The day the Olympic Torch came.

The Olympic torch headed to Sunderland today so we decided to forgo our normal coffee hour and walk onto Chester Rd (one of the main roads into our city) approx 5 min walk. The weather was a little dreary but the crowd was already starting to build up.

Looking up Chester Road

Looking down Chester Rd the police outriders in the distance.

The first of the police outriders they all gave a royal wave as they passed the crowds, one pulled his motorcycle into the middle of the road and stopped just alongside us. He talked to the crowd then asked a father if his young possibly 2yrold would like to sit on his motorcycle.

Next it was time for the bus carrying the spare torches and if you look closely you can just make them out through the window.

Next it was the bus carrying the next runners then the mascot came running up then the official sponsor vans.

I especially like this old vehicle from Llyods TSB.

More police outriders and just behind them the runner with the Olympic Torch.

The atmosphere was really good the crowd were clapping waving and shouting.

And just like that it was all over so we headed into town to our favourite coffee shop to meet my sister. I was informed her daughter and granddaughter had just left and that STEVE CRAM was in the coffee shop and he had his Olympic Torch with him. Steve Cram is a local  Olympic, Commonwealth and European Athlete and he was having coffee in my coffee shop and was very obliging to anyone who wanted their photographs taken .

Well I just had to.