Excitement mounts

We thought we'd go and have a look at what's going on at the top of Box Hill, on the route of the Olympic Cycle Race. We were only just in time as we discovered that the famous zigzag, up which the cyclists will climb no fewer than nine times, will be closed from tomorrow.

But today it was all happening. At the bottom of the zigzag was a huge tented area with security guards in situ. On the way up we passed many cyclists wanting to experience the long climb. Alongside the road they were putting up barriers, and there seemed to be loud speakers along the route. At the top the normally tranquil National Trust cafe was busy with cyclists, but the motorists' car park was closed, full of yet more marquees and security guards. There were huge trucks everywhere. An enormous TV screen dominated an open grassy area. They were setting up the loud speaker system with the inevitable "One, two, one two" ringing across the area.

There were still a few parking spaces and I managed to get to the famous viewpoint and take this picture of the Olympic rings they have set up. This is much to the disgust of "irate from Dorking" who, along with others who wrote to the local paper, thinks it is a dreadful waste of money and defaces our countryside. I think it is brilliant, and it won't be there for long anyway.

Coming home a different way, following the cyclists' route, the journey was hampered by huge trucks trying to negotiate the lanes which were already narrowed by pedestrian barriers.

Yes, it's all happening, and I'm so pleased we ventured up there to see what was going on!