Users of the Lochside Trail that runs from Saanich to the ferry terminal in Sidney are quite familar with the presence of a ginger-coloured cat that hangs out along the trail.
Ginger Kitty, as she is affectionately called by many trail users, can often be found on top of a small pumping station located near the cache site. This cat has been a stopping point for many cyclists and walkers on the trail for over three years as he tends to be very friendly.
Ginger Kitty's real name is "Topaz" and he is a 12 year old neutered male. Topaz's owners live nearby, but they prefer to have an outdoor cat. I don't think Topaz complains about this either since he receives more than enough attention (and snacks) from trail users.
Rumour has it that there are actually two Ginger Kitties around, but Topaz is the one you'll see on the platform. The other Ginger Kitty is a female that apparently gave birth to a litter last year and a sign above Topaz's usual hangout advertised that kittens were available to good homes late last summer.
Onto the cache: This cache is located near Topaz's usual hangout. In your logged entry, feel free to also include a picture of yourself, your GPS, and of course Topaz if he is around. A treat for the cat is also a possibility (don't leave food in the cache), but Topaz is obviously well fed. Maybe bring something that you can eat if the cat isn't present??
For all logged visits: Please mention the time of day you visited the cache and the presence or absence of Topaz on the pumping station platform. He is why this cache was placed there and he is often a highlight for trail users. Topaz seems to prefer mornings to hang out at his usual spot.
Please ensure when you seek this cache that you do it discretely and that any objects that hide the cache are replaced after your find to prevent an accidental find. Topaz's owner is aware of the cache that is hidden on public property, but if you do wish to do any late evening or night geocaching, you might want to let them know of your presence before the cache hunt (it's the house "kitty corner" from the pumping station).
In early October of 2003 Topaz was hit by a car (see logs below). I was going to archive this cache, but several people have asked me not too, so the cache will remain as a memory of Topaz.