20/5/12 - Pre Olympics

Distance - 5.8 Miles
Geocaches - 4 on route, 1 drive by on way home
Reason for being here - Get in the mood for the Olympics
Weather - Grey and miserable.

Much Wenlock

Looking for a local route with a touch of history.  What could be more topical than the olympics?  Much Wenlock is the birthplace of the modern olympics through the efforts of Dr William Penny Brookes, who formed the Olympian Society in 1850.  Games in those days included wheel barrow races and "old ladies running for a pound of tea".  I'll keep my eye out in July to see what we have on offer.

The walk starts in Station Road and follows the old railway line from Wenlock to Buildwas out of town.  This soon turns into the Jack Mytton way, the first of two long distance paths that we walk on today.  First cache is a whopper, hidden in a tree on the side of the line.

At Bradley Farm, I pick up the Shropshire way and head out over fields, using the Chimney of the Ironbridge power station as a marker to find my way.  Cache two is a whopper and of my favourite kind.

Cache 2 - In the Army now

The leads to a bit of lane walking on the Shropshire way but no worries, I dont see a car on the entire leg.  Climb up to Wyke and then back down in a loop back to Bradley Farm.  I am joined by a family of three and two more senior walkers who set a mean pace. 

Two caches in quick succession around Down's mill.  Then we come back to the civilsation of the town, first facing the ruins of St Milburga's Priory, which I can peep over the wall at.

In the main square of the village, I pick up the Olympian Way, which is a series of pavement mounted signs that take you on a tour, pointing out all the places of interest.  And there are plenty - pubs, books shops, tea shops.  Everything you could want after a quick walk in the countryside.

Village, People.

Set off back home, and drop in on a driveby cache at the Danery - a missing one from a loop I completed a couple of weeks ago.