26/03/16 - At Odds With Julia

Distance - 6.5 Miles
Geocaches - 7
Stage 34 of the Millennium Way
Pub - Duck on the Pond, Black Sheep Holy Grail



I have some similarities with Julie Bradbury - we both look good in goretex and appeal to a certain type of man.  Yet there is one thing I fundamentally disagree with her about.

She thinks canal walking is wonderful.

I think canal walking involves alcoholic tramps, pleasure seekers boating at a pace slower than I can walk and lots and lots of dog poo.

So, it was with a certain amount of horror that I looked at my monthly leg of the Millennium Way and saw that most of it was on the Grand Union Canal.

And it's raining.

Still, I'm duty bound.  At least it starts at a pub.  The weirdly named Duck on the Pond at Long Itchington.

Pub behind the things that named it

Past the Tudor House and down to the Canal.  Joy.

3.5 Miles of this

Still, there are two things in the canals favour.  This is where the geocaches are - and I get 100% on the ones I hunt.

It's also providing better walking than the green lane (when was mud ever green?) called the ridgeway, which I need to follow when leaving the canal to get back to the Big Itch.

It's getting worse - not better

The Ridgeway brings me to Snowford Lodge and a little walking alongside the River Itchen to get back to the village.

Passing Long Itchington Church

To Arrive at the Pub

For Black Sheep Holy Grail

At least the walk ended on a high note.  Till April, Millennium Way.