Stage 1 of this race started in Glasgow going all the way to Kirkcudbright and it was passing through my village (Tarbolton) so with lovely weather for the first time this week I wanted to watch the racers pass through.
The missus however wanted to get out for a coffee and to collect some fresh eggs we get direct from the farm. So we went out in the SL, top down of course but after collecting the eggs I knew we wouldn’t have enough time to stop for a coffee at one of our favourite places Dumfries House so instead on the way back I used the route the cycle race would be taking but in the reverse direction back to my village.
Just a few miles from home a local farmer had decided to cut the road side hedge. As I passed this huge machine I noticed all the thorns etc spread all over the road and thought “well the cyclists are in for an unwelcome surprise”. Anyway as I approached home and with the time for the race passing through getting closer I decided to stop on a lay-by right at the junction coming out of the village onto the main Ayr to Mauchline road and set up with my folding chair and camera ready.
After a few of the service type vehicles passed through a Police motor cyclist came along with blue lights and right up behind a small hatchback. As the police cyclist approached the junction he came alongside the car with the purpose to stop vehicles entering the village but he was also blocking the view of the motorists wanting to turn right. I could hear him calling to the officer “I can’t see”
What happened next could have been very nasty as the officer beckoned clearly to the motorist to pull out which he had started to do but there was a car coming on the opposite direction. Both cars had to brake sharply but no collision took place. I wonder who would have been at fault.
I’ve always admired these guys who patrol our roads and they have a difficult job with special events but as each Police motor cyclist moved onto his next post he would be replaced with another as the main road was now blocked for all traffic to allow the race to pass through, but on at least two occasions there was no Police Cyclist controlling the junction.
Eventually the race passed through and what a spectacle to witness such a great number of bikes passing through the right hand junction onto the main road all without incident.
Then the Police cyclist moved off leaving the now lengthy queue of traffic wondering was it now safe to proceed. After the first few drivers moved on somewhat bewildered yet another couple of vehicles with blue lights flashing passed through yet still no “all clear”. It left me wondering what would I have done.
BTW the Police bikes were from all over the country, I spotted some from Devon and Cornwall, Wales and North Yorkshire Police among them.
The missus however wanted to get out for a coffee and to collect some fresh eggs we get direct from the farm. So we went out in the SL, top down of course but after collecting the eggs I knew we wouldn’t have enough time to stop for a coffee at one of our favourite places Dumfries House so instead on the way back I used the route the cycle race would be taking but in the reverse direction back to my village.
Just a few miles from home a local farmer had decided to cut the road side hedge. As I passed this huge machine I noticed all the thorns etc spread all over the road and thought “well the cyclists are in for an unwelcome surprise”. Anyway as I approached home and with the time for the race passing through getting closer I decided to stop on a lay-by right at the junction coming out of the village onto the main Ayr to Mauchline road and set up with my folding chair and camera ready.
After a few of the service type vehicles passed through a Police motor cyclist came along with blue lights and right up behind a small hatchback. As the police cyclist approached the junction he came alongside the car with the purpose to stop vehicles entering the village but he was also blocking the view of the motorists wanting to turn right. I could hear him calling to the officer “I can’t see”
What happened next could have been very nasty as the officer beckoned clearly to the motorist to pull out which he had started to do but there was a car coming on the opposite direction. Both cars had to brake sharply but no collision took place. I wonder who would have been at fault.
I’ve always admired these guys who patrol our roads and they have a difficult job with special events but as each Police motor cyclist moved onto his next post he would be replaced with another as the main road was now blocked for all traffic to allow the race to pass through, but on at least two occasions there was no Police Cyclist controlling the junction.
Eventually the race passed through and what a spectacle to witness such a great number of bikes passing through the right hand junction onto the main road all without incident.
Then the Police cyclist moved off leaving the now lengthy queue of traffic wondering was it now safe to proceed. After the first few drivers moved on somewhat bewildered yet another couple of vehicles with blue lights flashing passed through yet still no “all clear”. It left me wondering what would I have done.
BTW the Police bikes were from all over the country, I spotted some from Devon and Cornwall, Wales and North Yorkshire Police among them.
