Message in a Bottle Traditional Geocache
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Difficulty:
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Terrain:
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Size: 
(micro)
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This cache is not for you
If you don’t like sea or sand
You will find the cache in a bottle
Small enough to fit in your hand
This cache starts at Hermanus’s first Blue Flag Beach
(Why not make a day of it and attempt the other 2 caches in the area)
It is suggested that you park at the recommended parking (Grotto Beach) as the security is better, but there are other places to park.
You can now head towards the beach and turn East. The walk you are about to embark on is about 6kms from the life guards tower to the cache along soft beach sand, so a reasonable level of fitness is suggested although not necessary (my son completed this walk at aged 8)
At approximately 6 kms (see listed co-ordinates above) you will come across Sopies Klip. Essentially this is a group of sand stone rocks weathered with time – but the name comes from one of the rocks in the middle (on the waters edge) that was hollowed out and occupied by a vagrant fisherman. These rocks are about half way along the coast to De Kelders and then Gansbaai.
Things to be on the look-out for:
A variety of coastal birds, whales, dolphins and why not climb a dune or two and just enjoy the view.
Within the rock formations near “Sopies Klip” the elements have hollowed out a “chimneys”.
Warnings:
Near the start of the walk you will cross “Die Plaat”, a sand bank that closes off the Kleinrivier lagoon. After sustained rains the lagoon will eventually fill up and break though the sand bank and run into the sea. Please do not attempt to cross the river mouth at this time as the currents can be very dangerous (ask locals for more information about whether the lagoon mouth is open or not).
Also, during high tide, the water will wash up as high as the dunes at times. Although it is still safe to follow the beach during high tide, you also have the option of walking along the dunes. However, I would not suggest you attempt this walk during a Spring High Tide.
It is recommended that you take plenty of water and maybe a picnic that you can enjoy before you turn around and head back home.
Finally, while walking alone the beach, you will notice that a large amount of trash has washed up onto the beach, so we would encourage you to take along a plastic packet and on your trip back perform a CITO (cache in trash out)
Spoiler Warning: The Additional Hint is a real spoiler, so if you want to give it a real go take the encrypted version to decypher later (just in case :-)
Additional Hints
(Decrypt)
Fgnaqvat qverpgyl va gur qbbejnl bs “Fbcvrf Xyvc”, gurer ner gjb ynetr ebpxf gb gur abegu (ba gur qhar fvqr). Gur pnpur vf va n “puvzarl” ba gur sne yrsg bs gur yrsg unaq ebpx, whfg nobir rlr yriry sbe na nqhyg.