The Butlers Pack Their Bags Again: Olympic Event #2

Now, this is more like it!

A lovely sunny day with big puffy clouds sweeping over Eton Dorney. Commentators who really know the sport and really know the competitors and really get the crowd going. Wonderful seats near the finish line and opposite the medal ceremonies. A long sought British gold medal and two British bronzes.

Here they come!

Pushing through the last few meters

Katherine Grainger and Anna Watkins win gold

Victory lap

Our view of the medal ceremonies

We were up early as the train journey was an hour and we knew the place would be packed. It was extremely well organized and we barely stopped walking in between train and bus and venue, with lines of double deckers waiting in turn.

Everyone who helped guide the surge of people was pleasant. We had packed water and wraps, so we felt smug to see the food line-ups. The coffee one was long, but the one for beer/wine/cider was longer (it was 9am!). The longest of all was the one for sausage in a bun, a breakfast of choice for many Britons anywhere!

Colourful crowd

There was a breeze all morning, and a bit of rain at one point. We wrapped ourselves in our flags but it never came down enough to pull out our clear Team GB rain ponchos (thank you McGowans!)

T-shirt courtesy Dottos and Austins

After the races, there was such a crush of people exiting that we walked the other way, to the start line 2000 m down the way. There was a big section of grass littered with people in front of giant screens showing others sports in progress.