This footpath, known to local children as "the Chalkie" is well
known to locals who use it as a shortcut. But for cachers
unfamiliar with the area, part of the challenge is to find one of
the four entrances to the footpath.
The footpath is a testament to people power! I remember a time
when the Council kept fencing off one of the entrances and people
who used the path would cut down the fence. Now the Council has
obviously given in, as they have put in a gate, some steps on the
most slippery slopes and even a sign!
The terrain to the cache varies greatly depending on which of
the entrances you find. While one of the entrances is a walk in the
park, some of the others are heavily overgrown at different times
of the year, and there is a steep slippery hill at one entrance.
The path is covered in rough gravel and it can get slippery when
wet! At high tide the river comes right up to the path and the
cache - if you pick the right day and time, people might think you
were actually tickling trout, when you look for the cache. If you
are caching with children, they will need to be closely supervised,
especially at high tide. If you want to check the tides before you
visit then click
here for tide tables.
It was originally intended that this cache would be subaquatic.
However, to make it more accessible to most cachers, placing it
where it was submerged part of the time was a good compromise.
Please remember that the cache is vulnerable and carefully seal and
replace all protective devices. Also be prepared to get your hands
dirty/fishy when handling the cache.
From the cache site, you will see a wide view of this part of
Southampton and witness various stages of the transformation of its
use from boat yards and industrial estates to luxury riverside
flats... (sorry, appartments!). There is also usually a distinct
smell of fish! There are actually some popular fishing spots along
the path and on the opposite bank of the river.
There is a railway line next to the cache but it poses no danger
as it is separated from the path by a tall barbed fence. If
anything, that's a clue to finding the entrance - it should be on
the correct side of the railway line.
The cache is small plastic container about 10cm square. Just
enough room for a log sheet and a pencil and a few fish-related
goodies. Please bear this in mind if you want to swap and place
only small fish-related items. (You are invited to use
your imagination in making whatever you have relate to fish!)