Saturday 11 September 2010

11th September - Royal Hunters Walk

Distance - 5 miles
Number of caches in Trail - 8
Number found today - 6
Starting Cache - http://www.geocaching.com/seek/cache_details.aspx?guid=cc114b21-5bb7-45e0-b795-a6fd3ce73526

Was going to complete an 11 miler today, but needed to be back to look after the boy, as the ladies in the house are off shopping.  Set the alarm for 7am and went off in search of this new series, which has been up and running for about three weeks.

Not a promising start - get sat nav, camera and find dog..... its absolutely teeming it down with rain!  Drive off to the recommended parking area and head off for the first cache in the trail...

The paths here are on a circular walk incorporating a sign posted Foresters Walk and the Monarachs way.  All the paths are quiet and the walk is pretty interesting, with some nice undisturbed and remote areas.

The caches on this trail are just about the right level of dificulty - not too hard or too easy.  In fact, there are two I cannot find - but more on this later.

Reach for the camera to take a scenic shop and realise that I have taken the boys binoculars - which are in a very similar case to the camera - so now photos on today's blog!

Cache 1 is well hidden but an easy camo spot when you know what you are looking for.  Cache two is a multi.  three four and five are straightforward.  When I get to 6 I have clue which is "behind the house".  At first I spot two donkeys and a big old ram in a shed looking out into the rainscoaked fella with the labradoodle.  I think the cache is here but get seriously hassled by a donkey who comes out into the rain and starts nudging the dog!  (she is on a lead!).  Decide to head for safety and relook at the GPS.  Now it looks like the cache is in the adjacent field and it was.  Lets just say here that it was a very sneaky hide that I actually touched but didnt further explore.  I know where it was as Cache 8 was the same and I had a brain wave on route!

As well as these two great ideas for caches, the public footpath also runs through the centre of a greenhouse.  You have to slide open the doors at either end.  In all my miles walking, this is a first!  Of course, the gardener was in there, so a quick chat about the weather.  If lots of people do this trail, he'll have plenty of company.

This is what caching is about - a great trail in a newish area for me.  This would make a good family day out - starting and ending at a pub (the new inn) and passing the Dodford Inn on route.  Unfortunately, they are not open at 8am!

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