Geocaches - 10
Walk Inspiration - Adding together CW Mag Aug 2002 and a GPS My City Walk
Leicester City
We wake to the first real morning of Winter. The car is white over, the roads need gritting and there is a wonderful clear blue sky. Really, I should have been walking in the Cotswolds or the Shropshire Hills - somewhere to do justice to the conditions. Instead, our walk was plotted yesterday.
And we are going to Leicester.
Not prime walking country, I grant you, but I have been brushing up on my Tudor History and have planned to go ever since I found out that Cardinal Wolsey died there 1530. Throw in the discovery of Richard III's remains and we have a historical jaunt to take on.
What surprised me is that Sonia wanted to come along as well. What probably surprises you is that I have a wife in the first place.
So a review of potential walks mean that I can combine a walk to Abbey Park, with a tour of the Cities most historical locations.
We follow the instructions and park to the North of the City. A woman in a bus stop starts barking at us. As unlikely a start to a walk as you could hope for. We leave her to her yelping and pick up the River Soar, which has the distinction of splitting in half and turning into a canal.
There is a trail of caches to lead us down the path. Cache 1 is found by Sonia under the watchful eyes of two special policemen. The sight of a man and woman rummaging in the undergrowth has not piqued their interest. That's how special they are.
There are a number down here that add a bit of variety to the walk. One has a full log book, so I take photo evidence. Sonia questions the logic of this, but I am nothing if not faithful to the rules of the game.
Sonia holds the cache aloft |
See through building made of Bubble Wrap |
All we need is some refreshment and I have high hopes for Abbey Park.
The Building in the Distance looks promising |
And a bit of messing around in the Corner Portals. |
Mappiman and Wolsey |
With Sat Nav half fixed, we head off to cross the bridge and find a couple more caches, getting our only TB of the day.
Pretty Bridge |
Haymarket Memorial - Traditional Centre |
Our Next Quest - Richard III |
In my opinion, the only thing that says more about Britain than finding a former Monarch entombed under a councilor's parking space is a man taking his wife out for a day trip to look at the aforementioned parking space.
Peaking through the gates is as close as we got |
Fortunately, there is a sign to help |
Roman architecture can only be improved by building a 1960s office block next to it. |
The canal provides a bleak industrial landscape to walk along. It is the chosen location for groups of Asian youths to hang around drinking industrial strength lager.
Our route back to the car. |
Catching up on your blog whilst driving home from London and our son is impressed with your discovery of Royal remains.... Looks like we are planning a trip to Leicester soon. Thanks for the lovely photos of your travels GCMT
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