The cache consists of the normal goodies in a small LnL container. It is close to the road and it should be easy to find. There is no plastic bag. I forgot to include a pencil so please make sure you have one with you. There is an easy way and a hard way. Hard way is to budu bash through the tall grass and blackjacks. The easy way is to find the walking trial crossing the road. Try to find the yellow marker on your right hand side and it will guide you to the cache. While you are at the cache sit down and listen and you will understand the cache name.
This cache is close to my “home” and it is placed to remind me in future of a different time in my life. This is my story. You can also skip my story and enjoy the reserve, the animals and the trip around the reserve.
My story:
I accepted a job offer in Alberton as a Service Manager in charged of a production department and engineering and to make it a little bit more interesting I am directly responsible for all projects. It also expected from me to give support to a factory in Botswana. Soon I will be logging caches that side. I decided to stay in this reserve at the camping site for security reasons. On 12 May 2009 I parked my caravan and I pitched my tent with one hell of a struggle. Damn they do not design this as a one man operation. I was the only one at the camp site at that time. My daughter is now in grade 7 and we can not move her to another school. If I can sell the house in Ermelo then we could be together again but until such time this is my “home”. Sometimes we do a lot for our children.
I got used to the routine, the cold and the people that come and go on a weekend. During the week it does get lonely when there is no one camping. I use this time to study. Every second weekend I do go home.
One night at about 02h30 walking in the dark I spotted a movement about 10 meters away from me. The eyes were that of a jackal. I switch on the torch and I noticed that he is not moving away. I then checked the area if there are more as a pack is extremely dangerous. You can tame this animal but there will always be a dark streak in them. Many of these tamed ones turned on their owners. They are dangerous when they are hungry and they will attack. I stood my ground and he stood his ground but my training told me to stay put and to watch for an attack. He then sneaked behind a tree and started to move out of the area but he kept on turning back. He then left to my relief. On Monday 15 June 2009 at 00h23 my mother passed away while psalm 23 was read to her while I was here.
Just a small update. We sold the house, I stayed in the caravan for more than a year. Never again do I want to see the inside of a caravan, in the beginning it was fun but a 6 x 4 space is not for me. We bought a house in Nigel and we are all one happy family again. However, this cache will always be one of my special ones. It marked a tough time in my life but also a turning point. I will never forget the time I had here. Many a night I had a walk around this reserve and the peace and quiet connected with my own lonely feelings were a strange combination. The night my mother died I walked until the morning light. I was running away from it all but I could not get far enough. Despite of all I came out as a stronger person.
Special note:
- This is a nature reserve and before the cache is removed you need to verify that there are no snakes present.
- You are allowed to exit from your vehicle.
- Please park in such a way that you do not annoy other road users.
- There are people that are not following the rules and they travel this road in the wrong direction. Be careful.
- Please cover the cache well.
FTF Honours:
- Platinum: Urban Hunters
- Gold: KeithWood
- Silver: Damhuisclan
- Bronze: NTWA DUMELA
Risk and Hazards (1 is low, 3 is average, 5 is extreme):
- Mist - 2
- Heights and falls: 2
- Lightening - 3
- Slipping - 2
- Strong winds - 3
- Wet weather - 3
- Snakes - 3
- Spiders - 3
- Muggles and muggers- 2
- Night Time - XX (Not allowed)
- Roads - 3
- Children - 3 (Keep an eye on them)
- Thorns & Blackjacks - 2
Incidents at this cache:
- None recorded.
