20/12/13 - The Impossible Market

Distance - 8.1 Miles
Walk From - Country Walking Magazine Sept 2013
Geocaches - 4 Physical, 2 Virtual, 2 DNF
Start - Freshford
Finish - Bath

Freshford to Bath at EveryTrail


Was it four or five years ago that ourselves and two other couples went down to Bath for a weekend at the end of November to check out the German Market, only to find out that it started on the 1st December?

When I saw a walk from Bradford on Avon in Sept CW Magazine this year, I made a mental note to complete it at Xmas time to try again.  Sonia was very interested.  Until she found out it was a 10 miler.

So a bit of re-planning was in order.  We can start two stops down the line at Freshford to reduce this linear walk by a couple of miles.  Perfect.

Park up in Freshford and admire the tiny lanes and interesting houses of honey stone in this quiet village.  We admire their resolve at not having a library.

Later in the day, I withdraw cash from a similar object

Not long before we are at the canal, which will be our navigational aid all the way into the City.

This walk could not be easier.  Just follow the water.

The first architectural highlight (and cache) is Dundas Acqueduct.  We are walking over it, so don't really see it in its majesty, but it's height does provide views of the Avon valley and the railway line that will bring us back from Bath to the car.

1st Canal structure to be nominated as an Ancient Monument

The walking is simple.  There are a handful of caches to provide some variety and to allow Sonia to catch up with me whilst I am hunting.

The only thing to talk about is the variety of boats and people who live on the waterway.  The boats vary immensely.  We see some beauties, some that look like they are going to sink, some from Holland, some huge, some tiny.  One is even a re-purposed lifeboat from a cruise ship.  Its obviously a lifestyle choice for those who live on them.  There's even a sign on one saying "Happiness is a not the destination, but a way of life". 

I liked this purple Dutch tjalk

One of the boats is a converted cruiser, with cafe style tables and chairs on the back.  My walking partner shouts from 30 yards back that she hopes we find refreshment and she wants mulled wine. 

Not a bad shout, so I check the map and can see the most beautiful symbol in the world at Bathampton, which is coming up imminently.

 

 

Ace Map Reader, Mappiman

All I want for Xmas is a half pint pot of spiced wine.

Its a pub geared up for food, so it makes perfect sense to make it our lunch stop.  Just need the motivation to get going again after a big meal.

Bath is that motivation.  So we head off.  We can see the City coming into view.

And it's not always Chocolate Box Pretty

Getting closer and closer.

The canal eventually meets the Avon and we have arrived.  Cross over the footbridge and into town.  Sonia heads off to the shops and I go and check out the Abbey and the Roman Baths.  We arrange to meet in the square at the Abbey for the German Market.

Having forgotten to when I did it, I check out the marker to show the end of the Cotswolds Way

Some argue mulled wine is better.

We meet at the square.  Beautiful, yet devoid of anything Germanic and the only thing Christmassy is the tree with a star on top.  And the carol singers.

A quick google shows that the market closed down on the 15th December.

3rd Time Lucky?