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Altydgedacht - Oak Avenue Multi-Cache

Hidden : 1/26/2010
Difficulty:
1.5 out of 5
Terrain:
1.5 out of 5

Size: Size:   micro (micro)

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Geocache Description:

This cache is placed in an avenue of oak trees on the original road from Hardekraaltjie (Bellville) to Pampoenkraal (Durbanville) near the farm Altydgedacht.


The first title deeds of Altydgedacht were signed by Simon van der Stel in 1698 and the farm was then named Tygerberg. A 'tyger' was the name given to a leopard by the early Dutch settlers, and the name Tygerberg comes from the 'spots' one sees in the fynbos of the Tygerberg during the hot summer months. The spots are thought to be from termite mounds that give plants in that soil a different colour.

In 1816 Napoleon's secretary, Count de las Cases, lived for 3 months on the estate, while he awaited a ship to return to Europe. His diary describes "being removed to the very extremity of the civilised world" in "the desert of the Tygerberg". Sounds a little like what some from the Southern Suburbs still feel about the area to this day! In 1836 the nearby town of Pampoenkraal became D’Urban (later Durbanville, to avoid confusion with Durban), and the farm's name was changed from Tygerberg to Altydgedacht.

The co-ordinates above take you to one end of the avenue, where the telephone number on the function venue sign is +27 21 ABC-DEFG.

The cache itself is at
S 33 E(D-F)' (D+E)(C-B)(D+F)
E 018 C(E+F)' E(B+E)(A-G)

This stretch of road can be very busy at times, so please take care. There are safe stopping points on the same side of the road at both the initial and final points and although the sign has been moved across the road, it isn't necessary to cross it to get the clue.

I Always Thought that this is an impressive avenue of trees, perhaps because of the way its mood changes as the light and the seasons change. To illustrate that, consider including a photograph taken inside the avenue with your log. Over time the gallery should be interesting. Please try to disguise the hidey hole after replacing the micro.

Additional Hints (Decrypt)

Shegurfg sebz gur ebnq. Ybbx sbe jver.

Decryption Key

A|B|C|D|E|F|G|H|I|J|K|L|M
-------------------------
N|O|P|Q|R|S|T|U|V|W|X|Y|Z

(letter above equals below, and vice versa)