This cache is placed to remember our beloved family pet and number one caching dog – Apollo.
Two things Apollo loved more than anything else was going for a spin in the car and then a good walk. Slieve Coillte offered both of these options as it is about 20 mins drive from our house and if you find the cache you will see the walking paths, the open space and the absence of people. Perfect for dog walks.
Apollo near the Earthcache - Iceland Spar at Crystal Cove (GC246H6, Paignton, SW UK)
We frequently came here at weekends and often endured the bad weather to make sure he got a good run around. A walk to the trig point and back often done the trick but a wander all around the summit was more Apollo’s style.
Apollo was a Pembroke Welsh Corgi, a breed belonging to the herding group. The Pembroke Welsh Corgi lineage has been traced back as far as 1107 AD. It is said that the Vikings and Flemish weavers brought the dogs with them as they travelled to reside in Wales. As far back as the 10th century, Corgis were herding sheep, geese, ducks, horses and cattle as one of the oldest herding breed of dogs.
PWCs are very affectionate, love to be involved in the family, and tend to follow wherever their owners go. They have a great desire to please their owners, thus making them eager to learn and train. The dogs are easy to train and are ranked as the eleventh smartest dog in Stanley Coren's The Intelligence of Dogs. Besides herding, they also function as watchdogs due to their alertness and tendency to bark only as needed.
We hope you enjoy the cache, the fresh air, the views and don't forget to bring your your dog!