19/08/17 - Bidford-on-Avon for Geocache #7000

Distance - 8.87 Miles
Walk Inspiration - Walk 14 - AA 50 Walks in Warwickshire
Geocaches - 13
Pub - The Frog, Purity Ubu

A walk in the heart of Shakespeare Country, where after an day's drinking in the now disappeared Falcon Inn, he fell asleep under a crab apple tree and came up with this ditty.

Piping Pebworth, Dancing Marston,

Haunted Hillboro, Hungry Grafton,

Dodging Exhall, Papist Wixford,

Beggarly Broom and Drunken Bidford.

Not quite up there with "Some are born great, some achieve greatness, and some have greatness thrust upon them" but you know, the strength of Mead and all that.

We start our walk with one eye on the post match refreshments.  The Frog has a car park.  We will be using the premise later (have you read my blog?) but initial concerns with the signs that say "Frog Parking Only; All other will be Toad" are dismissed as japery.

A navigation of Grade I Listed C15th Bridge and we're along the bank of the River Avon for some gentle walking.

Bidford's Ancient Bridge

The Falcon Inn was the other side of the Church

Gentle Walking along the Avon

We start the day on 6992 found Geocaches.   We are not primarily here for the caches, but there is every chance that we can make it to the next milestone.   A number of "A Fine Pair Multis" are available, one looks like its in the middle of the river and there is a series based songs by The Who.   You know, the band that produced Geocaching theme songs of "The Seeker", "I can see for miles" and er, "Boris the Spider".

We make a good job of it, although two are walked past, simply because we are engrossed in the easy walking.  We are taken up nearly as far was Welford on Avon, where we leave the river to climb the banks.  The walk back is through some of the villages old Shakey was familiar with.   Dorsington gives way Bickmarsh which leads onto to Marcliff.  All black and white, thatched cottage loveliness.

Views over the Vale of Evesham

Villages with Architecture like this

And Cache 7000?  Well, it should have been a traditional at Dorsington Manor.  But we couldn't find it.  We blame the pressure.

Instead, I fall back on all the ninja skills developed from 6999 other finds and grab "A Fine Pair" multi without having found the clues for the maths.  Cacher's Instinct.  It may not look much but I was delighted it was by my favourite CO, HKMHill.

I'll bet Mike is as delighted as I look.

Life Goals counted in Film Pots

The walk back is functional, along quiet lanes, grabbing a 3rd Fine Pair in Marcliff and back along the river into Bidford.

Where we pay for our parking through lunch for two.

A Perfect Ubu Purity