Preview of Le Grand Depart

Such another glorious day.
Decided to drive up into the Yorkshire Dales and go on the route of the first day of The Tour de France.
(in a car, not on a bike!)
Route see here

I decided on a collage, although even then it was difficult deciding which photos were best. Best viewed Large.

Main picture Top Right..... What I would call "The best seat in the house!"
This is at the top of Buttertubs Pass looking down to Thwaite.

Top left... The turreted Bridge built in 1830 over the river Ure as you enter Middleham.

Bottom left.... Reminds me of my childhood and my first tricycle , which was just like this, but blue! Seen on top of a wall in Reeth.

Bottom middle....Mother sheep and her lamb, on the road at the top of Buttertubs Pass.
Has anyone told them the roads will be closed from 7am on the 5th July?
( the landlady at the pub , we stopped at for lunch, is having nightmares about the day. The riders go past her pub, and her chef lives in Harrogate so has to get there before 7am. She has been told there may be as many as 6000 people in Aysgarth, but no one is sure, and what happens if is rains?)

Bottom right...... Drawing of a Swaledale sheep on his bike. Seen on a poster in Reeth.
The pink polka dot jersey is worn by The King of the Mountains, and
Reeth is at the end of a King of the Mountain climb in stage one.

Jeremy Clarkson rates The Buttertubs Pass as "Englands only truly spectacular road".

We both agree, especially on such a glorious day as today, the country side so lush and green with the new spring foliage.

We have had a truly marvellous day, (even if a bit tiring)
I hope the weather will be as good on July 5th, but I doubt if the riders will see much of the countryside.
By the way, the road surface was very good all the way!! They are still finishing off parts of it, as Middleham centre was closed, and we had to do a detour.
No potholes until we got nearer home!!