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Maycock's Fort Traditional Cache

Hidden : 2/22/2014
Difficulty:
3.5 out of 5
Terrain:
3.5 out of 5

Size: Size:   micro (micro)

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Geocache Description:

Maycock's Fort is the ruins of a colonial British fort at the back of Maycock's beach on the North West shore of Barbados. The beach can only be accessed via a steep rugged track not suitable for motor vehicles. It is one of the most beautiful remote beaches on the island - providing you can ignore the Arawack cement plant just to the south. Undiscovered treasure is rumoured to be buried near the fort - now there is some to find!


You can only approach this cache from Bromefield where there are 2 tracks leading down to Maycock's Bay. Turn in by the Bakery, Bus Stop, Phone booth from Highway 1B - see photos. Follow the road to the end and turn left into 12th Avenue, Maycock's, Cul-de-sac. If you reach the big house Amor Amor you've gone too far. Follow 12th to the end and either park there or proceed with caution on the first part of the dirt track and park as the track bends sharp right. Do NOT drive down the steep hill - the Bajan surfers in their 4 wheel drives may do but it is hardcore offroading from here on. Walk with care down the track to the beautiful Maycock's beach. The fort is at the back of the beach near the southern end. The ruins are mainly 4 - 6 ft high but with some complete gable walls and to the south is the more modern part including a circular room.

The beach and fort are named after Thomas Maycock a one time land owner in these parts. The unattractive Arawack Cement Plant is to the south and you can hear the rumble of the machinery from the beach. To the north is Harrisons Point Lighthouse. Before the cement plant came there used to be a road leading down to the beach and on a Sunday, busloads of people would come and picnic on the beach. Between December and April you may see whales in the early mornings. You can fish off the rocks at the south of the bay and there is a blowhole that blows with the sea swell.

The poisonous Manchineel tree is present here as it is along the entire West Coast of Barbados, the Caribean and Florida where it is native. If you have not read up yet on this little known tree, do so now:

http://www.best-barbados-beaches.com/manchineel-trees.html

The main advice is not to shelter under these trees when it is raining as the milky sap mixed with the rainwater can cause nasty blistering to the skin. Obviously don't eat the small apple type fruit this tree produces which although smells sweet is highly poisonous and don't burn the bark or leaves which cause toxic smoke. In more touristy areas, the trees are marked with a red painted stripe but you've left those areas behind when you visit here.

Now enjoy our cache and the deserted beach.

Additional Hints (Decrypt)

Vgf abg va gur sebag jnyy jurer gur frn znl jnfu Ohg shegure onpx gb gur evtug bs gur ovt jnyy Oruvaq gur ebbz jvgu gur urkntbany pbeare Arne gur qbbejnl ybj qbja

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)