The Olympic James

The Olympic James We awoke in Dusseldorf greeted by the sound of Stevie B's snoring. After a quick wander to the river front we made our way to the train station to head to our latest destination our third (Duisburg doesn't count!) in as many days. Jimbo had a treat in store for the team and a first class ticket was waiting for us at the station. Stevie B being a man of the people declined the luxury and opted for the mayhem in the cheap seats. As the journey progressed and we saw more of the landscape from our comfy seats it became clear that wherever Jimbo had planned for us it was certainly going to be picturesque. A decent 3 hour journey saw us land in Heidelberg. A town famous for its beer and its bridge... Both of which feature prominently later. Due to last minute arrangements we found ourselves heading to a posh packing kip location. Deep down we were all pleased with the outcome! Check in. Crash out. Get showered. Adorn our 2013 Olympic Shirts (courtesy of RP). Get to the bar...! Head out to see the sights of Heidelberg... In short.... - Have a pint in the student union - Another meat feast - A barrel of beer - Blankety Blanka - Shauny G's Sure Thing - Jimbo hauls Stevie B across THE bridge and wins at 6/1 - Drink a bottle of home brew to celebrate Jimbo winning his Jager Cup run over 17 furlongs And head out to the student zone We arrive in what can only be described as the worlds busiest bar. The Germans in their infinite wisdom decided to fill the room mainly with bar giving punters a tiny space to throw shapes in. The locals were not sure whether we were a stag do or a athletes thanks to our garms. In fairness I could understand their confusion... Jimbo makes a poor rower, Shauny G an average weight lifter, RP a shocking pole vaulter, Jonny a terrible wrestler. In fairness Stevie B was the only one who looked the part as a Shot Put (note no "er"). As the night progressed Shauny G had managed to charm the locals into believing we were part of the Olympic Legacy Team responsible for embedding the beliefs of London 2012 across Europe. Despite multiple games of finger spoof, Stevie B assaults our incident bystanders the locals bought it big time (must've been the Seb Coe name drop!) and we made our way out of the bar as hero's and back to our hotel. Shauny G boycotted the kebab walk... A first! The we got our heads down. The next day brought new sights and a new posh packing location... Heidelberg is the German Cotswolds. Incredible views and picturesque surroundings. A trip to the castle and up to the highest point in the town (well kind of) and then back for a swim (yes a swim) then out again. In short: - A game of chess - A stein in nine - Underberg (don't buy drinks that come in brown paper bags) - A converse with the locals And finally... A Shauny G disastrous stitch up. A spicy burning hot glass of red stuff (god knows the ingredients!) ended with a Stevie B escort home, a projectile red vomit in the posh packing abode and crashing out. I awoke to the smell of stale dry roasted nuts (world class!) and reflected quietly on the tour.... What I have learned is this. Every time I make that fateful drive to Ilford in June blissfully unaware of our destinations or activities I never think the past years can be topped.... And then Jimbo goes and does it again. This year surpassed all expectations and was full of more surprises than perhaps all other tours put together. That my comrades is what I learnt... Well that and don't eat the Heidelberg nuts. Great tour gents... Here's to making that drive to East London in June 2014. Shauny G. Ps. Who's gonna win man of the tour?!!!! Shauny G's sure thing can't even decide!!!!