As it’s Friday, it’s Kev’s day out on the buses (not to be confused with the sixties TV series of the same name).
Today, I wasn’t going too far, just to the Staffordshire town of Rugeley which has a nice cluster of geocaches for me to find.
Courtesy of Traveline, I had my route all ready as I caught the first of three buses.
My first ride was running a little late so that as I got the the stop for the X3 it was just arriving – phew !
At Lichfield, I had time for a comfort break before the Arriva 828 arrived.
I left the bus on the outskirts of Rugeley from where I got onto the Trent and Mersey Canal towpath for my first cache of the day. I picked up a few more easy caches and an AdLab before getting to the town’s bypass.
Rugeley Runners & Riders Series
About the series:
Rugeley Runners and Riders (RR&R) is a small series of geocaches set for the WM Mega being held at the nearby Uttoxeter Racecourse in August 2022. Runners and Riders Cache names will loosely tie to a horse racing theme. It is a linear route of approximately 2 miles along a designated cycle/foot path suitable for walking or cycling. Please be aware that a main road runs parallel to the route and can be very busy.
Along this road, a kind cacher has laid out a series of caches. This will be my main objective for today plus a couple of others in the town and along the canal plus a few AdLabs to boot.
The series started well but number four was in the middle of roadworks so was totally inaccessible.
I managed most of the others but some were covered in prickly bushes or nettles and I couldn’t be asked to get scratched / stung for the sake of one or two extra caches.
With the race over (results subject to stewards’ enquiry) I made my way into the town proper, picking up a few AdLabs including a house from where, in July 1962, the Chairman of the district council made the first telephone call via the Telstar satellite to America. Who said this caching lark wasn’t educational ?
Signing some of the cache logs, I noticed that a fellow local cacher, Toecutterrainy, had visited a few days earlier. He usually only caches locally on his bike so he’s either extended his cycling range or got a lift !
With caches done, I had a bit of a wait for my returning 828 so treated myself to a Burger King which I ate in the picturesque Elmore Park picking up a final AdLab at the bench on which I sat.
The 828 arrived, roughly, on time which wasn’t a problem as I would have a longish wait in Lichfield.
At Lichfield, I had time to visit the newsagent at the railway station for pop and a choccy bar before the slightly delayed X3.
Approaching Erdington, and with the X3 running behind, I feverishly searched Bustimes.org to see where the final bus was. I’d be cutting it fine but I should just make it. To save you the suspense – I did.
Another twenty eight caches / AdLabs found bring the Team Balders’ total to 7,047 and with a walk of five and a half miles to add to Strava.