Kimmerling's Flight Traditional Cache
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Difficulty:
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Terrain:
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Size:
 (small)
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Located at an historic site. The first powered flight in South Africa took place here!
The attraction of this cache is in the history behind this site. Currently the plaque containing the history and dates is being cast in resin.
Cache is a 1 litre cylindrical container with space for trading small items.
Please be aware as the area is quite busy. Use stealth mode please.
The story:
On 28 December, 1909, the Frenchman Albert Kimmerling made the first controlled power-driven flight in South Africa in this vicinity, at that time the Nahoon race course. Kimmerling, who used a 50-horsepower Voisin biplane, made the historic flight at the invitation of the Gala Committee of the East London Town Council.
A journalist (probably the editor) wrote in the Daily Dispatch of December 29 1909:
“A great surprise greeted a few in the know who were present on the racecourse last evening between the hours of 6 and 7.30 and they witnessed the first practice of the flying machine. M Kimmerling left the garage with the biplane to make a trial of the course. The manner in which he was able to manipulate the enormous machine at the rate of 30 miles an hour, sweeping past with a speed that could almost be said to be appalling, was a sight indeed.
“The occasion was heightened by a setting sun which marked the close of day with a gorgeous rosy glow silhouetted against the spires of the church steeples and the residences of Southernwood. Twice M Kimmerling travelled over the racecourse, guiding his machine with the greatest ease, turning off like a flash of lightning when it appeared almost certain that he would crash into the grandstand.”
Additional Hints
(Decrypt)
Vafvqr gur qvfhfrq gryxbz nforfgbf cbyr. Yvsg gur gbc bss.
Treasures
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