Olympic Torch Relay 2012

The has come that the Olympic Torch, currently on the way around the UK bringing the flame within 1 hour of 90% of the population, arrived in the North-East.

So at about 4 o clock, regardless of the torrential downpour that seemed to drift over and over again over the region, we set out to Tow Law to see it arrive.  We got there an hour early and got ourselves a spot beside some policemen who we overheard tell a photographer was the best place for everything to happen.  Awesome.

So as the crowds gathered around and the multiple flag sellers ran around the crowds, each selling a flag cheaper than the person before and the action began.  The police acted like we'd never seen them before, jovially waving their hands as if they're the Queen meeting their public, or giving hi-fives to the crowds as they rode by on motorbikes.  One police van was driving constantly around beeping it's horn and sounding as if it had a frog in their horns.  I suppose today was quite out of the ordinary - away from the usual reprimanding and forcing the public to stick to the rules, and they were in their element.  In fact the crowd went wild as the wandering police van threw their hands out of the car clutching their own imitation torch and teasing the crowd with what was about to happen.

Police waving to his public

Police teasing us with a fake torch

So as the police piled down followed by, the sponsorship companies in their flamboyant trucks and the buses packed with athletes and the torch bearers (including Matt Baker) we were struck that they'd set down one of the torch bearers just across from us with an unlit torch.  We'd managed to pick the spot where they were going to pass on the torch and thus the next leg of the relay.  And so with much pleasure we witnessed history in the making - the passing of the torch, the end of one journey and the start of another.  Fantastic.  And I caught the whole thing on video (see below)!

The next torch bearer gets ready for the next leg

Once we'd seen the procession pass in Tow Law it was back in the car and off to Durham to catch the torch end ceremony.  Unfortunately the terrible weather followed us, but after following them to the finishing ceremony the sky brightened and a rainbow arced over the Racecourse where the final torch was lit ready for the next day.

The sky finally brightens for the end of the Relay from Newcastle to Durham

All in all it was a fantastic day with an unbeatable atmosphere.  I just wish my phone hadn't broken in the typically terrible British weather...  :(

Best photo of the day.

[Video will be uploaded later of the Relay in Tow Law and Durham]