The Olympic Torch

H1 and I trekked Northumberland trying to intercept the Flame en route; we felt really cheated when standing (twice) in the pouring rain we just saw the entourage and apparently the torch was dry and hidden on a bus which whizzed past! We saw the coach & police escort at Ashington so went to Coopies Lane roundabout in Morpeth; there we stood , like everyone else under gaily coloured umbrellas waiting.... the motor cycling policeman waved, the vehicles whipped past and the wet crowd said " So where's the torch?", "Was that it?" and we all went back home disappointed. It is only being run through certain bits of certain towns but otherwise it is installed in a bus- Huh!
SO

There is an alternative Torch which IS actually being run around Great Britain and you can track where it is if it is coming near you. Just google 'alternative Olympic Torch' and you should be able to find it. Other disappointed folk from Devon put out a call and runners have volunteered from all over U.K. to carry the Flame over the whole route     Now that is the real Spirit of the original Greek Marathon (long before the Nazis resurrected it!)   It is on Lindisfarne (Holy Island) tonight? and being run to the Tyne Bridge for tomorrow morning and eventually to the Angel of the North via Sunderland? Check it out! The runners are running all the way , day and night.

Nor do I understand why some of the people elected to carry the Olympic Torch through towns, got the honour. What has Bear Grylls got to do with Newcastle's Tyne Bridge (ADK has done a 60th birthday zip slide from the Tyne Bridge, as always in aid of MS Society& MMcK has done an abseil in aid of Save the Children & works weekly in The Peoples' Kitchen- there are loads of people who volunteer their time & effort for the community up here) or 2 Belgians got to do with England's Northumberland?

Harrumph!