Olympic Torch Relay

On the 25th of May the Olympic torch came to Cardiff. I didn't get to see it on the 25th as it was a Friday afternoon and I was still in work. So on Saturday morning it was due to leave Cardiff and head to Swansea. So I managed to get Sara up at about 6 am and we ot on our bikes and headed off to Cardiff Bay to watch the torch begin the days tour.

Heading off pedaling down very quiet streets in the centre of Cardiff Sarah did ask "What if we are the only people there?". Knowing the buzz that the Olympics will create I assured her that there would be plenty of people out even at the early hour to watch the torch travel the streets. We continued pedaling and sure enough we came round the las corner to discover that there was probably a couple of thousand people out to watch the journey of the Olympic flame.

We were however taking our time so by the time we reached Cardiff Bay the torch ahd already begun its journey and had passed where we were planning on getting a view. Back on the bikes we headed off to try and catch up. Sure enough not far down the road w came across the torch bearer. Unable to overtake on the road that the runner was traveling down we took a short cut on the back streets to 'head them of at the pass'.

We managed to get ahead of the bearer and as a result got to watch them jog at a very leisurly pace down the street.

Feeling energised by the Olympic Spirirt we decided to folow the torch for the remainder of the leg, down to penarth road where the torch bearer stopped in the middle of the road. I thought that this would be a change of beareres, however the torch bearer was quickly surrounded by the official torch security and the flame was transferred to the lanterns, before they all jumped back on teh coach and headed off to the next destination, Barry. The feeling on the street was quite joyous and everyone enjoed the eatly morning festivities, but it was summed up by a child that Sarah over heard saying "Mum, is that it? Was that the torch?", clearly not impressed by the spectacle.

We headed off back to the Bay to have a bite to eat and we were fortunate that there was a torch bearer standing around letting people hold the torch and have their picture taken for charity. Not to miss out this opportunity Sarah and I got up and grabbed hold of the torch.

Getting up early was worth it, to see my second Olympic torch relay. Yay!