Picnic Rock . . . Revisited!
The cache is hidden at a splendid rocky viewpoint just off the East Fort-Vlakkenberg-Constantia leg of the Hoerikwaggo Trail* (see note below) with great views – especially west towards Hout Bay. Well worth a visit – and if time allows - a picnic!?
The cache, a camo-taped tablet pot, has been placed at the open end of a narrow bushy ‘alleyway’ in the rocks. It is very close to the location of the original cache here GC2WCXT Picnic Rock which was hidden on 12/5/11and, after it went missing, archived on 18/1/21 with some 35 finds and 4 FPs.
It was decided to place a new cache here rather than replace the old one in order to provide another incentive for cachers to do or re-do this great hike – with the short detour to this cache.
It may be approached from:
1. East Fort (on Chapman’s Peak Drive): Parking @ S 34 03.299 E 18 21.890 Trailhead @ S 34 03.315 E 18 21.897 (across the road)
2. Bokkemanskloof (nearest): Parking @ S 34 1.409 E 18 22.978 Trailhead @ S 34 1.437 E 18 23.000 (up the firebreak)
3. Constantia Nek (via Vlakkenberg plateau): Parking @ S 34 0.734 E18 24.330 Trailhead @ S 34 0.719 E18 24.184 (into Silvermist Estate)
4. Tokai Arboretum (via Constantiaberg road) - you can cycle to within 300m of GZ): Parking/Trailhead @ S 34 3.694 E18 24.867
Whichever route you choose you will have the opportunity to pick up numerous other caches en route.
Head for the trail junction @ S 34 2.323 E18 23.230 then take the small (somewhat overgrown) branch trail to GZ.
See here for the interesting history of the etymology of the word ‘picnic’ and details of an extraordinary (and spurious) claim made in this regard!
*Note: The Hoerikwaggo Trail [still shown on some maps] was originally envisaged as a 6-day/5-night hike between Cape Point, in the Cape of Good Hope Nature Reserve and the Upper or Lower Cable Station on Western Table of Table Mountain, close to the outskirts of the City of Cape Town. Accommodation was planned in 5 tented camps – at Smitswinkel, Simonstown, Slangkop (Kommetjie), Silvermine and Orangekloof - with daily hikes of 9-18 km.
For several reasons including fire damage to one of the camps, periodic bush fires, private land access issues and security concerns it is sadly not possible to have an uninterrupted hike. Although the trail paths still exist, some are closed due to extensive fire damage and only 3 camps are operational. There have been crime incidents on some more remote sections and although these are rare, they require good local knowledge and are not recommended for small groups.