounted speakers. Vans were coming through at a well rehearsed rate selling tour memorabilia. Some of the Yorkshire folk would run over thinking they were handing out free goodies, they would then come running back empty handed. Most were laughing shouting "don't they know their in Yorkshire"? One elderly chap shouted out "Trying to sell umbrellas in Yorkshire.....good luck with that".

Sponsors vehicle.

It was about 2.30pm when the security passed a message around saying that they were "going red". This meant that no one other than tour participants would be allowed on the roads. Still the tour vehicles came through with horns blasting. One of the spectators shouted out where the peloton was, some 10 minutes up the road. Helicopters began to appear overhead and more motorcycles sped through, including  French police.

Just before the action.

The roar from the crowd miles up the road could be heard, this made the hairs stand up on the back of my neck. The crowd standing on the bend then began to cheer, as the first participant sped through. No more than 5 seconds passed and the peloton shot through like a greyhound chasing the hare.

The peloton takes the bend at a pace.

Main body of peloton.

200 of the worlds best.

The spectacle of the main body shooting through in pursuit of the hare was inspiring, the cheering was loud and sincere with an electric atmosphere. Then as quick as you like......it was over......well almost. Some one on the bend shouted "theres more". The crowed roared again as a smaller second group shot through looking somewhat jaded. They were readily cheered all the way up the hill. Another roar cam from the bend some 15 minutes behind the peloton, it was the Yellow Jersey and he was blowing like a good un. Again the crowed roared them up the hill.

The leader of the race struggles up the hill, accompanied by a chaperone from his team.

The security guards then struggled to keep the spectators from the road as they assumed the race was finished for this section. Some guards were frantically trying to clear the road, word then passed through the crowed that a few stragglers were heading towards us. The crowed parted as 1.......2............3 more riders came through, they were roundly encouraged all the way up the hill. And that was it, the race was run for us.

We headed back towards the car, thoroughly entertained and impressed. I even had thoughts of getting myself a new bike, then i realised my age weight and other responsibilities. 

I have a refreshed sense of admiration for the guys who make their way into the Tour de France via their hard work and training. Its a truly great spectacle that i would recommend to anyone.