To get out (and about) with the aim of boosting my dwindling geocaching find rate, I chose to go to Leamington Spa to grab five easy-peasy Adventure Labs with the option of another five in Kenilworth on the way back.
The forecast was for rain so ensconced in my Goretex jacket and fetching beanie, I took a short walk to catch the first of many buses.
But first item on the agenda was to stop off at the Doctors’ for my annual flu jab.
I had no sooner given my name to the receptionist and sat down before I was was called into a side room by one of the practice nurses. She confirmed my details, asked which arm and jabbed away. I was out of the surgery less than five minutes after entering. Which was nice!
Being, slightly, ahead of schedule, I nipped into the local Spar for provisions before walking to the bus stop to await the arrival of bus number two – the X12 to Birmingham International.
I had a couple of minutes wait at international before I was boarding the X1 to Coventry.
I was sat a couple of rows back from a monitor which displayed info about the bus services and every now and again, a shot from one of the many on-board cameras.
I grabbed a shot which I hoped would show where I was sat but all that can be seen (if you know where to look) is my left leg.
At Coventry’s Pool Meadow bus station, I had another short wait before the 12X departed. Luckily, I was on it. At Warwick University, I swapped to a U1A service to Leamington Spa which would be the second spa I’d visited today (sort of).
At Royal Leamington Spa, the weather had turned to a light drizzle as I set off in search of the answers to the Adlab series about famous people who were associated with the town. All the locations were within 100m of the bandstand in the Pump Rom Gardens. Luminaries included Sir Frank Whittle (inventor of the Jet Engine) and Randolph Turpin (former World Middleweight boxing champion). I have encountered Randolph before when I visited a statue of him in nearby Warwick (also part of an AdLab).
With this Adventure Lab complete, I used the facilities in the library (toilets – not to borrow a book) then made my way to the bus stop for either the number 11 or 17X to Kenilworth.
The 17X arrived first and that is what whisked me away to Kenilworth.
The five AdLabs I’d set myself to find were a bit more spaced out so I started the Strava app on my watch and set off.
The first was near the bus stop but the second part was 0.7 miles away at the entrance to the castle.
To get to the gate of the castle, coming from the town, you have to pass through the castle ticket office. I asked the ladies manning (ladies, manning?) the office if I needed a ticket to go uptown the gate.
“As long as you don’t go through the gate”, I was told.
“I promise”, I replied, resisting the urge to ‘cross my heart and hope to die’.
I continued my stroll covering 1.8 miles in total – a bit of a record for me, these days, what with my knee blah blah blah.
With ten AdLabs found (they count as geocache finds) by daily total had been slightly improved but was still below the magical one a day mark.
Now it was time to start the journey home.
Another 17X took me back to the university (although a slightly different part) where I had to swap to a 14 service to Tile Hill railway station.
A bus pulled in, and unaware that this was the terminus for the 14, I asked the driver if he went to Tile Hill railway station. He looked blank and shrugged his shoulders.
I took the chance and jumped on board. About a dozen stops later, I pressed the buzzer to tell the driver that I wanted to get off. As I exited the bus, I pointed to a street sign sporting the double arrow railway logo and said to the driver, “Look, there’s a railway station there!” He just smiled.
From Tile Hill, after less than a five minute wait, a Travel West Midlands train stopped and I was on my way back to International.
A 97A (I believe the A signifies that it goes to the airport) took me (via said airport) to Chelmsley Wood.
As we pulled in, I could see my final bus, the 96, across the road. I legged it (or what passes for rapid movement these days – what with my knee blah blah blah) over to the 96. Calling to the driver through his open window, “Hang on a sec”. I crossed in front of the bus, so he definitely saw me, and stood at the door waiting for him to open it. The sod just drove off.
With half an hour until the next 96 (which is really hand as it stops at the bottom of my road) I went and jumped on a 94 which goes a similar was but has a slightly longer walk at the other end.
I get into the house just after four. Six and a half hours, ten buses, one train and ten geocaches. Not a bad day out.
However, the day was not over as after a bite to eat it was off for the regular Wednesday night at The Griffing with what we jokingly call the Griffin Cycling Club meet (two of the four of use do actually cycle there) for some banter and beer although the ale choice was rather poor – didn’t stop us though.