Schroeders Road - Retyred Multi-Cache
Schroeders Road - Retyred
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Difficulty:
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Terrain:
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Size: 
(small)
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As most Geocachers are city-slickers, here is an opportunity to get out of the smog and noise, and appreciate some of the peace and tranquillity of the country side. SCHROEDERS ROAD - RETYRED - is a multi-cache, not in the actual village of Schroeders, but in the vicinity of one end of the “Schroeders Road”.
WATTLE EXTRACT FACTORY – SCHROEDERS (between Wartburg and New Hanover)
A RENEWABLE RESOURCE
Mimosa tanning extract is derived from the bark of the Black Wattle tree, a species of Acacia native to Australia. The species was introduced to South Africa about 125 years ago, initially for its timber. Later, it was discovered that the bark contained high levels of tannin which could be used for treating hides for leather production. This led to the tree being widely planted to produce tanning extract for the leather industry. Black Wattle grows best in the cool, mist-belt region of South Africa along the eastern escarpment where the annual rainfall is in excess of 800 mm per annum. There are about 130 000 hectares of commercial Black Wattle grown by some 2700 farmers, the majority of whom are Black smallholders. The trees are grown on a 10-year cycle and managed in such a manner as to ensure that growers receive a regular income from their trees and that a regular supply of good quality wattle bark is available for processing at local extract factories.
SUSTAINABLE MANAGEMENT
Not only the bark but also the timber of the Black Wattle tree is much sought after. For every ton of bark harvested, wattle also produces about five tons of utilised timber. The trees are normally felled when they are ten years old. The bark is removed as soon as the tree is felled and is bundled and despatched to the extract factory. Minimising the delay from harvesting to the processing of wattle bark at the factory ensures that tanning extract of the highest quality is produced. Once the bark and timber have been removed from the site the next crop is planted.
A DYNAMIC INDUSTRY
The South African wattle industry is well organised and successful. It is exceptional in having had its own research institute for the last fifty years. Wattle growers have benefited enormously from this research through access to improved silvicultural techniques for growing the crop and genetically improved planting material. Timber and bark yields as well as resistance to disease have all improved steadily as a result of this effort which has enhanced the competitiveness of the wattle industry as a whole. The popularity of wattle as a crop is well illustrated by the many smallholders who grow this tree. About 75% of all registered wattle growers fall into this category. The expansion of wattle growing amongst this group provides budding entrepreneurs with a variety of business opportunities.
SCHROEDERS – (on a tarred road between Wartburg and New Hanover)
This area of the KZN Natal Midlands was extensively planted with Black Wattle in the 1920’s and a large Tannin Extract Factory was buil,t together with worker’s homes in the shadow of the factory. After a period of some 50 odd years the demand for natural tannin diminished with synthetic substitutes coming onto the market, being far cheaper to produce. Sugar demand increased and with cane being a more profitable cash crop, less and less wattle was planted in this area, which led to the demise of the Schroeders’ Tannin extract factory. It was not viable running a huge plant at ever diminishing capacity. The Extract Factory at Schroeders closed and lay dormant for a while. An enterprising businessman tried for a number of years to run a wood working factory in the defunct tannin extract plant. However situated far from the end markets, in a rural setting, high transport costs of raw materials and finished product to buyers, saw this venture come to an end.
Today the factory stands in disrepair and ruin, as a reminder of a time yonder when rural communities thrived, able to make a satisfactory living, and enjoying the countryside on their doorstep.Very little wattle is grown commercially in the area, and most of that grown is converted into charcoal on a nearby farm, that most KZN hoUseholds use for their traditional braais. The local houses now accommodate peoples who are content to live out of the hustle and bustle of frenetic city pressures. There is no shop, no petrol pumps, no take-aways, not even a bottle store.
CACHE – SCHROEDERS ROAD, RETYRED (KARKLOOF & ALBERT FALLS VIEW)
The co-ordinates given will lead you to the spot where you need to obtain (obviously hidden) the instructions for the final co-ordinates to reach the cache. The cache is not at these given co-ordinates, only the instructions, so look for appropriate item. Both the instructions, as well as the final are virtually drive-by points and no special vehicle is needed, neither is any bundu bashing required, (unless of course you go wrong and end up on the wrong track). If you come across the land owner (he is well aware of the cache), give him a wave and thank him “for making our lives sweeter !”
Do this cache on your way to, or from, the cache in the vicinity of the other end of the road, Schroeders Road – Ghostline (Karkloof & Albert Falls Dam view) - remember your camera. HAVE CHANGED THE DIRECTION INSTRUCTIONS FROM WP1, SO NO LONGER AMBIGUOUS. IN FACT NO NEED FOR MENTAL ARITHMETIC OR STRESS ANY LONGER. HENCE KNOCKING A HALF POINT OFF THE DIFFICULTY STATUS, AS FAR EASIER NOW - ENJOY !! PLEASE LEAVE FINAL AS FOUND SO THAT IT WILL NOT BE COMPROMISED BY LOCALS WHO MIGHT USE THE AREA !!!
Additional Hints
(Decrypt)
Svefg JC - Ab arrq gb pyvzo
Svany - erzrzore ynggre cneg bs pnpur anzr !
Treasures
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