Olympic Torch

The Olympic Torch was coming near to us this morning and it's going to be a beautiful warm sunny day.  It began its journey on College Green at around 6:00 am, travelling via Nailsea, Backwell and Flax Bourton, arriving at the Suspension Bridge around 8:00 am.  Sue had left for work early this morning and was planning to watch the torch convoy at the the bridge with some work colleagues.  From there it was to travel across Durdham Downs, into Henleaze, Southmead and ending up in Southmead Road, Filton at 8:50 am.  From there the flame was to be carried by vehicle to the next destination, Chippenham.

I decided to head for Southmead Road, Filton and I set off at 7:30 am.  I parked in Charborough Road and walked down to Southmead Road where people were already starting to congregate.  Houses had been trimmed up with bunting and barriers had been erected at the pavement edge annotated with the names of various schools.  One enterprising household had set up a stall on their front lawn and was selling coffees for 50p.  The torch wasn't due for at least an hour, so I decided to walk back along the route and take in the atmosphere.  I took many photographs en-route.

There was a very good atmosphere, young children cheered and waved their union jacks at passing cyclists on their way to work.  Even Elvis and a Superhero had turned out to see the torch.

I had a phone call from Sue who had seen the torch at the Suspension Bridge.  It was running 20 minutes late, due to having taken a wrong turning.

Sam had arrived, parked and walked down to Southmead Road.  We met up and found a gap in the crowd on the edge of the pavement with a clear view of the road.  After a few minutes a police motor cycle came up the road and stopped the traffic.  Unfortunately,  a big bus stopped in front of us and could go nowhere.  We and the other people affected by the bus's arrival stood there for a minute and then moved out into the middle of the road, where we would have an even better view.  No one told us to move so we stayed there.  We had a first class view. Unfortunately, when the torch bearer arrived, someone moved their head in front of the cameraI just as I took the photo.  By the time the camera had saved the picture and was ready for the next photo,  she had gone past.  I took a rear view shot and then set off up the road chasing the torch to try again.  Luckily, I did manage to get some decent  shots and with a bit of cropping here and there afterwards, here are the results:   

       

When the torch arrived at Charborough Road they took three or four lights from the flame to light the lamps for the onward journey to Chippenham by vehicle.  Then, with the flame extinguished, people were holding and touching the torch.  So I got to touch one of the Olympic torches.  

I walked back to Sam's car with him.  He had parked in a side road just off of Braemar Avenue.  We noticed that Braemar Avenue was very busy with traffic.  I left Sam who was carrying on to college.  I walked down Braemar to Southmead Road and saw that the police were diverting all traffic up Braemar Ave.  They said there was a gas leak further along Southmead Road.  I had in fact noticed a strong smell of gas when I walked along there earlier on.  I imagined the news headlines, 'Olympic Torch causes massive gas explosion in Bristol'.