825 – Senior Hopper - Rugeley Town Trail
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The start of the trail is NOT the cache coordinates!
A short walk around the town past the locations mentioned in the narative.
I now have my Bus Pass (Concessionary Travel Pass) and happen to live in the centre of the universe as I know it, or the centre of the 825 Arriva bus service as others might see it.
When buying a house many ago little did I realise what an asset being a stone’s throw from a bus stop would be once I had got my Bus Pass.
This series starts in the middle with a town trail tour, resulting in a cache prior to joining the 825 bus, out into the big wide world and when you have had enough for the day, you're safe in the knowledge that the 825 will take you home. Obviously you don’t have to use the bus, you can walk all the way, or if you are unable to do that get assistance from a car, donkey etc.
This series has been designed around the 825 bus route which runs for most of the day at 30 minute intervals, so each grouping should take 30 minutes to complete, including some walking and cache finding. At each stage there will be an opportunity to obtain refreshments, or return home, leaving the rest for another day.
Rugeley is the birthplace of the world famous Donkey Jacket that was for many years the standard adverse weather jacket for the construction industry and others until it was replaced by the High Viz. As the story goes, when the canal was being cut through the Rugeley area the operators of the ‘donkey engine’ were a critical element of the canals progress, so the constructors decided to try and protect themselves from the occasional bouts of rain. A local tailor, George Keys, came up with the jacket (1890) and through many transitions it developed into the model that was seen into the 1990’s and beyond. Part of the retail outlet for this firm was where Costa coffee is now, which you will pass or call into during the tour.
The high ground of Cannock Chase has many sources of water, one of which forms a large stream that enters the town centre area in the park, where it replenishes the pool before an outflow takes it mainly via pipe conduits through the shopping area of the town to outfall into the river Trent on the outskirts of town. Part of which can be seen during the tour.
Before Dr. Harold Shipman was convicted of mass murder, Rugeley hosted the greatest mass murderer, William Palmer 1824 – 1856, also a local doctor. Addicted to gambling, especially on horse racing, he needed money from any source that he could and allegedly murdered people he owed money to, as well as his wife and many of his own children. Opposite ‘The Shrew’, which you will pass, there are two retail outlets which were originally Palmer’s house.
Another gruesome episode in history was when the body of Christina Collins was pulled out of the Trent and Mersey canal on the outskirts of town. The story was later turned into an Inspector Morse story by Colin Dexter, entitled ‘The Wench is Dead’, see cache of the same name.
The Rugeley trail starts at the bus station, where else, but at the above coordinates. When you have all the answers it might be useful to know that there are a number of benches in the park to work your answer out.
What is the bus stand number for buses to Springfields and Stafford (M) ?
Location 1 N 52 o 45.580 W 001 o 56.091
Lampost number ‘C(R,S)’
Location 2 N 52 o 45.676 W 001 o 56.059
This former public house has a spicy business name what is the last digit of it's phone number (N).
Location 3 N52 o 45.665 W 001 o 56.130
How many lives are commemorated on the last tablet for 1939-45 (L)
Location 4 N52 o 45.642 W 001 o 56.363
What is the off public road speed limit (P)?
Cache location N 52 o 45.ABC W001 o 56.DEF
A = L - 1 ** B = P -2N ** C = P - M ** D = S - P ** E = R - S ** F= L - M
The 825 Senior Hopper series continues towards Stafford with 4 mini stages.
Stage No.1 Get off the bus at the COOP for Ladybird S1 & S2, back on the bus.
Stage No.2 Get off the bus at Wolseley Bridge for Ladybird S3 – S6, back on the bus.
Stage No.3 Get off the bus at Milford Common for Ladybird S7 –S9, back on the bus.
Stage No.4 Get off the bus at Queens retail park for Ladybird S10 – S12, back on the bus to enjoy the rest of the day.
I hope to do some more on the 825 bus route to Lichfield in the future.
Additional Hints
(Decrypt)
N puvc bss gur byq oybpx.