GC4ENG1 Glencairn (Traditional Cache) in Western Cape, South Africa created by family Behrens

This cache has been archived.

family Behrens: Sadly GZ no longer usable.

GC4ENG1 ▼

A cache by family Behrens Message this owner

Hidden : 6/21/2013

Difficulty:

Terrain:

Size: Size: small (small)

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Geocache Description:

This cache has lovely views of False bay and Glencarin. Several species of whale come into False Bay and can be seen from this location between June and November.

Take your own pen/pencil. Please use stealth when retrieving and replacing the cache. (please place it back the way you found it.)

It is not known for certain how the former name of Glencairn, Else Bay, or the name of the Else River originated. Various theories are reviewed by Clifford (2003), favourite being that Rooi Els trees (Cunonia capensis) formerly grew along the river. The second refers to a ship, the Esselstein, which stopped over in Simon's Bay in 1671. Thereafter Simon's Bay was referred to as Esselstein's Bay, and the Else River as Esselstein's River.
Cobern (1984) describes how a probable error in the transcription of maps could have led to the word 'Elsestein', the shortened version of which is 'Else'. He further suggests that the careless translation of 'Else Rivere' from Dutch to French and finally to English, 'Else's River', could have led to the further error, perpetuated to this day, of referring to Elsies River and Elsies Peak. Else Bay was later renamed Glencairn by its early Scottish residents, after the Glencairn area in the North of Scotland - (Clifford 2003).

The quarry was opened in 1898 (possibly earlier) adjacent to Main Road and the railway line. The quarry was operated by the Divisional Council and possibly closed between 1914 and 1918. Thereafter Strong and Moore re-equipped the workings and were still operating the quarry when it was closed in May 1978 due to environmental concerns, and appreciation of the tourist potential of the area.
The old wooden bridge that was constructed over the Else River in 1868 was fast decaying by 1924. Initial plans were to build the bridge further up the valley, away from the railway line, and to raise its height to avoid the constant trouble with drift-sand. However, the new bridge ended up being constructed in its present position which then encroached on railway land. On the 1st December 1890, the first train pulled into the station at Simonstown.

In December 1901, Glencairn residents petitioned for a platform and waiting room or shed. The first Glencairn station was built was constructed in April 1903 of railway sleepers, adjacent to the line in the centre of the beach. However, wind-blown sand proved to be a maintenance and human comfort problem and the Glencairn station platform was moved to more or less its current location.

Smile

Sunrise form GZ
Please don't upload any spoiler pictures of the cache or the hide, on geocaching.com or any other social networking sites. Thanks family Behrens.

Additional Hints (Decrypt)

"rlr" nobhg 5 fgbarf qbja Znxr fher lbh ybbx ng rirel fgbar

Decryption Key

A|B|C|D|E|F|G|H|I|J|K|L|M
-------------------------
N|O|P|Q|R|S|T|U|V|W|X|Y|Z

(letter above equals below, and vice versa)