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.
Due to the larger plot sizes, many of Noordhoek’s residents own and ride horses. It was therefore necessary to form an association, which protected the needs of the horse rider. Safe grounds where they could hold shows and store their equipment was secured in the 1980’s, and since then there has been steady development of the grounds by a succession of dedicated parents and enthusiasts. Horse shows are often held here but most of the time the arenas provide a beautiful place to let your dog have a romp, provided you ‘Pick Up’ after them.
The cache is outside the arena but on show days there is very high muggle activity so caution is required to retrieve the cache. For this reason the cache is well hidden and may require some thought, but we suggest you adopt the pose of an absorbed (and sitting) spectator while exploring GZ. The notice board usually has details of current or pending horse shows. The cache has been placed with the prior knowledge and permission of the constructor/owner of the various structures around GZ.
Note 04/02/20: The original notice board has been removed and there are no longer suitable hiding places at the original site. The new cache site is on the opposite side of the riding arena but still outside the active horse competition area and just requires a short walk across or around the arenas depending on the activity level. The hide is very similar to the original but will require some stealth if the area is busy.