High-fives as the Olympics Torch passes by
I am now properly caught up in the pre-Olympic excitement in London as the growing dread of public transport chaos takes the backseat for a bit. Yesterday I found myself rushing back from work early to catch the Olympic Torch as it winded its way up hilly Wimbledon towards the Lawn Tennis Club.
I managed to find a nice spot by the road about half a mile from the club just 15 minutes before the torch arrived. The ladies next to me (3 kids and 1 chihuahua in tow) seemed pretty excited and we even chatted a bit, momentarily forgetting we were supposed to be aloof Londoners. The whizzing police on motorbikes caused a lot of cheering and shouting. Events unfolded thus:
The yellow bus came first.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7BzMVgSPkSjCHCN8e8-8VL3LmksXb1504aKPKzlLQBjIzxjXAmw7B4IwBKmN8pYlrLDwgkIen1UwbBgczbCQ6FErOT-1leTVcoUGw5HelaWsLwIfAkfz10l_KaN9blHAgRm-E2rsNOg8/s320/1-yellow+bus.jpg)
Then the white one.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidZv60GCuhR9UwfOtDM2gcxXzOH8AKvN88pbl4Mipv0D_PyLTsLIiaVnfqfayS1J7pJN_DtuNwP0yefWodIbmPSkLts7SNNq6JYqGTy_4whNxXTG24puSthHp3QJWgWGzyRbkOeD-MSlQ/s320/2-+White+bus.jpg)
Then the Samsung bus
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhizgTOhB1XeR5WxDItl2ZmmDqUc8jbDHYJpoFWcMUvpEZyYalqTZwvYlwvex0l6Tm0_f2-Q2uFwjsIlM0SVFVEsIobOq7zc9w74ppFiMg1eaj91RUOj4XYTxRK7BQePOwYj6Ekwh-ba7U/s320/3-Samsung+blue+cheerleaders.jpg)
Then the Coke bus
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDsSfkhZ-ToOfkR3pLBLVK72J9IJTyyrVJ1KEZAyfxEs0pfKGNrQ81y4PuQU-3HCPFl66KZE9N7G3CEETslkCH3j2p97XM3-vUg9CEmYPvzTk0nilx5PfG8uSvQKXzPY9ZmEr74ni7zks/s320/4-The+coke+bus.jpg)
[ Yes, the sponsors are everywhere. Subtle they are not! Must admit that their peppy music and young dancers did add to the carnival-like atmosphere.]
One more bus- this looked liked other Olympic torch bearers or support staff.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifG8UXTFRCtuJfqM9noPG6KvLRRW6XXuYVa0nSLmqMtxe7tyE1cuRr6zVvDPqM_CNMsKlCe04VbUEDo-jwrTVu2kpNmcYMcbVRF_0ve8ikyitCl53atxfUjkt_haQyhlASbxUiS93VYCg/s320/5-Groupies+bus.jpg)
A lady with the flag
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimRJ9Crgzps4kNHDYcuM_El1mow2DmtM43DKtnNj_eeOnxd0JR8ildHM8mbu_uWh45I7YHgOpqrm2Gp0O2tXTLQNU5LcyVrj1Gz18rBmjmVMuYKsYFemuAg41raoM6iFdgWioFFbh4Fpk/s320/7-girl+waving+flag.jpg)
And finally the torch itself!
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSbPkWDoKm980cgyg__DavVHm3F2owawGBw3N8LdWebwDu8XQ0lcnhAsqUCb7u6LyOQ5Z1CdOFQbd3cKaVOKenarTJNugQolC0olVs4I8IGNXs4KUUvJ1S1R2uT2jj8h-M_uwNzyWjPp0/s320/8-The+flame+in+SW19.jpg)
Before I could click another pic it was already gone...
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgj46mgd37kq4r5NYWQBVivlCVVhX7vKpEiZAAXv5K6MHO1BO8hFL3c-mHJEtdFlOBvcacLWopxrT16aVHjO2pXmId_D86_LGvZoxD-ri2O1qDN_UUkwaUxRGW5DLulaVEMs0AFFpF9yQ/s320/10-The+flame+passes.jpg)
Hope it turns out to be a great show!
I managed to find a nice spot by the road about half a mile from the club just 15 minutes before the torch arrived. The ladies next to me (3 kids and 1 chihuahua in tow) seemed pretty excited and we even chatted a bit, momentarily forgetting we were supposed to be aloof Londoners. The whizzing police on motorbikes caused a lot of cheering and shouting. Events unfolded thus:
The yellow bus came first.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7BzMVgSPkSjCHCN8e8-8VL3LmksXb1504aKPKzlLQBjIzxjXAmw7B4IwBKmN8pYlrLDwgkIen1UwbBgczbCQ6FErOT-1leTVcoUGw5HelaWsLwIfAkfz10l_KaN9blHAgRm-E2rsNOg8/s320/1-yellow+bus.jpg)
Then the white one.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidZv60GCuhR9UwfOtDM2gcxXzOH8AKvN88pbl4Mipv0D_PyLTsLIiaVnfqfayS1J7pJN_DtuNwP0yefWodIbmPSkLts7SNNq6JYqGTy_4whNxXTG24puSthHp3QJWgWGzyRbkOeD-MSlQ/s320/2-+White+bus.jpg)
Then the Samsung bus
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhizgTOhB1XeR5WxDItl2ZmmDqUc8jbDHYJpoFWcMUvpEZyYalqTZwvYlwvex0l6Tm0_f2-Q2uFwjsIlM0SVFVEsIobOq7zc9w74ppFiMg1eaj91RUOj4XYTxRK7BQePOwYj6Ekwh-ba7U/s320/3-Samsung+blue+cheerleaders.jpg)
Then the Coke bus
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDsSfkhZ-ToOfkR3pLBLVK72J9IJTyyrVJ1KEZAyfxEs0pfKGNrQ81y4PuQU-3HCPFl66KZE9N7G3CEETslkCH3j2p97XM3-vUg9CEmYPvzTk0nilx5PfG8uSvQKXzPY9ZmEr74ni7zks/s320/4-The+coke+bus.jpg)
[ Yes, the sponsors are everywhere. Subtle they are not! Must admit that their peppy music and young dancers did add to the carnival-like atmosphere.]
One more bus- this looked liked other Olympic torch bearers or support staff.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifG8UXTFRCtuJfqM9noPG6KvLRRW6XXuYVa0nSLmqMtxe7tyE1cuRr6zVvDPqM_CNMsKlCe04VbUEDo-jwrTVu2kpNmcYMcbVRF_0ve8ikyitCl53atxfUjkt_haQyhlASbxUiS93VYCg/s320/5-Groupies+bus.jpg)
A lady with the flag
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimRJ9Crgzps4kNHDYcuM_El1mow2DmtM43DKtnNj_eeOnxd0JR8ildHM8mbu_uWh45I7YHgOpqrm2Gp0O2tXTLQNU5LcyVrj1Gz18rBmjmVMuYKsYFemuAg41raoM6iFdgWioFFbh4Fpk/s320/7-girl+waving+flag.jpg)
And finally the torch itself!
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSbPkWDoKm980cgyg__DavVHm3F2owawGBw3N8LdWebwDu8XQ0lcnhAsqUCb7u6LyOQ5Z1CdOFQbd3cKaVOKenarTJNugQolC0olVs4I8IGNXs4KUUvJ1S1R2uT2jj8h-M_uwNzyWjPp0/s320/8-The+flame+in+SW19.jpg)
Before I could click another pic it was already gone...
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgj46mgd37kq4r5NYWQBVivlCVVhX7vKpEiZAAXv5K6MHO1BO8hFL3c-mHJEtdFlOBvcacLWopxrT16aVHjO2pXmId_D86_LGvZoxD-ri2O1qDN_UUkwaUxRGW5DLulaVEMs0AFFpF9yQ/s320/10-The+flame+passes.jpg)
Hope it turns out to be a great show!
"Momentarily forgetting we were supposed to be aloof Londoners" = Priceless! It says it all :)
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