Olympic Torch Relay...Waltham Abbey

I had become very excited that the Olympic Torch Relay was due to pass through Waltham Abbey and as it got nearer the time realised that I had to go along and have a look.  The only negative apart from the weather forecast was the fact that it would mean getting to Waltham Abbey before 8am on a Saturday morning!

With various family members we managed to park in a supermarket car park nearby and walk the last 1/4mile to the end of Church Street.  By sheer luck we managed to position ourselves outside of the Abbey and extremely close to the 'kissing point'.  The number of town officials nearby was a big clue to that.

After an hour or so's wait the Olympic Torch Relay cavalcade went into overdrive, sponsors vehicles with music, dancing and freebies and some BMX freestylers to boot. The weather was being very kind and apart from some black clouds we did see lots of sunshine.  It was getting very tense anticipating the moment when the Torch would pass us although probably not as tense as the next runner felt who had been delivered from a sponsors vehicle opposite us.

The cheering from the crowds and all of the flag waving around us told us that it was going to be happpening very soon, the first runner came past followed by 'the kiss' and then they were away again for the next leg of this epic relay.  I must admit that it was quite emotional when it was happening even though it was over in a flash from our point of view.

Luckily we are surrounded by about three more Olympic Torch Relay routes and now I've been to one would certainly check out another.  Waltham Abbey came out in force and then continued to have a lovely community day in the surrounding area.