Sur has been a centre for trade with Africa and the Far East
since time immemorial. It strategic location at the corner of the
Arabian Peninsula, its natural harbour formed by a rock arch
curving into the sea, and a large lagoon offering safe anchorage
made this a natural centre for maritime trade. At the hey-day of
the trade with Africa hundreds of large dhows would start their
journeys from this location each year. The trade declined with the
separation of Zanzibar from Oman, but one can still see one or two
dhows laying for anchor in the harbour restocking their trade goods
before the next voyage along the coasts of Arabia or towards
Baluchistan in the East and Somalia and Ethiopia in the West. On
the shore of the lagoon opposite to the cache location one can see
new dhows under construction.
On May 1st 2000 "selective availability" was turned off and the
GPS satellite system became available for civilian use. Three days
later the first "geostash" was placed. Ten years later and there
are now over 1 million geocaches and 4 million registered users! To
celebrate this event the cache has been hidden on top of a hill
with splendid views all around. The cache consists of a small metal
box camouflaged in a beige-coloured sock. The cache site is
reachable from the Eastern shore of the Sur lagoon. A brand-new
suspension bridge has been built connecting the Western and Eastern
shores nearby, but at the time of hiding the bridge had not yet
been opened. One can turn-off off the main road at the coordinates
mentioned below. A rather steep and bumpy dirt track leads up the
hill towards a parking spot near to a staircase leading further
upward to the watch tower on the top of the hill, but the condition
of the track is such that it should only be attempted with a 4WD.
Saloon cars can park alongside the track when the going gets too
rough, and the last few hundred meters to the staircase negotiated
by foot. On occasion the look-out tower near to the cache site may
be visited by muggles. Please search with the necessary stealth and
rehide the cache exactly as you found it.
Please be aware when searching for the cache that rocks and
crevices are favourite hiding places for snakes and scorpions
hiding from the heat of the sun. An envelope with an unregistered
geocoin has been left in the cache for the "First to Find"
geocacher. Inside the envelope their are also instructions how to
register the coin in your name. Good luck with the search, enjoy
the views, and remember leave behind only your footsteps, a
signature in the log book and any swag in the cache.