Bestie road trip, last day

After our revitalising breakfast, and with our backpacker experience a thing of the past, we  said goodbye to the camels and headed down the R328,  the back road between Oudtshoorn and Calitzdorp that winds its way through beautiful farmlands and private reserves at the foot of the Swartberg Mountains. It’s a much more interesting road than the other less-travelled road, Route 62.

We saw very few people or other cars except for the occasional farmworker waiting for a ride and one kind man who stopped to ask if we needed help – we were messing around trying to take a selfie so we told him we were fine, thank you. Given the quality of our selfies, we did need help, but I doubt a farmer could help.

This was another case of a road that should take no more than an hour or 2 but of course it took us half the day. Many stops, one over-dramatised fall, many clicks, a picnic lunch, a good long snoop around a boutique winery while the owners are away … the road is long when you indulge yourself.

Finally we reached Calitzdorp and rejoined the main artery back to Cape Town. Time was getting on and Cape Town was still a good 3,5 hours away so we reluctantly put foot on the accelerator and started sending text messages to children to advise our ETA.

All roadtrips must end and this one was much much too short.  We’re having a reunion on Sunday at a wine estate just outside Cape Town … I’ll drive this time and I’m going to plan at least one mystery stop.

Read about the previous days here and here and here.

We stopped to take a gawp at a beautiful farm and farmhouse and were thrilled to see that there is no Mrs Botha. I suggested we leave our phone numbers but we forgot.

This is the so-called cliff down which Caroline fell.

The wind was blowing, the angle was wrong, but this is one of our selfie attempts.

Another dirt road with Swartberg not too far away.

Aloes wherever you looked.

Pastoral tranquility as seen from a very small pass.

 

We stopped for lunch at a caravan/camp park next to the Calitzdorp Dam. The park has potential with such a lovely location and the cute idea of having caravans permanently positioned next to shady wooden decks. Sadly, it’s in a deplorable condition.

Today’s picnic lunch was round.

Not lunch.

We discovered a small boutique winery and we told by the gatekeeper that it was closed but the owners are away so we can have a look around. We did just that. A thorough snoop resulted in a massive fit of envy for people who live in such beautiful surroundings in such a very very pretty house. There was baboon poo in the garden so it’s not heaven, but close.

 

Sunset light on the mountains

Back on tarred roads – direction: home!

One night in Oudtshoorn

Let the record show that it was Caroline’s idea to stay over in Oudtshoorn and her second idea to save money by booking into a backpacker’s lodge where we could get a room, not a dorm. As much as I like guesthouses where you get fluffly towels and nice bathrooms and breakfast with real coffee, I agreed because our budget was limited and I know some backpackers have very nice private accommodation. After all, we were only going to be there for a very quick sleep-over.

The internet is sometimes a big fat liar. And so is the camera that took the pics of this place.

As we followed the directions from the email I had received, Caroline’s first words were “This can’t be right, this area looks dodgy.” But it was right so we continued and soon arrived at our lodging for the night. My besties stayed put in the car and sent me to check-in.

Long story short, it was clean and safe but we’ve decided we’re too old for this. We like basic comforts like at least one other piece of furniture in the room besides beds. We like toilets that are not 3 inches away from the bed. We need bedside lights. And lots of plugs for the electronics.

We didn’t like the braai areas we were shown because it was very cold and almost decided to eat out but then we found one they were hiding from us and which was sheltered and much nicer, with artwork on the walls, so we made ourselves at home and prepared our braai (bbq).

After watching a bit of TV in the glacial lounge, we went to bed giggling and complaining and hoping the blasted dog barking nearby would soon stop. We promised ourselves we’d be up at the crack of dawn and have breakfast somewhere on the road.

We overslept. We didn’t shower. We packed and left after a quick cup of coffee.

We allowed Oudtshoorn to redeem itself on our way out of town by driving through the prettier roads and gawping at lovely old Victorian houses, feather palaces and expensive-looking guesthouses. Then we had breakfast with real coffee at a charming children’s animal farm at the foot of the Swartberg, with pheasants and camels.

Just in case we didn’t know where we were, this map was mildly useful.

Chess players will know this board is not right.

Our braai porch was the only section of the large house with any adornment – this door and the art painted directly on the walls.

Caroline doing what she does so well – braai!

Our breakfast companions the next morning. Very grumpy looking but we were not fazed.

Our breakfast view, not too shabby.