So I don't know if you know, but this weekend just gone the Tour De France kicked off it's grand depart right here in beautiful Yorkshire!!!
I have been eagerly anticipating this weekend for a very very long time (My dad is a huge tour/cycling enthusiast) and keeping up with the tour each year has just become the norm in our house.
It just so happens that Tom's friend owns a farm in Holme, the little village just below the big big climb up Holme Moss. They were putting on a bit of a festival and I was lucky enough to be invited to go along and camp.
We arrived at about mid-day on the Saturday. It was beautiful sunshine, the beer tent was up and preparations were in full swing. The whole village had been shut down and the roads were closed to everyone but residents. We pitched our tent and chucked some food on the BBQ before driving up to the top of the moss for a look at the view (we were lucky enough to have been lent a few residents permits).
That night we went to the Nook beer tent, listened to local bands perform and sat round the camp fire. There was lots going on and I don't think anyone got much more than a couple of hours sleep.
The next morning we were woken up at the crack of dawn (5:30/6:00) as BBC 1 wanted to feature our little camp on the breakfast news. We ended up being half eaten alive by midges on national television 3 times over the course of the morning!
We spent the next few hours wandering around the village soaking up the atmosphere! It was absolutely amazing, everyone was so happy to be there, the weather was gorgeous and that tiny little village has never seen that many people before, ever! (over 60,000!)
At about 11 o'clock we bumped into my parents and decided to climb the Moss, we got about 200 yards from the finish of the climb before making our way up the hillside to get a good view. We could see all the way across Huddersfield from there and it really was amazing. The atmosphere was fantastic, with loads of novice riders attempting the climb and the crowds went crazy with support every time a little kid attempted it.
Because we were so high up we could see the 5 helicopters that follow the riders progress approaching us from miles away. Various calls and texts from family and friends watching it in various locations all around Huddersfield also kept us updated of their progress.
When the riders finally reached us it was so fantastic and surreal! Everyone went crazy snapping pictures and some of the helicopters flew so low over our heads it was ridiculous!
After it was all over the 60,000 strong crowds descended back into Holme just as the heavens opened. There was time for one more burger on the BBQ before wearily walking the few miles of the route along the closed roads back to Tom's house. We arrived completely exhausted and just had time to order curry and watch the days highlights before falling into bed for a much needed sleep!
It was an absolutely amazing weekend and a once in a lifetime experience I am so so glad that we got to be a part of it and so sad that it is all over for the tour in Yorkshire. But I'm looking forward to watching their progress on TV for the next three weeks!
Where did you watch the tour? What was your experience?
Thank you for reading
Katie xxx
I have been eagerly anticipating this weekend for a very very long time (My dad is a huge tour/cycling enthusiast) and keeping up with the tour each year has just become the norm in our house.
It just so happens that Tom's friend owns a farm in Holme, the little village just below the big big climb up Holme Moss. They were putting on a bit of a festival and I was lucky enough to be invited to go along and camp.
We arrived at about mid-day on the Saturday. It was beautiful sunshine, the beer tent was up and preparations were in full swing. The whole village had been shut down and the roads were closed to everyone but residents. We pitched our tent and chucked some food on the BBQ before driving up to the top of the moss for a look at the view (we were lucky enough to have been lent a few residents permits).
That night we went to the Nook beer tent, listened to local bands perform and sat round the camp fire. There was lots going on and I don't think anyone got much more than a couple of hours sleep.
The next morning we were woken up at the crack of dawn (5:30/6:00) as BBC 1 wanted to feature our little camp on the breakfast news. We ended up being half eaten alive by midges on national television 3 times over the course of the morning!
We spent the next few hours wandering around the village soaking up the atmosphere! It was absolutely amazing, everyone was so happy to be there, the weather was gorgeous and that tiny little village has never seen that many people before, ever! (over 60,000!)
At about 11 o'clock we bumped into my parents and decided to climb the Moss, we got about 200 yards from the finish of the climb before making our way up the hillside to get a good view. We could see all the way across Huddersfield from there and it really was amazing. The atmosphere was fantastic, with loads of novice riders attempting the climb and the crowds went crazy with support every time a little kid attempted it.
Because we were so high up we could see the 5 helicopters that follow the riders progress approaching us from miles away. Various calls and texts from family and friends watching it in various locations all around Huddersfield also kept us updated of their progress.
After it was all over the 60,000 strong crowds descended back into Holme just as the heavens opened. There was time for one more burger on the BBQ before wearily walking the few miles of the route along the closed roads back to Tom's house. We arrived completely exhausted and just had time to order curry and watch the days highlights before falling into bed for a much needed sleep!
It was an absolutely amazing weekend and a once in a lifetime experience I am so so glad that we got to be a part of it and so sad that it is all over for the tour in Yorkshire. But I'm looking forward to watching their progress on TV for the next three weeks!
Where did you watch the tour? What was your experience?
Thank you for reading
Katie xxx
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