by Debbie Ross
founder of the Womens Travel Network.ca
After breakfast we started our journey along the Garden Route. We had a late start as Elias had to tke the bus to the depot to get the air conditoning fixed. Unfortunately it stopped working after the first hour and then when started having problems with the radiator. Tour guide John called the tour company to arrange for a new bus for the following day. In the meantime we prayed the bus would make it through the winding mountin roads
The itinerary had to be changed to allow for lost time. We cancelled lunch at the ostrich farm and booked a lunch stop at the the Country Pumpkin in the town of own of Berrytale. The lunch was delicious and there was a great craft store across the road. There was also a wine and biltomg shop attached to the restaurant and some of us enjoyed tasting the dried meats and amarula. We also purchased some local wines. The town was located on the famous route 62, siilar to our route 66 in north america.
The scenery aling the way was stunning. We drove through one of the largest wine growing and fruit growingareas of south africa. Then we headed into the rocky mountians with colourful rock of red, green, grey and rustybrown. There were wild fllowers and colourful shubs and bushes growing out of the rocks.
We rolled into Oudtshoorn 530pm and checked in to the charming Turnberry boutique hotel. our rooms were very charming. Some of the ladies had a cocktail party the garden area out front of one of the rooms. A great way to destress after a long drive.
Dinner this evening was a typcial backyard babeque held on the patio, the ambiance was wonderfuland the warm weather delightful. The barbequed meats were fabulous and they had a delicious array af salads. Now that we were away from the cape the weaher is much warmer. What a pelasant chang from cool and damp. Sadly we had to say goodbye to our driverElias. We will miss him. He is taking the broknenoach back to Capetown. Our new driver Samuel has arrived with our luury coach.Tomorrow our ride will be much smoother.
Our accommodation: Turnberry Boutiique Hotel, Oudtshoorn