The Olympic Torch - On the Road

Yes peeps, as predicted, the flame did a Michael Barrymore today (go out with a pouf).  The first time since the journey began at Land’s End.

Anyhow, I managed to get out yesterday (Sunday 20 May 2012) with daughter to see the torch being manhandled on it’s route from Stoke Fleming to Dartmouth.

I was here (in Dartmouth)

There was quite a small crowd where I stood, next to the roundabout junction where the Stoke Fleming road meets up in Dartmouth, and never have I seen so many police motorcycles congregate at once.  Definitely six at one time and possibly a seventh too, before they shot off down the road, only to be replaced 10 minutes later by another party of five.   

There were other various police vehicles there, not to mention the buses and other vehicles that the sponsoring campanies had supplied and after all of them had come and gone did we get to see the torch carrier and entourage briefly, which was smaller, and slower and then it was all gone.  A bit of an anti-climax really.

And yes, I did take a photo (above) but it isn't brilliant.  But least you get to see the flame.

Still, it was an interesting experience, and one I fear I will not see again in person, as this is most likely a 'once in yourt lifetime' event.

So, at last count, the flame has flaked out twice now since first ignited back in Greece, and the voyage around the UK is till in it's first few days.  The count continues....

The Olympic Torch - The Story Continues

Strike-a-light!! It’s in the air....and sometime tonight, the flame will have burnt it’s way to the UK, and will land at RNAS Culdrose, in Cornwall, safe in it’s little lantern, awaiting to embrace the best, and worse, of the British weather in the oncoming weeks.

Tomorrow (Saturday) is when it ignites the nation’s excitement as it sets off from Land’s End, to begin the trek around Britain, giving the general population of the UK a chance of saying “oooh, there’s that man/woman/elderly crony/child/illegal immigrant carrying the torch looking like a right prat/hunk/hot stuff” or words to that effect.

And yes folks, I shall be lingering in the crowds, at Dartmouth (on Sunday) to cop a view. I may even take my camera and try to capture that shining moment when, inbetween the police escorts; minders; TV cameras and general entourage, the lone runner, beaming as if there’s no tomorrow, chunters past.

The Plane that will carry the Flame

All this only to say to the next generation of life, “I was there”.

I still say that it will get blown out at least once, if not more, by the time it arrives at London.

And for those who are living in the UK, and who haven’t already done so, this link will take you to the official London2012 Olympic site where you will be able to find the nearest route of the Torch by entering your location.

Thought of the Day

Why is it that when you transport something by car, it's called a shipment, but when you transport something by ship, it's called cargo

Olympic Torch

Yep, it’s getting ever closer folks.  The day when the Olympic flame is ignited and the trek from Athens to London begins.

Make a note of it in your diaries. Thursday 10^th May is when it gets lit and it arrives in England on 18 May.  So, this means that summer is finally here.  Lazy days and gentle breezes waft over the hills and countryside as butterflies flutter here, there and everywhere.....hold on, scratch that. 

We ARE talking England here.....so in reality, it’ll be hissing down cats and dogs, with the odd rain shower inbetween. Go forth and get your brollies out and whilst you’re at it, get the wellington boots and dirty mackintoshes as well.  A thermos flask may be useful too.....

......and

 enjoy.

 

In the Beginning

Well, the lighting ceremony actually takes place tomorrow, and the Flame will be lit "with every solemnity, according to the traditional way," the HOC (Hellenic Olympic Committee) said in a statement………So that will no doubt mean women in white robes wailing and parading around like there’s no tomorrow with pan pipes playing in the background……deep joy.

"The High Priestess Ino Menegaki will light the Olympic flame directly from the sunrays and then, after the ritual prepared by choreographer Artemis Ignatiou, the sacred light will be handed over to the first torchbearer, Greek world champion swimmer Spyros Gianniotis," the HOC went on to say.   

Ino Menegaki???? Sounds a bit greek to me ol boy.

BUT then the Flame, poor little bugger, begins an eight-day torch relay covering 2,900km around Greece which will take in five archaeological sites (dear lord) and ending on May 17 with the arrival of the flame at the old Athens Olympic Stadium where the first modern Games were held in 1896.  Ok – praise be that the flame isn’t a sentient life form otherwise it’s going to be bored to death by this stage. 

Exchanging the Flame properly

And then the evening of the 17^th sees yet another ceremony at the stadium where the flame will be handed over to the British delegation (including Princess Anne, and Seb Coe) to continue its journey to London.

Greek Delegate: “Here you go, here is our wonderful flame”

UK Delgate: “Ouch, that’s hot.  You just burned me there dear boy”

Greek Delegate: “Well, it is a flame”

UK Delgate: His hand now on fire “Ok, thanks a lot old bean. Off we go chaps. Tally Ho!! Pip pip” and enters plane.

A five second handover dragged out to…..ooohhh, over an hour I’m guessing.

And then the plane will fly to RNAS Culdrose, in Cornwall (in good ol Blighty), arriving sometime between 19:00 to 20:00 on the 18^th May, where the flame will begin it’s route the following day, at Land’s End, and proceeding around and around and around (repeat 8 times) all over Britain, with the flame probably getting snuffed out by the rain sometime on the 19^th.

Just thought I’d shed a bit of light on the whole affair for ya.  

Thought for the Day

It may be that your sole purpose in life is.......simply to serve as a warning to others.