Kev Lawrence: rock-climbing, skiiing and flying Airkix style
Two days ago, I discovered what the word exhilarating means. Despite a start time to the day (Sunday) that caused actual physical pain thanks to the clocks going forward, all was fine when the family and I arrived somewhat sooner than we thought in Milton Keynes.
Two days ago, I discovered what the word exhilarating means. Despite a start time to the day (Sunday) that caused actual physical pain thanks to the clocks going forward, all was fine when the family and I arrived somewhat sooner than we thought in Milton Keynes.The massive Xscape complex is a 60 minute drive away, and it's choice of facilities for stuff to do is world class. The shops and restaurants buzzed and the various activities you could try made you feel alive.
We chose three things alongside a Frankie and Benny's lunch: some tobogganing in the SNO!zone, a session of rock climbing, and the main reason for going in the first place – a spot of body flying.
The snow thing was brilliant, because it was real snow, and both my kids were happy to run up and then slide down for 45 minutes on the little toboggans, in a cordoned off piece of ski-slope. I spied the actual skiers on the slope next to us and looked on somewhat enviously, but made a mental note to book in for that next time. The place was heaving, and reminded me of a busy piste somewhere in the French Alps.
The rock climbing was less fun for me. Located in the Ellis Brigham sports store (there are cool shops like this everywhere that you just don't find in our own city) two 13 metre vertical walls are just waiting to get climbed. But not by me, because about four metres up, I got tired and had to drop myself back down.
I think that certain parts of my arm muscles are still a little under-developed, which made this an activity that I found quite hard. The wife did enjoy the climbing though, and in the morning she had the shoulder ache to prove it.
Without doubt the highlight of our day was our flight in the Airkix centre. To describe it in words is a little tricky. Imagine a giant wind tunnel turned up-right, covered with a wire mesh, with a Space Centre-type launch pad all round it, and your kind of there.
And then, suited and booted with all kinds of padded gear, and with a silky smooth instructor by your side, you have to step into its airflow for a spot of sky diving, without the need for a parachute or a plane. It's noisy and it didn't look particularly safe, but as I stepped into the flight chamber, I could feel my legs lift from beneath me, and all of a sudden I was flying.
Breathing became difficult, and I don't think I looked all that attractive as the 110mph wind sucked on my face, but I didn't care, because I was tasting real adrenaline.
Even my two kids had a go, and afterwards the smile didn't leave our faces for the whole day. This place is a lot closer to Peterborough than you think and I would recommend it to anyone who wants an afternoon out of their comfort zone.
(For info visit, www.xscape.co.uk)
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Weather for Peterborough
Thursday 18 March 2010
Today
Sunny spells
Temperature: 2 C - 8 C
Wind Speed: 14 Knots
Wind direction: North west
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Sunny spells
Temperature: 2 C - 10 C
Wind Speed: 18 Knots
Wind direction: North west
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