Ed Chloe and I in front row by large union jack flag 

 Yesterday I went to the Olympics - wow! It was SO brilliant! We stood on butterfly bend on Boxhill and watched the womens road race. For those of you who don't need details you can stop reading now! 


But for those of you who like details here we go! I hadn't expected to go to this but Ed and Chloe went on Saturday and then had a spare ticket for Sunday and we decided to give it a go. We left at 6.50 to catch the train to Dorking Deepdene. It was a beautiful sunny morning. We arrived in Dorking at about 8.00 and walked to the base of Boxhill where we were about 20th in the queue. We settled on our picnic blanket and Ed went to find coffee. A wonderful start to our day. At about 9.45 we were allowed through the security checks which was very well organised. All the checks were carried out by very cheerful air force. Ed then left us and raced up to the lower climbs of Boxhill to get a good spot. Chloe and I walked much more slowly to meet him. He managed to get one of the best spots on butterfly bend and we spread out our picnic blanket and settled for the long wait. The crowds all around us were very jolly, cheering as anyone came up or down the road. We were directly opposite a speaker who was giving us information before the race started and then commentary as it took place. Ed had brought a wonderful big flag which we attached to the rope in front of us. We picnicked, chatted to people around us, did crosswords and sudoku and looked up the details of the racers on Chloe's ipad. At 12.00 the race began in London. The commentators did their best to try and bring updates but as for Saturdays race the information coming to them was very patchy. Thankfully I had Theresa, Kit and Josh onto it and they were sending us updates that they were seeing on the TV.  The time past reasonably quickly until we heard thunder overhead and the heavens opened. Luckily just before we left we decided to bring 'wet' trousers and umbrellas. As only we British can everyone just snuggled up and got on with it! Eventually we had signs that they were nearing us. The number of police on motor bikes increased and the first race cars appeared. Then a helicopter flew overhead. We all stood up and the cameras appeared. A long line of cars all with bikes or parts of bikes on their roof racks drove up tooting their horns and waving - the neutral cars and officials. Then more police on motor bikes and then we could see the tiny figures of the girls on their bikes riding up the hill. It was wonderful to see one of our girlies at the front of the peloton. The sound of cheering was deafening. It must have been like a wall of sound to the girls as they arrived. A long line of team cars followed the girls - all with bikes on their roof racks. There was then a gap back to the chasing group and then to some individuals who must have been very encouraged by the cheering they got as they came up the hill. We settled back down again for the wait for the next loop. We could hear the cheering of the crowds above us at the top of the climb and we could just see the helmets of the girls as they cycled up the hill. It was lovely to know we had a second chance to see and take in the spectacle that is the road race. It didn't seem long at all until the whole thing began again, neutral cars, police outriders and then the helicopter. This time I put my camera away and just enjoyed watching it all. Later I will post more pictures from Ed and Chloe's camera - I was just using my phone. The top picture was a screen shot from the internet that my clever husband managed to download. 


Once the girls had passed us for the second time we collected all our belongs and walked quickly (well as quickly as 15,000 people will let you) down the hill to the pub we had seen on our journey to Boxhill. They were showing the race on a big screen. We squeezed in with lots of other people to watch the end of the race. If a crowd of people could have willed a cyclist across a line it was us! The noise of cheering as Lizzie crossed the line in second place was amazing. A silver medal - well done Lizzie! 


We then walked slowly back to the train station - quite weary but very happy. We queued for a couple of minutes and then caught the train to Wokingham (well we thought it was going to Wokingham - but it terminated at Guildford so we had to change - this was the only disappointing part of the whole day and was just a minor hiccup). We arrive home exhausted but so happy that I had been to the Olympics! 


The organisation and planning of the whole day was excellent. We have written to congratulate the team who organised the event. Everything was wonderful - great organised queuing, drinks and snacks available, clean toilets to use and water available to fill up your water bottles when ever you wanted. Wonderful cheerful security and volunteers all along the roads and in the venue. The only thing we would have liked was a screen to watch the race. 

Wonderful to see our GB girlie second 

Today I will be recovering in my Olympic nest and preparing to repeat it all on Wednesday when we go to the rowing. Ben is off to Brighton to help Debs and Josh pack before they move to London tomorrow.  Chloe will be sharing my nest along with Papageno! The Olympics have really begun! 

Here they come