Miller's Point #1: The Slipway
(Previously called Miller's Point Slipway - now incorporated in the MP Series)
The cache, a black-taped screw-capped plastic pot, is hidden in the low bushes above the slipway, a few metres from a wooden walkway which overlooks the slipway and provides fine views particularly to the north along the False Bay coast.
The Slipway is adjacent to Miller's Point Resort, an extensive recreational area with picnic facilities and a large tidal pool, which was also the location of the recently archived Battlerat & Pussycat cache Miller's Point SCUBA which had 148 finds in its 8.5 years life and was my 10th cache find way back in January 2009.
For 35 years, from 1823, the idea of lighting the approaches to Simons Bay was bandied about between the Admiralty, the Secretary of State, the colonial authorities, and the Commander in Chief. Key factors discussed were the suitability of a site for a lighthouse, and the subsequent expense of building and maintaining it.
Four sites were in consideration. Noah's Ark, a mainland rock called the 'Pebble' to its south, Roman Rock and Miller's Point. With economics and ease of access important factors, plans were drawn up in May 1844 for a lighthouse to be built on Miller's Point farm.
However Naval Officers at the station thought that a light there would not be much use, arguing instead that Roman Rock, exposed and awash at low tide and covered at spring high water, was the greatest hazard nearest to Simons Bay. So Miller's Point was not chosen and in the following years became associated with boating of a different kind - recreation (eg. water-skiing & diving) and sports fishing.
In 1814 Tomas Drury was first granted use of this land site for cattle which was later sold to Edmund Miller and then inherited by his son James William Miller in 1838. Whaling played
an important part at the site during this time with valuable whale oil being used to provide fuel for lighting the newly constructed lighthouses at Cape Point and Roman Rock. The Miller's Point property then belonged to the Molteno family for many years with the homestead and dairy farm now known as the Black Marlin restaurant.
In 1954 a major landslide caused complete devastation of the area crashing over the road and into the sea. Council workers spent weeks clearing tons of rubble and rock , bulldozing it into the sea and creating a new road. In 1969 another landslide sent 150 feet of tarred road 100 feet into the sea. Once again truck loads of sand and rock were dumped at Miller's Point completely changing the shore line. These landfills subsequently became the foundations of the boat club which was established at the location.
Thanks are due to the management of the Cape Boat & Ski Boat Club for their kind permission to place the cache on their property.
Some interesting Miller's Point (MP) links for your entertainment. . .
SCUBA divers swimming with sevengill cow sharks (the last minute has the best shots) which are common in the kelp forests off MP
Hectic downwind kayak run from MP in heavy seas with winds gusting to 45 knots
SUPboard 'Miller's Run' - a similar run passing Roman Rock lighthouse (from MP to Fish Hoek)
Terns at Miller's Point
Cape clawless otter in the sea near the slipway - the wooden walkway above the slipway and near the cache can be seen towards the end of the clip
Diving with Cape Fur Seals (and Cow Sharks) just off MP
Diving at Caravan Reef an inshore rocky reef off MP - colourful fish & other sea creatures (shot in very clear water)