#OTR Day 72: Wrap Up Special!

We finished the Olympic Torch relay 2 days ago. It's 10pm and I'm in bed, too tired to even think about what has just happened! My life seems empty, everything is going very slow.



This is the end of the adventure but it's not the end of the blog. Hopefully someone will give me a new exciting job so I can tell you all about it! I will try not to write any of the boring things I do in my normal life such as training, pasta lunches or flossing my teeth 3 times a day (that would be a bit dull wouldn't it?).


Anyways I would like to thank everybody that has helped me staying sane for the last 3 months: my London Fam for the shelter and the laughs during rehearsal, all the performers and staff on the Relay, all my friends that made the effort to come see me. I owe you guys!


I also would like to know who's been reading this blog... I know (and hope) loads of my friends and family do but if we have never met or if you have any questions, I am on facebook: Flo Gonthier. Make sure you send me a message.


Let's finish on a positive note. This the only video I took of the whole tour but it was worth it! It sums up how much fun work has been. It was filmed somewhere in Wales but can't remember where exactly:






I hope someone got the subliminal message about giving me a new exciting job!

#OTR Day 70: Bushy Park to Olympic Stadium (London)

Last day of the Olympic Torch Relay, what!?! This is absolute madness. This has been the most amazing experience ever: so challenging and rewarding at the same time.



For the last morning ever, they were nice to us, we only had to get up at 5am. The last push. In the morning, the flame went through Hampton Court Park:



In the afternoon, we had one last farewell meeting at the Mayor Office on South Bank. Tower Bridge next door looked pretty tasty:



In the evening, we checked into the hotel at the Olympic Park... What a mission to get there, security is mega tight!!! "Do you know who I am?" I have also realised it's not about having a room on ground floor where people can see you through the window when you come out of the shower. We're on 10th floor, good view:




We had one last dinner/party at the Stratford Town Hall where we watched the opening ceremony. Now listen to my story: this year I am 30 and I will celebrate my 10th year living in the UK so I consider myself a third British! Don't be racist and keep it open minded, you know it makes sense! All that to say that I was very proud of the ceremony, it was beautiful. One for my people:




We finished the day and the Relay in the best possible way by watching the fireworks from the hotel room. I had never seen anything like it. It was 3 minutes of pure awesomeness!!! I couldn't believe how intense this was:




And that is it! Day 70, done. Olympic Torch Relay, done. Flo done!

#OTR Day 69: Camden to Westminster (London)

Today was the craziest day of the tour so far! So many people!!! From start to finish! I swear there was a million people lining the streets (I am exaggerating, yes).



We see load of good home made flames at the moment. This guy had the whole torchbearer done with balloons! You should hire him for your kid's birthday party:

You can't really see but it was really good!



Today I spent the whole day on the scooter doing tricks here and there. I must have spent 7 hours on that! This is what I looked like:
 
I am proud to say I can now ride on it NO HANDS!



Enough about me. Today was all about the people in London! Here we go:
Chelsea Stadium:


Battersea:

Oxford Street, that was MENTAL:

Regent Street, crazy:

Westminster:

Buckingham Palace:

This torchbearer surrounded by loads of men in uniform on horses:

Respect to everyone that was there today, it was mad fun!!!





I didn't get to see the Queen, how disappointing!
Tomorrow: LAST DAY!

#OTR Day 68: Harrow to Harringey (London)

I haven't got that many pictures, it's the calm before the storm. Tomorrow, we're in Central London, it's going to be mental!!



So this morning, instead of doing the warm up (it is a very very basic!), I went on the drums of the Coke bus. Smashed it on Eye the Tiger! Just doing my own thing you know:

 I was off beat more than once, classic!


At lunch, the Olympic Flame arrived at Middlesex University. Guess who was there to welcome it?

Our good old friend the Mayor of London: Boris Johnson. He hasn't changed, same conservative views, same messy hair.


That's it regarding work! Now we're in London and it is mega hot. The weather is perfect, it feels like being in New York. Let's hope it carries on... At least the kids are making the most of it, lucky guys:




Tomorrow is day 69, penultimate day for the Relay. Expect big crowd and some celebrities...

#OTR Day 67: Kingston to Ealing (London)

 Day 67, who would have thought we'd go this far!? I've always thought I didn't have it in me.



We started in Chessington. I couldn't believe how busy it was. Tuesday morning at 8am, packed! We knew it could only be a good start for the day!

We did go into Kingston city centre but I didn't manage to take any pictures. We rocked the place though.



We had our morning break in Kew Gardens. It was pretty busy too. I shall tell you something interesting about that place, just for the geeks: "The director of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, is responsible for the world's largest collection of living plants. The organisation employs more than 650 scientists and other staff".
Anyways, there was loads of nice sculptures. this one is called "Bronze Dance" if my memory serves me well. Exciting! There you go:




We also went through Richmond. The centre is pretty nice:

The main news though was that one of my 5 regular readers came especially from Belgium to see me. The one and only Wilkie. I saw him briefly, for approximately 37 seconds. We spoke about the blog 60 days ago and his dream has been to feature in it since then. He deserves it:




Last picture of convoy to finish it off. The view from the bus driver:

If you stall in this situation, shame on you!



Tonight, we're in Wembley, not much happening, just this very big white building...

We went into central London tonight, it's so warm, it felt like being in New York... LOVING IT!

#OTR Special: Matt the Funky Policeman!

Do you remember Matt the Funky Policeman. You can see him here: OTR Day 62

Well, he's famous now! We made him dance in Sevenoaks and he's a star! 140000 views in 3 days. I dance right after him but unfortunately, I probably wasn't good enough!
Here he is:



What have we created?

#OTR Day 66: Lewisham to Wandworth (London)

I'm about to say something controversial! We're in London but I have no clue where! All those names I've never heard before, I know we were in the South today, maybe.



This weather makes the experience so much nicer! It almost feels like a holiday! In some places the crowds come in numbers! Like here, somewhere in South London:





We had the morning break at Crystal Palace Park. And me thinking that was only a football club, what a fool I was. Here is the TV Transmitter tower, now you go watch Channel 5:

There, we saw these guys:

That's a flame and a half! Biggest home made torch I've seen so far! Look at how close they all are standing and the face of the kid on the far left is priceless.



I have a new toy, I only take it out on special occasions. It's so tiring! You pedal full energy and you go nowhere, but the crowd loves it!

It's Paddy's mini bike. Paddy is really tall and on that bike, he looks too good!



Pure fun mate, pure fun!

#OTR Day 65: Redbridge to Bexley (London)

London London, 5 more days before the party kicks off, exciting!



The day started early! We had to leave the hotel at 6am. It’s the last week but we have to keep on pushing! This tour has been really hard physically and I’m lucky I’m not injured. I’ve stretched a lot and I’m not scared to say I’ve had a strong influence on the rest of the guys.
Group morning stretch:

This was the floor, who would have thought damp gravel could make such a nice picture? Or maybe I’m the only person that like it?





Workwise, we were on convoy all morning so this is what happened: loads of people on the road, us going through 5 minutes before the flame:

I can’t complain about the weather, it was perfect:




On the way back to the hotel, the weirdest thing happened! As if someone wearing sunglasses and juggling in the tube wasn’t enough, Marky Jay had to be topless. I couldn’t believe it!!! Surely that stuff is illegal!




Because we finished early, we had some time to check out the cable cars at North Greenwich. I highly recommend it to the lovely couples out there. It costs £3.20 for a single journey but you can hire a private one for £80, go on, splash out, it’s not the 22nd of July everyday!





Now I’m chilling at the hotel in the deep south!




I’m having a single room party in 436, and you’re all invited!

#OTR Day 64: London (day off)

I'm in London, it's sunny, it's Saturday, it's my day off.


I forgot how painful public transports are, especially in the capital! I would say this picture sums it all: grim!




On a plus side, I (briefly) went to see the homies Eddie Spoon and Danjose at the Rose Bowl. They run workshops and activities there for the kids... Keeping the youth off the streets and giving them a focus in life, go on!

That lady at the front was grounded, naughty naughty. She looks gutted!


So the Olympic Torch Relay came to Hackney and I missed it! Booooo, I really wanted to experience it from the spectator side.  All I saw was the aftermath:
 



But it's fine because I met the homies at House Of Billiam. You should check them out and try to design your own jacket: http://www.houseofbilliam.com/ They're smashing men fashion at the moment so don't miss out!
Here we are where the magic happens:

This is Bendie holding a picture of himself (drawn by Dave, true story!). That's actually his usual facial expression:
 
 My friends are so cool...


I am officially on convoy now, mainly on mornings so if you come see the flame before noon, I'll see you there!

#OTR Day 63: Maidstone to Guildford

Back to life, back to reality! We're in London and it hurts a little...


Today started in Rochester. I did a show there a few years ago but I forgot how nice the town is! Lovely crowd too. Here we go:




 

 
 

Lovely.

In Sevenoaks, I had the pleasure to see Nadia, thanks for the trainers and the cheeky water homegirl! The show there was really good too, mad fun!

How tired do I look? I look like a performer that's been waking up early and dancing all day for 63 days. Oh wait...



And on the way back to the hotel, we couldn't escape the M25. The most hated road in the UK!!! And I understand why... It surrounds London to protect it from tourists and white collars! Mega long traffic jams!





Anyways, I'm officially in London now. So if you read this get in touch! This is where it's happening right now, South East baby!

#OTR Rain Special

We've had numerous shows in the rain and it it's quite a let down! For anyone that works outdoor, here are my practical tips!



-Umbrella: your feet still get wet and you can only use one hand! If it's windy, forget about it!

-Plastic bag socks: if the rain is too heavy, water will go through. Your feet will get very sweaty too!


-Rain Trousers: they are very good, put them on over your jeans and you're dry forever! Make sure you take them off before entering the car (there is nothing worse than a wet seat). You will be hot due to double layer and might get a sweaty crotch, it's the price you have to pay.
 


-Water resistant jacket: a must have! The hood is compulsory to keep your hair dry (it's not about bad hair days)
 


-Wellington boots: simply the best shoes to keep your feet dry. The problems are that they go too high on your legs (pretty uncomfortable), they are too warm and they are the most unstylish shoes ever!





In fact, if you can afford it, just stay in and put the kettle on!!!