M2KB #10: Kalk Bay Short Multi - Olympia
This is the last of a series of 10 caches on a wonderful coastal walk along the False Bay coast from Muizenberg to Kalk Bay (M2KB) - or vice-versa. The easiest way to do the whole series is to park at or near either station and get the train back from the other end (see train times here).
Otherwise the caches can be done in groups from and back to a convenient starting/parking place, or individually – several as park ‘n’ grabs.
The caches in the series are:
GC82N4H M2KB #1: Bailey's Cottage Short Multi
GC8349F M2KB #2: St James Walkway - Subway
GC8349J M2KB #3: St James Walkway - The Spring
GC8349J M2KB #4: St James Walkway - Ferocious Bush
GC8349K M2KB #5: St James Beach Short Multi
GC8349M M2KB #6: Danger Beach
GC8349Q M2KB #7: Metro and Mussels
GC8349V M2KB #8: Dalebrook Short Multi
GC8349W M2KB #9: The Old Tea Room?!
GC8349Z M2KB #10: Kalk Bay Short Multi
The cache, a small camo-taped, flip-topped dispensing tube, is hidden at a (somewhat) quieter spot (but with muggles nearby!) up from the busy Main Road in the western part of this unique little coastal town with its fishing harbour and bustling quirky shops and restaurants. The Difficulty rating reflects the muggle challenge.
So please employ suitable stealth tactics while undertaking your operations!
Please also take care to replace the cache properly and well-concealed to reduce the chances of it going missing at this vulnerable spot - thanks!
This quick offset multi should take under 15 minutes to do and may be combined with other nearby caches such as GC23KM4 Kalk Bay Curiosities, GC8349W M2KB #9: Brass Bell, and GC8349V M2KB #8: Dalebrook Short Multi.
For more information on Kalk Bay, see here and (for its history) here.
For a couple of good videos, see here for an insider view and here for a great aerial view
To find the cache:
Park anywhere convenient near to the starting point such as the parking area @ S 34 07.674 E 18 26.846
Step 1: head for S 34 07.651 E 18 26.886 where you will be standing outside the location of a unique and world-famous eatery.
Immediately above the door is a small weathered metal plate bearing the number 1A
The arch above the door has B sections
Hanging about on the ledge above the arch you will see C baboons hanging about . . . don’t miss the young jockey!
The alphanumeric value of the 1st letter of the 2nd word down from the top painted on the wall on either side of the door = D
The cache is hidden at:
S 34 07.(A+C)(D-2)(A-D) E 18 26.(B-3)A(B-D)
The Olympia Café & Deli started back in 1997 when it was converted from a ‘greasy fish and bait shop’. However, the 3-storey building in which it is located, and another at the rear which incorporates a bakery/jazz venue, has a much longer history.
It dates from 1919 when it was built to replace a 1906 boarding house which burnt down. It was called Harbour Mansions with the top floor called Leslie’s Private Hotel which has some 28 rooms.
In the late 1920s ownership changed and it became the Kalk Bay Residential Hotel. Then in the 1930s with another change of owners it became the Olympia Hotel with the building at the rear built in 1923 renamed the Olympia Picture Palace.
The building of (Leslie’s?) Picture Palace as it was originally called was popular with locals as the era of 
silent moves had started. In 1931 sound was introduced and an operator’s box added. An upstairs gallery was also added. Later a new owner renamed it the Olympia Bioscope which was a very popular venue till the interior burnt out in 1968.
Every Saturday night it was filled with Kalk Bay characters. Coloureds sat upstairs and whites downstairs. Sometime peanuts would be thrown down much to the annoyance of those who were hit but also for the manager who had to sort out the problem. However, it was harmless fun and at the interval all would stream out making a bee-line for two bars at the New Kings opposite to ‘stoke up’ before the start of the main film.
Smoking was allowed in cinemas back then and sometimes some white patrons would have to join the coloureds upstairs to avoid the pungent odours of Mr Pick’s (the local family butcher) cigars. For many years he had a reserved seat on the corner of the middle aisle and chained smoked through the whole performance, much to the discomfort of those near him!
The bioscope is now the Olympia Bakery which on Jazz nights is converted into a popular music venue with all the baking machines pushed to the side and rows of seats installed. Many both well-known and up-and-coming local and international jazz artists have appeared at this unusual venue – which due to its former use as a high-ceilinged bioscope has ideal acoustics.