Route 62

[Ron&Gill]

Inspired by the post about Jean's bus trip, and Dirk's complaint about frustrations, I decided to post this from 2007...

Rumours on Route 62

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Our Route 62 experienced turned out very different from the loosely laid plan to hit Knysna via the Small Karoo and return via the N2. This was due to a very well presented DVD we bought at Ronnie’s sex shop and watched at the Calitzdorp Spa. It became so apparent that just travelling to get there, was not what we were after, but instead we were looking for an experience, while travelling by our favourite mode of transport. It appeared that Route 62 has a lot more to offer than just pleasurable bugging, so we adopted a different approach.

Our departure was brought forward by a day because we wanted to visit Charles and Sibel on Saturday evening. We hooked Volume II and left Melkbos around one-o-clock for Worcester. We kuiered and braaied and went to sleep under a starry sky. We awoke however to thunder and lightning and soon it began to rain. When daylight came, we shopped while our tent dried. By midday we left for the R62. At Calitzdorp we turned right off the R62 onto a bumpy concrete road which runs all the way to Outshoorn via the Spa where our plans were changed. We decided to stay two nights (at R55 per night) at the Spa in amongst the springbokkies and tortoises, and planned a day trip for the next morning.

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Leaving the Spa early the next day, we tripped out to Outshoorn over the concrete road. This was well worth it as we saw many ostriches being worked with in a non-tourist environment. On to De Rust, up into Meieringspoort as far as the waterfall. On the way back through the pass, Gill drove and I noticed that the front wheel bearings were noisy. De Rust is a quaint little town where they drove ostriches down the main road.

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It was without power though and they had only one coffee shop which had gas. So, coffee and off again to Outshoorn. We went around several service stations in the hope of finding someone to change the wheel bearings. After about four of them we gave up, bought two sets at Midas and settled down for a great lunch at City Headlines. After lunch we headed back to the Spa when the wind came up. Arriving back at the Spa, we found our tent blown flat, but still braving the wind, so I had to do some creative rigging to make it hold its shape. We went to explore the pools, but they weren’t much to write about. Nice though. Gill slept through the most uncomfortable part of the wind, but it did die down later and we had an overcast but lovely evening with a braai.



We had some rain immediately after getting up so hastily packed up and left for Montague. We stopped at Calitzdorp and found someone to replace the wheel bearings. “If we have in stock, he said.” I reached behind the seat and pulled out my shopping from Midas, and he looked much relieved. He was done in an hour forty five. Meanwhile, we breakfasted at Ebenuart’s and shopped around Calitzdorp, recognizing many places from the DVD. We also stopped in Ladismith and Barrydale at recognized places but motored past Ronnie’s sex shop this time.



We arrived in Montague in good time and found a very nice camp site (at R90 per night). We pitched camp and decided to find a pub in Montague. Preston’s was still closed but we needed to shop a little for stuff, so we swung in on the doors. They were also without power, but the beer was cold nevertheless. The power interruptions caused a lot of inconvenience to the locals, and I steadfastly had to defend Koeberg as everybody feels it is their fault, thanks to a largely (and customary) uninformed press. Much discussing later, and many Amstels, we returned to the camp, Gill driving as I was kind of wobbly. (Must have eaten something strange….) While I slept it off, Gill braaied and prepared a superb supper which I enjoyed at ten-o-clock. In Preston’s, we had discussed hijackers shocks for Rumours as she is starting to sag in the back a bit. The locals put in a brave attempt to get some for me, but the only set they could locate was in Durban, and would arrive on Friday morning, which they understood was too late. They diverted them to Goodwood instead. Rumours will have to have her rear suspension adjusted, as you can’t and shouldn’t fix everything with hijackers.

The next morning, while I was having a shower, much commotion erupted outside as Gill was accosted by first a cocky cock and his two hens and then nine geese. Gill was trapped in her chair as the geese hissed and flapped and generally intimidated her, but by the time I had finished preening myself, I was too late to rescue her. They had moved on to find more humans to scare.




We went in search of Muscadels, as this is Muscadel country. We first visited Joubert huis in Montague, a must for the Boere amongst us. There is a medicinal herb garden out back with the most interesting applications. Our guide was a right chatterbox but very friendly. From there we started our day trip to Ashton and Bonnievale. We visited the four cousins at Van Loveren and stopped at De Wet’s Hof, as well as Wolvendrift and Weltevreden.


Here we has a great brunch, Gill a smoked chicken salad and I a cheese board and a glass of red. Dik en wel tevreden, and loaded with Muscadels, we returned to a powerless Montague to shop for ice and wood. We got back to our camp and had a swim. At the pool we met Mike and Annemarie who had been travelling for nine months. He also let slip that he had raced the 1000km Roof of Africa off road race in a beach buggy many year previously, but had a DNF result because his steering box broke twenty kilometres from the finish. Gill went for an afternoon nap and had a nightmare about “The Killer Geese of Montague” and awoke just in time to crawl out of the tent, right into the gaggle. Much hissing and flapping later, they decided to turn their attentions to Rumours, of which they tried to chew the rear tyres without much success. Gill prepared Karoo kreef, they watched the now famous DVD, changed their plans and we kuiered some. We are hoping to see them in Melkbos as contact details were exchanged. Karoo kreef, in case some were wondering, is related to Namaqualand prawns.

Morning came, as they do, and we packed. Gill drove into town to draw money and fill up the tank and I stayed behind to do the dishes. Some may think this is the wrong way round, but it does leave my hands so nice and soft. I also had to take some grief from Mike on the subject when he popped by to say “Cheerio.” Never mind. We drove out of Montague toward Ashton and Robertson. Just into Robertson is the Bird Paradise which Gill had been watching for since Calitzdorp. I explained that we were doing the R62 in reverse as shown on the DVD, and she responded that she had had a blond moment. The birds were beautiful but when we got to the geese, Gill felt more comfortable to go see the man eating crocodiles instead. After the Toucans, monkeys and pelicans, we left for McGregor to taste olives.




We don’t even like olives, but with influence from Lood, it had to be done. We liked what we tasted and came away with two jars. We also visited the McGregor winery and got interesting information on a future event which we will post later, and more Muscadel. We returned to Robertson and turned off towards Villiersdorp and the over the Franschoek Pass down into Franschoek. We looked in vain for a camp site near the town and decided to go on to Berg Rivier Resort (Old Campers Paradise) and take the opportunity to visit Tanners Landing next to Butterfly World. They were, strangely, without power… A couple of beers and vodkas later we went into Paarl to get wood and ice and back Camper’s to relax. We do now understand why Christo and MW prefer the “grass”, as it is indeed very nice. Lots of grass, no dust, electricity to write articles, warm showers, etc. Ha, yes, the warm showers. No, they were cold and we needed a shower so the next morning Gill came back to the tent, “There’s no warm water, let’s pack up and go.” Admittedly both Gill and I were thinking on the road from Franschoek to Paarl “Why don’t we just put foot and go home? We’ve seen Rout 62.” But neither of us said it so we stayed on the road one more night. Sign of a good holiday.

Some observations: As we were pulling the trailer, I learnt that a buggy can be driven like a buggy can, but when you’re asking her to tow, she should be driven like a Beetle. She should be allowed to take her time up the passes, as well as down. Because of this I had to eat humble pie and actually go over the yellow line occasionally, and another observation was that all people flashed their hazards in appreciation except one Nissan Almera and all six BMWs. No offence to my friends who drive BMWs, but this is the reason I won’t.

Petrol 92.4l, trip 1302km, corrected 1172km (for 10% over read) gives 12.6km/l towing a trailer for 75% of the way.

[Dirk]

Now that's more like it, thanks for a lovely story. Very entertaining indeed!

[Blitzkrieg]

That story just stirs the blood and makes you want to do a road trip to some distant place in our lovely country. Very nice read, thanks Ron!

[Ron&Gill]

We've done a couple more since... alway more that 1000km, and 18 months ago 2000km. Very lekka...

[Tom Bishop]

Nice Story, but to many words for stupid me.

More pics please.