I was that girl at school who cheerfully accepted yet another detention for ‘forgetting’ her sports kit rather than endure yet another hockey lesson on a freezing pitch. I was that woman who married the man she was certain would never switch over to catch some sporting fixture on TV. So sporting pictures for Monochrome Madness , hosted this week by Elke of Pictures Imperfect fame, are very thin on the ground for me.
My only chance is to catch sight of a knock-about in the park …
… or to notice a roller-blader honing his skills in the skateboard park.
Other than that, Big Cycle Races are our only concession to sports-viewing. When we lived in France, the Tour de France passed before our house there twice, and when it began here in Yorkshire in 2014, it yet again chose to pass our house. These photos show a glimpse of the Caravane Publicitaire in France, and of – not the Tour de France – but the Tour de Yorkshire, passing near where we live, and cycling through nearby Kirkby Malzeard.
Me? I prefer a long walk out in the Dales with a friend or two.
Does that count?
I’ve included a little bit of street art spotted in Angers as my header photo. It seems to be a rock climber picking her way carefully upwards in … Rue Montault.
From Pyrenees to Pennines 
I thought there would have been sheep races at least 🐏🐏🐏 You did well especially the La Tour photos. the building climber is so good
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That was a lucky sight indeed. And you’re not wrong. There IS a sheep race at the Masham Sheep Fair. Their owners have to run ahead of them randishing turnips! Totally impossible to get shots of though.
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I thought you may have mentioned that before
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👍
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I agree with the detention but I didn’t manage to find a mate who was impervious to football and cricket. As compensation he’s happy to walk with me anytime. Cyclists are the bain of our life here and I can’t get excited at seeing them pedal past, but you can’t see the glory of tennis, so there you. Good effort, Margaret xx
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I shan’t tell M waht you said about cyclists. He’s one, but a considerate one. Unlike many car drivers who would be happy to lob any cyclist into the ditch. I used to enjoy watching Wimbledon, but no longer bother. I’m a lost cause xx
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Riding 3 abreast on a country lane and running walkers down on shared cycle/walking path. Gotta love it xx
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Yep, they definitely shouldn’t. x
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Love the cycling pics
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They’re there for you, Sheree 😉😄
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You’re too kind Margaret
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😊
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I was that girl too!
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Hooray! We could have whinged together.
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Well, I’m pretty much on your page except if it’s motorsport… Thought I would give this week a miss but I’ve suddenly thought I think I have a climber in Alsace.l.. That would fit
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It wouild. As would your motorsport shots.
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OK, maybe
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We, too, are a sportfree walking household!
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I guessed as much!
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What a wonderful post about sports! I especially liked how you closed the post with walking with a friend. That has got to be one of my favorite sports, even if a friend is not present.
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I learnt to love walking alone during Lockdown, and still in many ways prefer it. I’m able to be more ‘present’ in the moment, more appreciative and observant.
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The walk does it for me, too. Forget the fuss about the rest.
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👍Hooray! I seem to have more ‘pals’ than I expected!
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I’m completely with you on school hockey – well, most school sports but hockey in particular! However as I think you know I do enjoy watching other people play! Watching the cycle races must have been exciting? I loved my one experience of cycle track racing, at the Olympics, but haven’t had the chance to see much road racing.
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Um. Well, the part before the cyclists coming through, with all the publicity vehicles handing out souvenir tat is fun. But then there’s quite a long wait, and then the cyclists come …. and 60 seconds later, they’re gone. And that’s it! Job done. Track racing in an arena may offer more sustained excitement.
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Mmm… Well I was a sporty child. Having two older brothers I joined in with the cricket and football. Loved hockey and volleyball and athletics. Not played any since leaving school, but I used to enjoy watching tennis. Not so much now. And having three boys there was always football, formula one, rugby on TV. But none of my husbands were interested in any sport.
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Well, hockey was a complete no-no for me from the very first lesson, when our hearty games teacher, showing us how to bully off, hit the ball VERY hard and with full force straight at my shin. She was the same teacher who, when we went to the sports centre for our games lessons, forced us all to strip off – maximum embarrassment for each of us, aged 13 and 14, all feeling physically under or over developed – and run naked through the showers. We loathed her for it, and weren’t even any less sweaty afterwards. Nothing to like about school games.
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Definitely the walking counts! I hated school sports too, and I think John did but then got more into it at uni. And of course, today I can’t keep him off a bike.
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I think cycling, like walking, is acceptable!
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