Dog Walkers Geocaching Ring
Noordhoek has been transformed over the years from a rural farming community to a sought after rural residential area. The valley nestles in an amphitheatre to the south of the magnificent Chapmans Peak and Silvermine mountains, with the iconic sweep of Noordhoek beach and the Atlantic Ocean to the west. Much development has taken place but there are many recreational opportunities in the valley with horse riding being a prominent activity. Dog walking is a popular past-time and many dogs, including ours, have enjoyed regular outings on the fields and paths of the valley. We have created a series of caches which are accessible to canine owned cachers and hope that the entire family will participate. The series can easily be done in a single circuit but most can also be approached individually from nearby roads.
The ground conditions change considerably with the seasons and can vary from hot and dry to very wet underfoot in places in winter, but all areas are accessible through-out the year. Ticks are present in the wilder areas at times so dog owners need to take appropriate precautions and inspect their dogs and themselves after the walk. Please also keep dogs on leads in areas where there are roads and traffic and when there are horses or the local dairy cattle about. Although the area is relatively safe and open, it is best to walk in groups and leave valuables at home.
The large open terrace south-east of the sports fields looks deserted now but until the mid 1980’s this area was a busy public dumping site. Residents of the valley and surrounding areas would make a weekly trip here with goods that were no longer useful at their home, and here the saying “One man’s junk is another man’s treasure” came into play. You often returned home with a collection of items for your house and garden which could exceed your initial load! The adjacent Lake Michelle residential area was built around an artificially created lake and series of waterways. Originally the area was a flat pan that was even used for car races at one stage.
Please note that if you can see the entrance complex to the residential area, or if the security staff can see you, you are in the WRONG place. Please stay away from the water feature and gardens.
27/09/20.
The original placement is no longer viable due to significant vegetation overgrowth so I have relocated it to a conveniently placed bit of rubble left over from the original dumping area. The new housing is a concrete block with some embedded plastic pipes just waiting for a new purpose in life!