13/11/16 - The Bath Skyline

Distance - 6 Miles
Geocaches - 5
Walk Inspiration - Country Walking Magazine, Dec 16 Walk 1 or this link
Pub - The Inn at Freshford, Steam Box Brewery Tunnel Vision

The beautiful thing about our hobby is that new and interesting opportunities are available to you, anywhere in the country.

Today, we agreed to drop our post Cat Fish and the Bottlemen gig going student back off at Bath University.  He avoids a 2 hr 20 minute train ride, we get to explore another superb bit of Britain.

And as luck would have it, this months Country Walking Magazine has a route that starts from the University car park.

File under all round result.

We are barely out of the car park when we see our first signpost and know that route finding will not present a challenge.  Good old National Trust.

Students - This way for Fresh Air and Exercise

We make our introductions to a few friendly cows and progress to Claverton Down.  Autumn really is the time of year to be doing this walk.

Walking on a leafy carpet

As if the walking wasn't pleasant enough, NT have laid a geocache trail within the woods.  All nice and easy to find.

National Trust themed caches with logo log book

The first views of Bath are revealed at the Priory and they don't leave you for half of this walk.  I doubt there's a finer vantage point of this great city.

So we slap us two in front of the view

With other assorted walkers and football players

Sham castle more than lives up to its name. Nice to know that people had delusions of grandeur, even in 1762. How his neighbours must have laughed at his one wall castle.

Through the Arch and nothing is there

The return to the car is through Bathampton woods.  Just chance for a bit of off piste Geocaching to get the final piece of a multi cache which works only if you are walking the route clockwise.  Signing the log book required some rather serious scrambling skills - but always worth it when you find the treasure.

All that remains is to take the Student for his promised lunch.  Parking in Bath is not the easiest, so we head for Freshford - reminding us of a another CW walk we completed three years ago.

The C16th Freshford Inn was as stunning as the walk - honey coloured stone exterior, stripped pine interior, great service and a chance to try a new beer.

Steam Box Tunnel Vision and an expectant, hungry Student, previously living off Pot Noodles

They also have fine taste in literature.

Perfect Pub, Perfect Publication

11/11/16 - Duke William, Stourbridge

Odd place Stourbridge.  Presumably, the ring road is designed to stop people getting into the centre to discover its gems?

And there are a few gems.

Monthly Comedy nights in the Mitre.  Last night it was one of the world's top comedians, Brendon Burns.  Playing to, in his own words, 50 punters in a room above a shitty pub.  The only person to question this was the landlord - who often pops up and enjoys the acts from the safety of his own little bar.   Burns is a talent.  The show was part of his "Black Comedian" tour, but the first half was total improvisation on Trump's victory.

A particularly rich source of material for any comic.

There's also three Good Pub Guide entries.  We have blogged about the Royal Exchange before.  The Wagon and Horses is slightly too far away from our hotel.

The Duke William is on the way.

Excuse the Photos.  Only a Samsung S3 Mini to hand

Home of Craddocks

This has to be my definition of a perfect pub.  Brewery to the side, they host their own beer - I went for a too hoppy for me Crazy Sheep (noted here, so I go for something different next time).  They also stock Bridgnorth Breweries wares - a brewery that surprisingly in this day and age has no web presence.

The pub is split over a couple of rooms - all old school seating and constant reminders that you should purchase one of their pies.  An extensive library of books - including a 1980s pop music encyclopedia of chart listings that I used to own and nearly of of the George Macdonald Fraser Flashman novels.


The former was put to good use to set up an improvised music quiz that Mrs Mappiman soon bored of.  Although she nearly successfully guessed Depeche Mode's first single.

Other things to admire about the pub - themed nights - Monday Night is Craft Night (real crafts, not craft beer), Wednesday is Quiz night and they seem to hold the occasional film night.

And in a nod to political incorrectness - they offer a buy 8 get one free loyalty scheme.  Presumably not date stamped or time bound.

05/11/16 - Lea Valley Walk Part 1 - Cheshunt to Limehouse Basin

Distance - 17 Miles
Geocaches - 25
Start - Cheshunt Station (Zone 8)
Finish - Limehouse Basin (Zone 2)
Walk Inspiration


The London River that goes by two names.  The signs constantly change on this walk.  Sometimes its the Lea, sometimes the Lee.  I'm sure there's a method to the madness.  Maybe it's called one name when it most resembles a canal.

It's source is somewhere north of Luton.  It empties (the last major tributary into the Thames) at Limehouse Basin.  In keeping with a year of walking London's Waterways, I'm going to knock off this epic - running from Zone 8 and in a different County - all the way to the East End.

Personally, I don't even like canal walking.  It may have been the super high volume of Geocaches on the route that tempted me.  Too many to list individually but for an aged trail that's been in place for 6 years and containing 70+ caches, they are exceptionally well maintained.  I had a blast.  I'll try and make the logs unique but I am not going to record the DNFs.  This was either due to time (I have a scheduled train back), muggles (what do you call a muggle on a bike?) or inability.

Bleary eyed, having set off on the 6:40am, changing at Seven Sisters, I arrive outside the M25.  First thing to do is get the sidetracked cache and then complete the short hop to the water.

The River Lea at Cheshunt

Navigation or hills are not going to present a problem on this walk.  The Lea Valley navigation has more open water than the Norfolk Broads.  Looking at the map you can see how the path dissects bodies of water that in theory, should make you feel like Moses crossing the Red Sea.  In reality, you see nothing of the lakes and reservoirs that are on the opposite bank.

First item of interest (and I use the term loosely) is the M25.  It does present the opportunity to consider what I am doing today - I know I am ending in Central London but it does make me wonder whether there will be time for a post walk pint, when I am starting on the other side of the Moat designed to keep Brummies out of the Capital.

Under the M25.  Like a Brummie Troll.

Soon pick up Enfield Lock.  Nothing to report other than to say this is where the London Loop crosses the River Lea.  Fond memories through a previously found Geocache.

Pace on.  The map shows two massive reservoirs on the opposite side.  All I can see are the sheep nibbling the grassy banks.  In between Geocaches, I entertain myself by admiring the boats.  They come in all shapes and sizes - from cruisers that you think could cross the channel to floating tramp hovels.

And they say you should never rename a boat

Bruce Dickinson - Fencer, Pilot, Singer, Barger

As you would expect, things get more industrial from Tottenham onwards.  The beer can count increases but to their credit, I don't see a single shopping trolley.  In keeping with remembering past walks, a long stretch of the Capital Ring is retraced.  A break from caching (apart from clearing up a previous DNF) and the same mistake made as before.

All the pubs are on the opposite bank.

Starting to get Industrial at Tottentham

A Pleasant Section of the Capital Ring.  You can wave at the lunch time boozers.

Today's highlight was somewhat unexpected and says rather a lot about the Premier League.  We all know that the taxpayer gave West Ham a new ground.  They inherited the Olympic Stadium this season and have added mass brawling to the entertainment on offer.  It's 1:40pm and I wonder if they are at home today.  There is a surprising lack of activity.

The Irons New Home

The pubs - still on the opposite bank - have a reasonable number of punters.  Its hard for a stranger to tell if this is the normal weekend crowd or footie fans.  Then it happens, three times.  People drapped in Claret and Blue and talking like Sonia from East Enders, ask me for directions - twice to the pub (sadly, a bridge is nearly always required) and once, believe it or not, to the actual ground.

Jesus.  I am a Baggies Fan.  I relish the return to the Championship.

I would be chuckling to myself but 13 miles in and I dryer than Gandhi's flip flop.   I press on through the wastelands of East London, knowing it will look very different next time I come.

Walking on Water

Underground

A couple of highlights from previous walks - Three Mills (World's largest Tidal Mill, Blogfans) and Bow Locks.  I know I am nearly done.

Three Mills.  And a Bike

Bow Locks - doing a good job of holding back the green.

Six hours 5 minutes after heading off.  Non stop walking and I arrive at the Thames at Limehouse Basin.

Limehouse Basin

Where the Lea meets the Thames

There's a sign to the Riverside Historic Pubs.  Unfortunately, its the wrong way from Limehouse Station.  Fortunately, I have done them before.  If you are doing this walk - follow the sign.  There is nothing (yet) near to Limehouse.

Coming Soon to the East End.  Craft.

So, thirsty and knackered, I get the train to Fenchurch Street and emerge into the daylight at Tower Hill.  I know of a Wetherspoons and incorrectly convince myself its in the GBG 2017 and worthy of a tick.  At least I got a Cask Marque Check in.

Shite Pub, Great Views

Fittingly, I take London Pride

Summary - dull walking, great caches, decided lack of pubs.  Would I do it again?

Not this stretch but I will book in Cheshunt to Ware/Hertford.

02/11/16 - The Dog and Doublet, Wolverhampton

Mrs Mappiman and myself find ourselves heading to Wolverhampton to see Rob Beckett at the Wulfrun Hall.

Its been a long, long time since I was last here.  There's really not much to entice the casual traveller. Memories of general dereliction, shabby shopping centres and a council working customer who would have 6 pints for his lunch.

That said, I have been aiming to get to the Great Western for some time.  The closest I have come to achieving this is changing trains for Smetwick Galton Bridge.

So before heading off for our evening of comedy, I quickly checked the GBG to see what might be about.  Most surprised to see 14 entries.

I can feel a pub crawl coming on.  I might meet my old customer.  I would remember him from his ox blood doctor martins and PM somnolence.

Tonight, we ticked off just the one.

Dog and Doublet, North Street

Random BeerintheEvening Quote - "There's also a great work ethic evident in maintaining the high standard in ale quality"

I've heard of dogs but unsure of exactly what a Doublet is.  A quick google and it would appear to be the type of outerwear that Tactics Tim Sherwood's Spanish uncle might wear.  And there was talk of him being the next Wolverhampton Manager on the drive in.

This is a new looking bar, just up the road from our comedy venue.  I went in the chair and ordered drinks.  Mrs Mappiman went to collect the tickets.

Other SmartPhone photo had a car in it.

Longish bar in the main room.  Single member of staff, so I'll excuse the fact that all the tables needed a good wipe down.  Four real ales on and I went for a very decent Bishops Farewell from Oakham Ales.

Oakham's Bishops Farewell

Taken through the Arch

The overriding memory of our visit will be the music.  From the posters advertising "Soul All Nighters" to the rather apt Wooly Bully amid the various classic 60's tunes played throughout the bar.

The Gents needed to be seen to be believed as well.