An outdoor adventure indoors!!
Well what an awesome week, here’s a rundown of what a Pembrokeshire business got up to at the Telegraph Outdoor and Adventure Travel Show, Excel London…
Hitting the road ~ Tuesday 11th Feb
Show starts on Thurs with setup on Weds.
Last minute decision to head to London a day early.
Weather is coming in again, tube strike planned = a mission of a journey from Pembrokeshire to London at the best of times, plus we’d have to set up in double quick time to make the CIM Marketing Excellence Awards do on Weds night.
A good decision, blue skies almost all the way with a stunning view as we crossed the Severn bridge from Wales into England. Straight run up the M4 til we hit the London inbound traffic. Getting through town was a breeze! Arrived at the Premier Inn Docklands ready for a tasty meal then sleep.
Setting up & CIM Awards ~ Wednesday 12th Feb
Lazy morning, epic breakfast (all you can eat of whatever you want!) needless to say the boys took full advantage of this, with the waiter offering a trolley to wheel them out 😀
Setup started at 12 noon, walking into the halls at Excel….it’s blooming massive! Looking pretty sparse with the empty skeleton stands.
We got ourselves sorted out pretty quick, TV up and running without a techy glitch in sight!
Back to the hotel for a quick shower n change #poshfrock then across town to the Grosvenor for the Awards party.
Hosted by the ridiculously funny Jimmy Carr, a fab night was had by all. Finalists for the SME category, we were up against some stiff competition, pipped to the post by NQA in partnership with Cogent Elliott. It was privilege to be listed among some of the UK’s marketing leaders.
Show Day 1 ~ Thursday 13th Feb
Late start again today, heads not too fragile though!
We headed over to the Excel London and had a quick mooch about the halls before its opening at 1pm. So many amazing stands and brands…two words…shopping and inspiration.
As they cancelled the tube strike there were plenty of visitors able to get to the show. Wales was still taking a pasting with the weather, local authorities advising folks not to travel!
The remainder of the CQCoasteering team were able to get the train from Westest Wales to Paddington 😀
Show Day 2 ~ Friday 14th Feb
First full day at the show and we can’t wait for the doors to open!
We’re setup right next to the climb & adventure stage, sideline seats (well standing actually) to some fantastic speakers. Alan Hinkes…What a guy taking on the 14 x 8,000ers in the Himalayas, Sean Conway…so many achievement, most recently swimming the length of Britain, The Meek Family…inspiring adventures!
Some serious outdoor fans visited today, oh and Safety Will threw a backflip off the base jump….an impressive 7m platform jump into an airbag.
Show Day 3 ~ Saturday 15th Feb
Buzzing atmosphere at the show today, thousands of visitors bustling around in search of new adventures.
London Bike Show….we got the chance to watch Ben Savage and the Animal Team kicking out some sweet skills.
Having tried the huge variety of energy foods on offer, it was time for a proper lunch… Brocklebys Penguin Pie and Cheshire Cheese!
Show Day 4 ~ Sunday 16th Feb
Final day…Chief Gaz had a go at the Go Ape #ZipTrack, the longest indoor zipline in the world, “Awesome!”
We had a mooch about the London Dive Show, checked out the Endless Swimming Pools (added to our wish list!).
Packup was pretty swift and the drive home was surprisingly clear!
We had a fantastic week, met so many inspiring people, added lots of toys to our wish list, added even more outdoor adventures to our bucket lists!
Plans are afoot for the Telegraph Outdoor & Adventure Travel Show 2015… see you in the water, Cleo & the team 😀
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- Blue skies while crossing the Severn Bridge
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- Yikes, London Excel is huge! CQCoasteering team arrive with plenty of time to setup
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- Time to bring the outdoors indoors!
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- Pretty sure we’re not supposed to hide our exhibition!
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- Go Ape Tribe setting up the longest indoor zipline in the World!
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- Go Ape are almost ready to monkey around with Outdoor Show visitors
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- Dylan taking pride of place on our table
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- Team looking pretty dapper ready fot the party
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- Great Room at the Grosvenor looking stunning
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- CIM – Marketing Excellence Awards programme
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- And the winner is…..brrrrrrrr….. pipped to the post by NQA in partnership with Cogent Elliott
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- CQCoasteering stand ready for Telegraph Outdoor Show visitors
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- Chief Gaz checking out the Pembrokeshire Coasteering videos
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- Huge variety of visitors to the Outdoor Show, even a bashful bear
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- No penguins were harmed in the making of this pie @BrocklebysPies
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- Pause for a pic with Big Cat Sanctuary @BigCatWHF
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- What are the chances? We found a cracking pic of penguins!
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- His name is “Roly Poly”, congrats to @BinnsPhoto our lucky winner
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- The rest of the CQCoasteering team touch down at Paddington
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- Safety Will taking a much kneaded break 😉
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- Soooo comfy, Vibram FiveFingers from @PrimalLifestyle
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- Bikes of all shapes & sizes, including this one that looks like it could take on Coasteering!
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- Bikes of all shapes & sizes, including this one that looks like it could take on Coasteering!
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- Help for Heroes Bear working hard at the Outdoor Show
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- Kryssy putting her feet up with an @ErdingerAF_UK alcohol free beer
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- Epic display by Ben Savage and the Animal team #skills
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- Land’s End to John O’Groats swimmer, another legend!
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- Resting tired feet and supping an Erdinger Alkohol Frei beer
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- The boys found a tiny Sit on Top Kayak
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- Cheshire Cheese n Penguin Pie mmmm
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- Any excuse for a sit down at the Outdoor Show
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- A cheeky Yakult as we kick of the last day of the show
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- “Awesome!” Go Ape Tribe give Gaz his Zipline certificate
