We loved our short stay in Arniston, we would loved to have stayed longer and will come back to explore this beautiful area.
We did however retrace our steps in order to visit Cape Agulhas and stand at the southern most tip of Africa. A place where the Indian and Atlantic oceans meet. The lighthouse at the point was appropriately shrouded in mist. We passed through the coastal towns of Struisbaai and L’Agulhas to reach our destination.
On our way back to Bredasdorp we passed through fields of rapeseed with their beautiful yellow flowers. We were also fortunate to see blue cranes and spur winged geese in the fields.
From there we took the R310 to Swellendam and crossed over the Breede River. We went through such a cool road block, policed only by women in honor of National Women’s Day on Wednesday. The ladies were so professional and friendly.
We then proceeded through Suurbrak, an old mission town and headed over the Tradouw Pass, 14 km of absolute beauty. On the other side of the mountain range is the Klein Karoo and a dry, more arid environment.
At Barrydale we hooked up with Route 62, a scenic alternative to the N2 highway that runs from Cape Town to Oudtshoorn. Barrydale was abuzz with pubs, restaurants and craft shops.
In the middle of nowhere, we stopped for toasted saamies and milkshakes (the best peanut butter milkshake ever) at the Road Kill Café at Ronnie’s Sex Shop. Years ago Ronnie painted the name Ronnie’s Shop on his cottage on the R62, planning to open a farm stall for fresh produce. His friends played a prank on him and added the ‘sex’. Initially angry, he continued fixing the building but the name stuck. His friends would pop in for a beer and braai and suggested that he rather open a pub. Visitors from all the world now visit the pub and it has become something of an institution.
We passed through Ladismith, Zoar and over the Huis Rivier Pass to Calitzdorp and through ostrich country into Oudtshoorn. Gray spent 8 months at the Infantry School in Oudtshoorn during his army days. We went looking for the camp and it is still there, along with the statue of the Junior Leader soldier
The next town was de Rust, then we went through the valley of the most amazing mountains, the Meiringspoort route to Kredouw. These Cape fold mountains must be a geologist dream.
We reached our destination for the evening, Prins Albert, just after 5. We stayed at Sally Arnold’s, Artist Cottage. Sally is an artist and a school friend of my good friend Al. I am so glad she recommended this cute, arty 106 year old cottage to us.
Prins Albert is a town situated at the foot of the Swartberg Mountains, ringed by vineyards, fruit and olive farms. It is an artists haven and boasts many galleries. All the houses are old and beautifully maintained. The town is immaculately clean and visited by art lovers from all over the world.
We had a divine dinner at the Gallery Café, a restaurant above the Prince Albert Gallery. The food was all local, down to the wines and olive oil. The owner Brent Phillips-White has mingled his passions for art and food. I think the food side has grown bigger than the art.
A perfect end to a perfect evening was a lunar eclipse of the full moon.
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