Olympic Boats

2years 291days

If you ask Katie what she saw at the Olympics, she'll tell you she saw the Olympic running, the Olympic party and then today? Today she saw the Olympic boats.

We left our hotel at 6am, stopping on our walk to get a travelling breakfast from the 24 hour tesco. We were both decked out in full Team GB- Katie in her tshirt with its cape, a union flag headband, lion socks, blue and white trousers/cardi, me in a union flag skirt and Team GB tshirt, with Union colour ribbons. People sure knew where we were headed! I'd read and paid heed to all the warnings about queues, busyness and everything, and made sure we were at the shuttle bus in very good time. Everything, however, was civilised, not too busy, well organised. We arrived at Eton Dorney about 715 and walked the 20 minute walk to the box office. I had expected a big queue there, only to find that after ten minutes, we had our tickets in our hands. We headed to security. The only stumble was the fact Katie didnt want Monkey to go through the scanner. A kind army officer told his subordinate to not be silly and let her carry him through, then gave her chocolate for being brave.

We had a bit more of a walk round the edge of Windsor Racecourse across to Eton Dorney, with volunteers lining the path greeting and entertaining people. She was very excited to see Mandeville (and knows them both by name) beside the path on the route. We did really well for a spot, right next to the grandstand, at the front beside the cycle track - kind people allowed us to go in front because of Katie. We lay our coats and belongings down and that was our spot claimed. All by 7.50.

A morning chill was still in the air so Katie wrapped up, and we went for a walk to find me another layer. A venue-only-collection hoody was soon fulfilling that purpose, aided by a huge cup of tea. We got back to our spaces and Katie enjoyed a Wenlock and Mandeville warm up dance and the canoe demonstrations on the water, including a wake-board being pulled by a double-manned canoe.

When the races started, she did really well, clapping with the others. The first Team GB race threw her a little as the crowd suddenly became much louder, but she still did well. We wathced all the heats - Team GB did amazing in the first race, a bit disappointingly in the second, and then similar results in their semi finals. It was such a fantastic atmosphere and experience to be part of.

Afte the first couple of semi-finals, she began to get very tired and fell asleep within two minutes of being put in the meitai. So i walked us back along to the shuttle bus. The only bit of transport chaos our whole trip came during the train journey from Slough to Paddington. Far too many people for not enough train. Her and I sat in a luggage section to keep her away from the crowds, which was much better than how a lot of people had it.

We spent the rest of our time simply enjoying the happy atmosphere. We had a few tube journeys because of line closures, but arrived at St Pancras nice and early. We went to the bookshop as I had one last souvenir I wanted to buy her - the book "Katie in London". She realised immediately it had her name on it and was so pleased, she insisted on carrying the bag for the rest of the day. We sat on a bench eating a picnic lunch and were given free icelollies by the Olympic stewards. We went through to Kings Cross and got a starbucks, and finished our picnic while we waited for our train platform to be announced. As soon as it was, we went to our train. Which we shared with a Team GB athlete headed for Yorkshire, the amazing county who'd be beating Australia in the medal table if we were a country of our own.

AMAZING end to an incredible experience. I am SO very proud of Katie for how well she has been, how much she has loved this and how she's relished every thing we have done and been part of.

The Olympic Mini Series