Wagendrift & the Bridge Confusion. Traditional Cache
Wagendrift & the Bridge Confusion.
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Difficulty:
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Terrain:
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Size: 
(small)
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This can be a quick roadside cache or an in-depth history lesson. The container is a camo 13cm screw top. It contains a log book and a pencil. It is big enough for small items.
While staying at a nearby Guest farm near the Spekboom River and conducting a little research into the history and available caches in the immediate area I was left rather confused.
Let me explain:
When you travel north out of Lydenburg on the R36, you will, after approximately 11km cross the Spekboom river bridge. Just as you have crossed the bridge pull over on the left, close to the cache co-ordinates, there is a picnic spot safe from the busy road. Here you can easily walk to the cache and see two of the three bridges which have caused the confusion!
- Firstly the current bridge you just traveled over is called the “SCHALK BURGER” bridge named after Schalk Willem Burger. He served in a number of military conflicts such as the Sekhukhune Wars of 1876, and later during the First Boer War of 1881, he served as Acting Field Cornet. He was elected as Commandant of the Lydenburg Commando in 1885. When the Second Boer War started, he served as Commandant-General in a number of military conflicts, including the Battle of Spion Kop and Battle of Modder River on 30 October 1899.
- Now for the confusion. Much of the information refers to the “STEENKAMPS or SPEKBOOM RIVER” bridge as the old stone bridge parallel to the Schalk Burger Bridge (which you should be able to from where you are standing), this is incorrect. The “STEENKAMPS or SPEKBOOM RIVER” bridge is a rail bridge not far from here (1.7km as the crow flies at 25°1.102’S 030°30.244’E) and can be located by navigating to the Lapamanti cache (GCGE7G, please follow the cache instructions as this cache is on private property).
- This leaves the low stone bridge visible from the R36 without a name! I have searched in vain and only found some images. Should someone know the bridges official name and bit of its history I will update this cache’s information with pleasure.
All said and done this is a beautiful area drenched in history and just waiting to be enjoyed by fellow Geocachers.
Additional Hints
(Decrypt)
Or pnershyy abg gb phg lbhefrys ba gur jvar obggyrf ng Jntraqevsg!