We managed to score a couple of free tickets to this year’s Great Outdoor Show at the NEC in Birmingham and decided to take a trip up to the midlands to put them to good use. Have always wanted to go in the past but the distance thing has always put me off but I have to say the journey from Salisbury wasn’t all that bad (even after the half an hour of arguing in the car trying to convince the wife that I wasn’t infact a sleep but blinking very slowly.) There were masses of stalls to go round when we arrived all keen to shove a leaflet or two in your hand in the vague hope you might read it. But saying that though there were a good few places worth visiting. Disappointed however at the lack of photographic stalls and no mention of Geocaching at all. The closest one came was the Orienteering Association which after speaking with them might actually give my local club a try later this year. The best attractions I found were the demonstations and the have a go places, like the Scouts crate stacking.

Whilst all this was going on, there were the World Bouldering Championships (aka spiderman wanabes) taking place which we caught a quick look at whilst passing. Looks like fun but thinking back the the absailing on my stag do last year, maybe I’m better off spectating from a safe distance!

The best display all round had to be the bikes. These guys are really something when it comes to performing tricks on two wheels. Their ability to balance and leap from a standing start on and off the series of ledges was unbelievable at times. I wish I had my proper camera once again to take some real action shots of them but instead I had to resort to the phone. We have a few bike ramps in Salisbury which I may venture down to in the summer to snap a few action shots of our resident tricksters. This photograph is of Danny McCaskill who has a famous grandad whos very good at predicting the weather don’t you know!

And don’t get me started on the pies.