Wheat

It's been a mixed bag of a day, starting and ending with some work but spending the middle part of the day cycling out to Collingham near Wetherby to watch my lads play cricket again. This was the kind of day made for watching the game. I'm not sure the boys think it was ideal weather for playing though. Unfortunately, we lost the toss and had to field first in the hottest part of the day. Roam bowled really well to grab three wickets but it was generally hard toil. By the end of the 50 overs they had set us a stiff target of 250, but the wicket was full of runs so we still fancied our chances. Sadly, after his hundred last week, Forrest suffered a big come down, getting a good ball in the first over which he nicked to the keeper to be out for a duck. Literally from hero to zero. This game is so brutal. It was another of those gut-wrenching moments as a parent. Roam outdid his elder brother in both departments today, scoring an unbeaten 10 runs off 14 overs to salvage a point from the game. - although I didn't get to see that because I had to head back early.

Before getting down to work I did make time to watch the Tour de France highlights. Chris Froome was awesome. He might not have the charisma of Bradley Wiggins off the road, but he certainly is a charismatic presence on it, stamping his authority like I've not seen for a very long time. His dominance was such that you have a feeling that the Tour has been decided already. With Richie Porte the only rider who could stay anywhere near him, Sky hold all the cards. Contador clearly isn't the rider he once was (draw your own conclusions!) and it's hard to see anyone else who could possibly get near him on this form. The only downside is that it seems unlikely to be the open and competitive race that we expected.

As a point of interest, I rode the big col they climbed today, the Col de Pailheres, just under a year ago when I went out to the Pyrenees to follow the tour. So I know just what a brute it is, actually the highest point to which they climb during the whole three weeks of this year's Tour. Add in the heat and it really puts Chris Froome's performance into perspective. Chapeau.

Lots of fields of wheat on my ride out to Collingham. Stopped a few times for pictures. This seems to well represent what was a near perfect summer's day.