The final post about le Tour de France. I promise. Because it’s actually over, as far as Yorkshire’s concerned. And as far as poor old Mark Cavendish is concerned too.
But Saturday was all about Stage One of the Tour. Up early, I dashed over to the next village, West Tanfield, to buy a paper before the road closed for the day. Six mini buses were disgorging security guards who immediately took up positions round the streets. What could be going on? Later, I found out. ‘Wills and Kate’ ( the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge to you, please), due to open the Tour at Harewood House between Leeds and Harrogate, were to be helicoptered into West Tanfield at 1.00 o’clock. Later still, we discovered that my friend Penny was among those who had been presented to the Royal couple – and to Prince Harry too – since her husband’s Chair of the Parish Council there.
West Tanfield would have been a good place to be for other reasons. The riders swoop down a hill into the village and make a sharp turn over a narrow stone bridge before the long straight run into North Stainley. So there were vans from radio stations, cranes ready to hoist TV cameras aloft, and would-be spectators galore, already taking their places at prime spots and keeping the local pub and shop busy.
But we’d decided to stay put. Daughter and family had come over from Bolton and we decided that we should profit from the fact that the Tour actually passed the end of the drive. We sauntered down to the village to the stalls on the cricket pitch, and watched a little of the early action on the big screen in the village hall. Back home, we spent a happy quarter of an hour chalking ‘Ey up, Laroque’ on the road to greet all our friends in France when the TV cameras passed over. It worked, as my camera shot of the TV screen proves. But it only lasted a second and nobody but us saw it. Ah well.
What we saw though were billboard adverts that appeared for the duration all along the roadside for companies that don’t exist in England – PMU, Carrefour – and which had already disappeared an hour after the racers had passed through.
Then, finally …. tour officials in their Skodas…. British police on motorbikes….. French gendarmes on motorbikes….. support vehicles… and the publicity caravan. It wasn’t as extensive as it had been in France, but there WERE vehicles advertising French companies we don’t have in the UK, as well as British ones too. The total haul of freebies my grandchildren had thrown towards them consisted of two Skoda sunhats and a key ring. And then …….. the riders. Amazingly, after five hours up hill and down dale they were still riding in a solid phalanx, whirring towards us as a purposeful army. And then…. they were gone. Team vehicles loaded up with spare bikes aloft, more police and ambulance support followed…. and it was over. For us. Time to switch on the television and follow the action into Harrogate.
Disappointingly, my crop of Tour photos is exceptionally poor. So I’ll focus on a final look at North Stainley, which took the Tour to its heart, and delivered a very special homage to France and the Tour de France.
From Pyrenees to Pennines 
I did not see your message, but I love your photos of the surrounding area. It is very difficult to get a good shot when the action is moving as quickly as the Tour does through the countryside. I love watching it on the television and seeing the countryside. Have a great day and sorry for Cavendish.
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Thank you. Cavendish and I share a birthday (not the same year, obviously!), so I always feel especial empathy with him
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It’s been one of the best weekends of my life, and I’ll never forget meeting Royalty.
The Dales looked so beautiful on the TV coverage too. We are very lucky to live here.
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Yes, we are lucky. And I enjoyed it too. And found it a contrast with my two previous experiences in France, which were exciting…. but not like this .
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It looks so exciting! I just love the community spirit displayed, and the creativity. I’m just sad it was over so soon but such is the nature of bike races, right?
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I think we all feel a bit bereft today.
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It’s always hard when you look forward to something for ages, and then it’s . . . over.
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Yes, well, on to the next I suppose!
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Yes the Dales did look fab, not a view you see when walking or in the car. I was at the finish when le Tour finished in Brighton years ago and the buzz was incredible.
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It’s been an extraordinary weekend. Hope it doesn’t make Yorkshire TOO popular.
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Quelle région magnifique!presqu’aussi belle que notre pays cathare!
La passion des anglais est incroyable. Du coup, nous ne t’avons pas aperçue dans cette foule!
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Comme nous sommes a l’extérieur du village, il n’y avait pas de foule. Mais nous étions surement la!
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I find Yorkshire as beautiful as Midi-Pyrénées-Languedoc-Roussillon (the 2 régions are going to merge)! About the Tour in England, English people said amazing! incredible! fantastic! For French people it’s surprising but delightful! I think we aren’t so passionate! I recognised with pleasure Ripon cathedral and Knaresborough with its viaduct, ruined castle and narrow streets!
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What a grand finale – not the race but your Tour blogs! Enjoyed your unique perspective so much and the great community spirit as well as your own came through loud and clear. All the interesting photos you’ve shared really brought it to life – thanks.
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Thank you. Tour withdrawal symptoms now a problem….
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I kept thinking of you as I watched. I was excited enough about it in Shropshire, so I can’t imagine how it was when they passed your drive. I wish I had seen your sign! And now Froomey is out too. They should have gone with Wiggo.
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I know. But that wasn’t going to happen, was it? Poor Cav, poor Froome.
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I just love your message! Brilliant idea – I wonder what those ‘not in the know’ thought?
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Ha! Nobody saw it but us, I don’t think. It took us several re-winds of the recording to get that shot.
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At last!……………… found your blog again, I shall try and keep up this time
it al sounds gradely! ( Google has no idea what I am talking about and insist on changing the last word.
love to you both
peta
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Nobbut just. It all seems a very long time ago now….. and I owe you a letter, big time….. xx
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