Hamm reptile show 30.05.09 - Show report!

[Agkistrodon]

So, we went to the latest Hamm show with a bunch of people off of here and a few from further afield I believe. And what an awesome trip! Coach service was prompt but flexible, regular toilet, cigarette and food breaks, everyone was really really friendly, and the show itself was amazing. Best of all, all our animals got back 100% intact and alive, despite the journey from the show. What a great day. It basically went like this:

29/05/09
20.15 - We pulled out of Ashford and started our journey. Headed off to the tunnel, sped through on the train and made good time through France into Belgium, with a stop in Belgium for duty free, the loos and a leg-stretch at about 22.30.

30/05/09
00.00 - We could be in Germany by now...I'm not sure, I was asleep. Once again we sped off Hamm-wards. Made good time on the Autobahn, once again with regular stops for provisions and whatnot - kudos to our drivers for that, was great at how flexible it was.

05.00 - We arrive at the show centre in Hamm, five hours before opening. Over the next three hours or so, some of us sleep, some of us chat, and others wander around trying to find the cafe for half an hour, end up walking into a random German supermarket, turn around, finally discover the cafe and then realise it was closed. At about 7.30ish a bunch of us wandered in to get morning teas and have a chat.

8.45 - complimentary breakfast It was awesome.

9.45 - We shove our way to the front of the queue with our pre-bought tickets and get in amongst the first 100 people or so. After ten minutes of browsing some monitors I make a beeline for the venomous room, promptly get ID'd on entry and then wander around for a bit before picking up some bargains for a friend (pictures to follow tomorrow hopefully!).

12.00 - After touching base with some other members of the coach trip and watching a "heated bartering exchange" with Bob Clark I then went and picked myself up a pair of african pygmy hedgehogs and a 35 euro ball python. I also splashed out on some hooks and feeding tongs, as well as other general equipment that I'd wanted for a while.

3.30 - Complimentary lunch! With strong German beer! It was also awesome.

5.15 - The show closes and we all head off on the coach.

10.30 - We make it to the tunnel, make it through a relatively customs-lax security check and then go into the tunnel at 11.45

31/05/09
00.00 - We arrive back at Ashford truck stop, and pile off the coach. A friend of mine picks me up, and we head off and get everything into water and set up. I head home and go to bed, and boy do I hum, 2 days on a coach isn't the best thing for personal hygeine

All in all, I had a great couple of days! Met some ace people, everyone was really nice and really helpful. I earnt the nickname "venom" from people, and everything got back alive and well and is still all good this morning! I'd love to get some facebooks or what have you from people who were on the coach, my name is Chris Loaring if you want to find me.

Overall, an awesome time! Pictures to follow.

[philipniceguy]

was perfect trip all went great will be doing again here some pics of what i picked up at hamm

[tarantulabarn]

Love those praries, all looks good, i ended up getting

60 Retics
60 Linothele megatheloides
80 H.maculata
40 P.bridgii
100 C.hunari (spelling)
!00 L.difficils (spelling)
30 Trinidad snails to be identified
3 species of crayfish and loads of other bits, hopefully get piccys up later

[slowmo-no1]

it was a great trip,bit unconfy but ill live. heres a pic of wat i got.

[Astritos]

Loveing all the pics of what people got they all look great.
Hope to go myself one day.

Dan

[spider_duck]

How did you get the mammals back? I know rodents dont require quarantine but Im pretty sure hedgepiggies do? Crikey, might be worth going one day for mammals...Were the squiggles expensive?

[Agkistrodon]

Originally Posted by tarantulabarn

Love those praries, all looks good, i ended up getting

60 Retics
60 Linothele megatheloides
80 H.maculata
40 P.bridgii
100 C.hunari (spelling)
!00 L.difficils (spelling)
30 Trinidad snails to be identified
3 species of crayfish and loads of other bits, hopefully get piccys up later

Yeah, that was impressive, you got all sixty of those retics into one tub!

[penfold]

its ilegal to bring hedge hogs back

[spider_duck]

ah good im not going mad then

But squiggles are legal..riiiiiiiiight? riiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiight?

[Mrs dirtydozen]

i got told it was iilegal to bring any sort of rodents back, did you bring those praries back on the coach