I generally don't do before 8am and certainly not before 7am, but sometimes you just have to make an exception, and the arrival of the Olympic Flame in Baugé en Anjou was one of those exceptions. Our morning routine was rudimentary and the animals were fed with bad grace, before we were out of the front door before 8am and walking into town. Neighbours might have gone in by motorbike and car, but really what is the point when you are celebrating sport?
We picked our spot at 8:15am but soon changed our minds as we realised we were on a cut through so that the cany could see the flame pass more than once, so headed further down the hill.
We stopped by a small café which had bits of Olympic tat on a table - we obviously took a flag and a postcard to mark the occasion.
There were also official Olympics shops in vans doing the rounds - we weren't tempted to stop them and buy something.
We wondered if it was going to be like the Tour de France with squadrons of helicopters overhead and a publicity caravan. Well there wasn't much by way of helicopters or television, but there was a small publicity caravan - other soft drinks and financial establishments are available!
Security was tight - there were a lot of these blue vans in the cortege, before and after The Flame. Spoiler alert - they look innocuous and the guys hanging out of the winder were smiley and lovely, but if you looked at them at the right angle, each one was packed with heavily armed anti-terrorist and mob cops.
And then it was the moment itself - The Torch Bearer and their company of protectors came through, smiling and waving and it was all very wonderful.
Once it had gone past, along with all the vans of security, the spare flames, the other torch bearers and motorcycle outriders, we walked down to the Olympic village, set up in the Place de Europe for the duration. There was the biggest banner I've seen up, held in place by major agricultural engines, but just for the duration of the visit of The Flame. Once that left for Montsoreau, the banner came down and the Olympic Village was given over to sport.
After a restorative coffee, we dared the Olympic Village and marvelled at the climbing wall brought in for the occasion, looked at a demonstration of padel for about 30 seconds, and then watched a demonstration of tumbling from a local gymnastics club, with some extremely good atheletes. We suspect some of the older ones are hopefuls for the French team at this summer's Games.
After that, with somewhat sore feet, we took a longer but flatter and quieter route home, and flopped with a cup of tea for a while, before carrying on with our Tuesday.
It was well done and having missed all of the fun of London 2012, I'm very glad we went. I've written this on the day, but I'm not publishing until the normal day, as Saturday sees the party for the volunteers who helped with last year's Comice in Vieil Baugé and I think I might be feeling a bit delicate on Sunday. But more on that a week on, when we are into Summer.
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