07/09/13 - Surviving Bob

Distance - 7 Miles
Geocaches - 4 Found, 1 DNF
Walk Inspiration


Friday night and Fast Pint Arm Bob is back in town.  He hears the calling of Stourport Carnival from Plymouth and makes his way up every year.  And then keeps me out to 1:30am as he needs me to operate the jukebox for him.

It the first Saturday of the Month, so this means the Millennium Way for the weekend walk.  It does take monumental effort to head out today, but thats dedication for you.  The alternative is watching people parading around the town on the back on lorries, so it must be done.

First obstacle is finding somewhere to park.  The instructions recommend the pub, but I am staying away from those dens of evilness for a while.  Geocaches often have recommendations for where to park but there is some strange advice been given here.  Eventually, settle of Crowle at the far north of the route.

Head out quickly onto good paths, through a football pitch and into an orchard.  First cache of the day quickly found.

Rain is promised

Cache 2 is more elusive.  Have a hunt but when the dog starts crying, its time to give up.  Cache three is a whole lot easier. 

Skirt around the edges of Broughton Hackett.  Miss out on the cache in the churchyard by not paying attention.

Be back on another day for the cache

The pub door is open, but I am not succumbing to its seductive siren.

A rarity, I have walked past an open pub

Down the lane and surprise a lady who has got out of her car at the gym and is gyrating to Robin Thicke.  I think she thought she had the car park to herself.

Back at White Ladies Aston and through the churchyard.  It might be a sleepy hamlet but it has its share of intrigue. 

Who is the phantom bird killer?

There is a cache that I missed from a previous trail.  Make spectacular hard work of it.  I start by being the wrong side of the hedge.  Leave the dog to go back on myself to get the right side.  Then part of it drops off.  Stuff my head into the hedge to reclaim it and pick up a thorn related geoinjury.  All that for a smiley.  Still, it was a nice cache.

Good walking as we head back towards Crowle.  Nice blue skies, fluffy clouds and views over to Malvern.

Mr Blue Skies

Through the cow fields at Bredicot and then into a field of triffid like sweetcorn where the path is overgrown.  Even with sat nav, route finding is tricky.

Eventually come out on the quiet lane which takes me back into Crowle.  A last cache at the church, which is overlooked by some strange inhabitants.

Llamas guard GZ

Back in Stourport as the roads reopen.  I am greeted by the masses waving worm like creatures on the end of bendy sticks. 

No sign of Bob..... is he in the Wheatsheaf?