Time started: 9:30amTime finished: 11:25am
Caches found: 9
DNFs: 4
Day's step count: 8,527
Another early start for a Saturday morning and another successful adventure before lunchtime. Unlike the disappointing but expected large tally of DNFs along Coventry canal last week, this week I was expecting a decent haul and was aiming for 15 finds.
Luckily the maps app on my phone picks up on traffic because I was planning on getting to Little Shrewley along the A46 but I could see the red line denoting a jam so went the country side way. When I'd arrived in The village, I had no idea where the footpath began so after doing a 3 point turn using the driveway in a country lane, I parked the car, checked the map and lo and behold, I looked out of the window and right beside the car was the stile that would lead me to the first cache! Beyond the stile were a couple of small green areas with more stiles which led me to the lane containing the first caches. (I've just had a chuckle while typing this up because I've looked back at the map and dicovered the lane is called Coffee Pot Lane!)
After you've found several caches, you begin to recognise common hiding place so as I was approaching the first cache I'd already spotted this particular tree. The clue - '6' - also became clear as you can see in the photograph. For some reason it took me an uncharacteristically long to time to find the cache even thought it wasn't particularly hard!
The clue here was BOT and after searching around the wrong trees, I spotted some sticks laid very carefully at the base of another tree and quickly found the cache underneath.
I've said it before (or at least thought it several times!) that geocaching takes you to some beautiful or interesting places that you wouldn't have visited had you not gone geocaching there and I thought the same thing as I walked across the fields towards with woods where the next cache was hidden.
Cache #3 - Rudolph #7
Navigating along the edge of the woods, I quickly recognised the tree where the next cache would be hidden - a very unique fallen tree, perhaps struck by lightening or eaten by insects because the tall remains were hollow. Initially I began to search the hollow too low but after reading some of the previous, I raised my eyeline and quickly found the film canister. It was very cleverly hidden.
Cache #4 - Rudolph #8
There wasn't much of a description for this one but the clue (BOP - Bottom Of Post) took me straight to the stick and a great bit of camouflage. Unfortunately I still haven't added tweezers to my geocaching tools so I couldn't retrieve the log to sign.
DNF - Rudolph #9
Geocaching in the British countryside brings an appreciation for the quantity of footpaths and bridle that exist in the UK and has also given me a renewed love of OS maps! It also brings a realisation that there is a lot of maintainance involved in keeping the numerous footpaths accessible. The path to the next appears to be overgrown so I had to teeter along the edge of the farmer's field to the gate and location of the next cache.
Rudolph #9 should've been a straightforward find with several gates at GZ on Hockley Road and the hint saying 'post' but it became incredibly frustrating with a long search, no recent DNFs and ultimately no cache in hand.
Now that I'm writing up this blog, I'm left feeling slightly bemused by this cache. I believe im correct in thinking that the cache was near this kissing gate (and I have to admit I was impressed by the 'bridge' leading to it!) but I can't catcall recall where I found it! My log reads, 'Not in the obvious place but soon found it when I realised the camo wasn't litter!' and the following log agrees; 'Like Hazel I thought this was litter too!!!!! tftc.' Now, the only cache I recall looking like litter was along Coventry Canal!
Rudolph #11
I was faced with a dilemma when I reached Rudolph #11 because as I approached the GZ, the hiding place was clear but the tree I needed to reach was beyond a rope which looked like it was electrified. It was too high to climb over and too low to limbo under. Coupled with the fact that there was a farmer working in the field behind the tree I decided to skip this cache.
Further down the field I did have to scale the fence, over a stile and then through a small stretch of tall corn.
Luckily the farmer had created a flat track with his tractor so I was able to find easier way across to the road at the other side of the green expanse. It was a close escape though because just after I'd crossed Station Road, the farmer passed on another loop of the field!
Dasher #1
Concerned that I was going to contend with the wrath of the farmer for crossing the field while he was working, and feeling a little shaken by my close encounter, I decided not to search for Dasher #1
After crossing another field I reached Hockley road again and I was faced with a steady stream of cars whizzing past but luckily I managed to cross to the safety of the path on the other side. Although I was continuing north, I crossed back to find Blitzen #8 which was easily found but I had to lean over a fence to reach it.
Rudolph #1
Rudolph #1 flummoxed me because although it appeared to be clearly next to the road of the map, GZ was astray from the footpath sign which I needed to follow. My patience was tested and I didn't know where to look so I continued to the next cache.
This cache was carefully hidden in one of the posts supporting a wire fence and I could frustratingly see it but my hands were too big to retrieve it! I had to post a photo of my find in place of signing the log.
After a pleasant walk in open fields I was soon walking along a narrow track and then alongside some rather posh houses. It seemed like the rather well to do local residents tried to hide the footpath to deter countryside ramblers!
The next clue was 'stile' and this particular one didn't lead anywhere! It was an easy find underneath with lots of swag.
Now the car was in sight and I almost missed the final cache of the day. It wasn't in the obvious places and I had to ferret about in the hedge to find this cleverly made magnetic cache.
The final photo show what an amazing parking spot I found with the two stiles (beginning and ending the route) on either side of the road!
Travelling home, I was glad I'd avoided the A46 on my outbound journey because the southbound carriageway was closed at the Warwick Parkway junction and the queue of traffic was at a standstill from here to beyond the Leek Wootton junction. I discovered when I arrived home that there had been on overturned lorry.
