(Original 2002 Description comes first, then updates.)
This cache is for all who enjoy the fun of a story, but particularly for the Flanagan family, who have just begun the geocaching adventure.
Goat Cove is reached after about 30 minutes pleasant walk from St. Philips beach through woods and by the ocean. The path is sometimes a little obscure but relatively dry. See if you can spot the apple tree along the way. Sadly, no apples this year.
There are a couple of steeper places, not really serious but you may want to keep the younger ones close.
The Billy Goats Gruff
Chapter One
Once upon a time there was a herd of billy goats called Gruff. In the winter they lived by the ocean in Goat Cove, but when summer came they longed to travel inland to eat the lush sweet grass. On their way inland the Billy Goats Gruff had to cross a rushing river. The bridge across the river was made of wooden planks and underneath the bridge there lived a terrible, ugly, one-eyed troll. Nobody was allowed to cross the bridge without the troll’s permission - and nobody ever got permission. He always ate them up.
Each group of visitors is kindly required to take one goat and lead him inland to the troll's bridge, which you will find at, Billy Goats Gruff, Chapter Two.
1st. December 2002. Rounded up a second herd of goats and left them to overwinter at Goat Cove (see the background picture.) Note. The brook was swollen after snowmelt and rain. Rubber boots are required.
Alastair (aviex)
October 2004. During a maintenance visit in October 2004, it was apparent the trail was becoming more overgrown and difficult to follow. Be sure to allow a little extra time. The difficulty rating was amended accordingly and I made a slight adjustment to the coordinates.
October 2010. A new cache and log book were put in place. The cache is a clear lock 'n lock plastic container. Many thanks to Vickyth for helping out - see logs.
August 28th. 2014. A new cache was installed at the original location. A clear plastic jar with a green geocache label (one of the first designs.) The path continues to get overgrown and subject to erosion, but is still passable. There are a few exposed drops - be careful!
January 14, 2017.
This cache has been adopted from aviex by Cache the Bayman! We are indebted to ScoutrP for making a visit to the cache today, as we are able to update the page (particularly regarding the terrain rating) and also report that the cache itself is in great condition. We will continue to ensure that this very old cache - one of the first in Newfoundland and Labrador - stays in the game as aviex initially intended.
This was one of the earliest caches in Newfoundland and was set up as a sort of game involving the shepherding of a bunch of plastic goats from here to the second chapter. That now seems to have gone by the wayside, but I'll leave the story here for the record.
May 2, 2020.
Beautiful day here today at Goat Cove. Met a young family, and explained geocaching to them, and their 7 year old was vey excited to get going. Dropped a TB goat here today, as it was fitting (apologies with the direction of the flag in the pic.)
Scaling down into and back up out of Goat Cove is truly not that bad at all - people were there today ranging from 7 to in to their 60s.
