Torch relay - how in advance should we arrive

lonestarfan

I'd like any advice on how early to turn up to bag my pitch to wait to see the torch on its relay next week. Has anyone done it?:o Do you go an hour or 3 hours before etc! I need to take a few deck chairs for 3 less able to sit on whilst waiting so need to get a good spot. I'd be interested in your experiences. TIA.

whitewing

In our little town, we went half an hour before and got a front line view. Pitches that were facing down a long street went a bit earlier, as did those near the changeovers.

Ours was early in the morning.

FatAndy

I went about ten minutes in advance when it passed close by my work. The BBC have a live feed showing the torch on their website so I just kept an eye on that and waited until I could see it was about a quarter of a mile away and then made my way up to the route.

The convoy is actually quite spread out so it takes about 10 minutes from the first vehicles passing before the torch itself arrives so get there at least ten minutes before the torch is due to arrive if you want the full experience (you'll see more police motorcyclists than you've ever seen before). Also watch out for the sponsors vehicles which pass quite early on. There were people running alongside the Coca Cola bus handing out free bottles so make sure you've got your hand held out when they approach. Unfortunatley Samsung and Lloyds TSB weren't handing out freebies.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/torchrelay

Pennywise2012

The weather matters as well, if it's chucking it down you won't need to get there as early. Also if you're watching on a weekday it won't be as busy, as the watchers tend to be people coming out of work and school trips, both of whom arrive fairly last minute. Maybe half an hour before?

One of my family was a torchbearer last week, so when we went to watch we went to her changeover spot. I think that's a more interesting option, mainly cos you get to see the flame being passed from one torch to the next which is pretty cool. The new torchbearer gets dropped off about 10 minutes before, so you can pose for pics with them and see the torch up close (they're not allowed to let anyone hold it though). It also makes the whole experience last a bit longer. As an added bonus at any point along the route, they have policemen in shorts running alongside the torchbearer who seem to have been chosen exclusively for their hotness

If you decide you want a changeover spot, some legs of the route have changeover spots marked with a number stuck to a lamp post. There seems to be a few community support officers milling about in the hour or so prior to the convoy though, so you could ask them if you're not sure where to camp.

Hope you enjoy it, it was a brilliant day for us, well worth it!

lonestarfan

Super replies thanks everyone. I did a bit of research which expands on Fatandys post and have found details of the convoys and timings so that was helpful. It all helps manage their expectations and makes sure we get the most out of making the efforts to get everyone there.
Will also look into changeovers. Thnx a lot.

VoucherMan

I saw some of it on the live feed when it passed where I live.

In some places the crowds were 10 deep. Elsewhere you could have parked a bus between each spectator and not spoiled their view.

photome

OP where are you going to watch it

I aim to see it next week on thursday will come within a mile of my house at 7am!!

balletshoes

I went to see it this morning (it passed within about 5 minutes drive of my house). Because its a work/school day, it really wasn't very busy at the roadside at 9.30am, and I was there about 20 paces away from a school where the torch was handed over then going to be bussed to its next run destination.

I got there 25 minutes before the torch was due to pass, and within about 5 minutes of me arriving the first police outrider vehicles were passing us. So if you want to see it all, 20 minutes before at least really. If you need to park chairs etc, get there early with a coffee/sandwiches and a magazine, and camp out on your spot .

We had no barricades on our road, so you might find if thats the case with you that the crowds will walk up the road parallel with the torch as it progresses.

80schick

Its coming to Hatfield, St albans, Hemel on sunday (7th) - it being a sunday I imagine that the roads may be a bit busier. If I do go and watch it I got the option of 3. I live in one of the towns and friends in the other two - just a toss up of where would be the better place to view it. :j

nearlyrich

We went last Saturday we arrived about 20 mins before the start of the convoy and we were lucky to have a friend with a raised garden on the route so we have good views of everything. There was a problem with parking so we left the car and walked quite a way but it was fine and sunny so no problem. I was really moved by the experience everyone was happy and it felt great. Enjoy...

Lifeforms

I'd say go to your friends, and assuming the weather is good, have a good do/party on the streets with it. It came right past my mums house, so she and her friends pulled up a table, put some music on, brought out the wine and had a blast whilst waiting for it.

I watched it solitary, and whilst it was nice, it was nothing thrilling. spending time with friends is better imo.

Also assuming it's the same junk following it around, expect free coke zero, ribbon things, and blow up plastic things, and a bus proclaiming Jesus loves everyone (or that could've just been our local area!)

There is a little photo chance when they pass it on, so if that's important, find out those sections and wait there. Otherwise there will be the media van in front of the bearer so don't expect any long distance shots. Obviously you can still see, but if you have a landmark, like a bridge, you wanted a shot of it being taken over, you wont get the long distance shot of it all due to the various vans, coaches, and probably people/kids running along with it.