Only one day to go before the Tour comes whizzing through Hebden Bridge and excitement is rising. According to Twitter, the Co-Op has run out of food already. There is bunting everywhere, including on our street, and Le Grand D’Party! is taking place in the town centre this afternoon.
So in surprisingly timely fashion, here is the second part of my documentary photo essay on the local decorations...
Many of the shopkeepers have made windows that are in keeping with the ethos of their shop.
Cabbages and Cushions, a decorating shop, have found some charming bicycle wallpaper and added an abstract yellow splatter in what can only be a Jackson Pollack homage (or an unfortunate reminder of what happens if you drop your tin of expensive Farrow And Ball paint!)
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Cabbages and Cushions Tour Window, Hebden Bridge, July 2014. Photo by Kirsty Hall
This flowery bike in the florist's, Fleur De Lys was unfortunately rather tricky to photograph well but they've used red, white and blue flowers for the French flag and of course, lots of yellow.
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Fleur De Lys Tour Window, Hebden Bridge, July 2014. Photo by Kirsty Hall
An appropriately fresh image is in the wholefood shop, Valley Organics.
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Valley Organics Tour Window, Hebden Bridge, July 2014. Photo by Kirsty Hall
This beauty is in Not A Full Shilling, a shop that sells jewellery made from coins. The race would be a lot slower if the cyclists had to use Penny Farthings!
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Not A Full Shilling Tour Window, Hebden Bridge, July 2014. Photo by Kirsty Hall
While Nelson's Wine Bar have cunningly matched their logo by giving their bike rainbow wheels.
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Nelson's Wine Bar Bike, Hebden Bridge, July 2014. Photo by Kirsty Hall
But sometimes there's not any obvious connection.
This is in the opticians, Mark Hurst.
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Mark Hurst Tour Window, Hebden Bridge, July 2014. Photo by Kirsty Hall
Because every bike race (and opticians) needs a blow-up monkey in a yellow shirt!
I love the detailing on this tiny cardboard bike in Christine Edwards, which as you can see from the bra in the background is a lingerie and swimwear shop.
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Christine Edwards Tour Window, Hebden Bridge, July 2014. Photo by Kirsty Hall
You might not think a lingerie shop would be interested in the Tour De France but they've dressed their mannequins all in yellow and have a row of these lovely little bikes along their windows. There are surprisingly few shops that haven't taken part, so when you see one, you think, 'hey, where's your Tour stuff?'
And of course, someone had to use these Queen lyrics. These are in the window of Oxfam.
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OxfamTour Window, Hebden Bridge, July 2014. Photo by Kirsty Hall
You're singing it in your head now, aren't you!
I will happily take any excuse to post a Queen video...
And since I'm posting videos, here is my friend Rebecca's son, Harry in a sweet little film anticipating the race. He's very keen on cycling and will apparently be in full cycling gear when he watches it tomorrow. Awwwww.
Le Grand Depart from Whitenosugar Productions on Vimeo.
I'm glad the Tour is bringing pleasure to so many people. Even I, with my avowed lack of interest in sports, have been enjoying all the buzz.
I have one final section of this essay still to come, which I will probably post tomorrow if I can hear myself think with all the crowds cheering. The Tour passes one street away from our house, it is going to be LOUD.