Olympics

Monday’s cycling is extra exciting as they put up a big screen so that we can watch the GB Women win the Team Sprint. 

Wednesday is by now almost my usual night with my Dad in the New Inn before heading back home to watch the Team Pursuit Finals where we get a silver and a bronze.

On Thursday, after walking the Lad, we dump him with Daughter and get the train down to London and then onto Paris. Yes, we’re at the Olympics. After a minor hitch when we check into the wrong Ibis we get settled in before heading off on the Metro to find a Frog pub. Sadly FrogXVI is closed for volunteer party. We have a double Leffe at another bar instead. Then we go to our first event which is a late night Beach Volleyball match underneath a lit up Eiffel Tower. 

 

It’s very impressive. As is the Grimbergen Ambree back at hotel. 

The next day, naturally, involves a trip to a bookshop, the Shakespeare bookshop by Notre Dame. Then we get the RER train out to Le Golf. Sadly all the beer at the venues is 1664 0% lager, so we’ll be well ready for those Grimbergen Ambrees later. 

Then we move from the golf to the track cycling where Elinor Barker and Neah Evans win silver in Women’s Madison while Jack Carlin takes bronze in the Men’s sprint. Our front rows seats are very good apart from being sandwiched between two Dutch supporters. Their man Harrie Lavreysen takes the Sprint gold obviously. 

On Saturday sadly we’re not at Parkrun as all French parkruns remain suspended. Instead we head down to the Champs Elysee which has been pedestrianised for the Olympics. Then we’re at the Weightlifting which is far more tactical that you could possibly have imagined. 

Afterwards we go t-shirt and dog toy shopping. 

On the Metro, on our way back to Trocadero for more Leffe, we notice people on the way to the Marathon Pour Vous which is a public marathon starting at 9pm, there’s a 10k as well. We have a takeaway on the way back to the hotel.

That’s our last day and on Sunday we’re on the Eurostar back home which we share with both hockey teams and numerous other Team GB members. 

(Sunday 11^th August)