*Please note: This article has been sanctioned and authorised by management (aka Snobby {Phd})
Day 1:
After 2 weeks of careful planning (and unplanning by my beloved who will always rail against the institution of order) and 3 days of insane rushing and purchasing of useless items all labelled Just In Case and Will We Need This?, we pulled out of PE, at 6pm. Suddenly this was all a bit much and we had to overnight, immediately.
Day 2:
Take 2, we moved away from the comfort and coolness of the coast and headed inland en route to Howick via Umtata. Bungee jumping fans, extreme ironing boarders, base jumpers, would have loved the road between Bisho and Kokstad. A treat, if you are inspired by bloodlust and road rage, not recommended if you are a vegetarian.
After Kokstad, the crazy Toyota drivers disappeared. Snobby’s blood pressure plummeted to a level that wasn’t going to blow blood out of his ears. And we made it safely to Howick, navigating through potholes that are more at home in the Grand Canyon then anywhere else, we made it to Cloud 12 (assuming there’s only up from Cloud 9).
Day 3 – 10:
BLANK
Kidding, family fun on the golf courses, in the area which are majestic and have a tendency to swallow balls whole, bush golf, fine dining and delicious breakfasts. Special mention goes to the Piggly Wiggly for one of the best breakfasts in the country. Their claim of the Best Cappucino, however overstated, and pretty vague as to how they won this title, on what criteria, and against whom, is fairly good and received the Snob Nod.
There were 3 very young vineyards that we visited. We were snooty and judgey and bought bottles of Beyerskloof, Fat Bastard and Chocolate Block, but to be fair the wine had floaty bits in it (the local brand not the Block). However, in a couple of years Lion’s River/Curry’s Post is going to be a gem for wine lovers and they are already making killer Grappa. Take that Platter.
Day 11:
Looped the loop around Lesotho, phenomenal views and a great drive (pothole dodging breaks the monotony at times). Almost ran out of petrol, due to the lack of petrol availability, but that’s what happens in the 3rd World, I guess.
Day 13:
Into the Swartberg, at the beginning of Meiringspoort, we found the greatest camp site, which I will not name, otherwise you’re going to steal our spot. But I digress. No cell signal.
Day 16:
Calitzdorp! The Wine capital of the Karoo. Wine tasting available wherever you stop, with air conditioning (with 45°C in the shade) they really do trap you and funnel the stuff down your throat with their friendly service.
We made stops at Boplaas, De Kranz and The Calitzdorp Coop. And Platter’s got it spot on, the De Kranz Tawny and Vintage ports are fantastic and Boplaas’s Shiraz/Cab Sav blend is divine with olive notes but Platter missed the cheeky Merlot at CC which is tasty, dirt-cheap and a keeper (in the Sanan Random Ranking system, Killer is higher than Keeper).
We also spent New Year’s with Saarkie. An experience to say the least. Snobby got a cap signed by the band!
Day 19:
As we drove into Cape Town we realised, our car was full of some of the best wine our country has to offer, we were hungover and our wallets were tired. So we drank Marguerites, drove go-karts (Snobby got beaten), and turned tail and stumbled home.
Moral of the story:
We now have a wine rack!
Day 1:
After 2 weeks of careful planning (and unplanning by my beloved who will always rail against the institution of order) and 3 days of insane rushing and purchasing of useless items all labelled Just In Case and Will We Need This?, we pulled out of PE, at 6pm. Suddenly this was all a bit much and we had to overnight, immediately.
Day 2:
Take 2, we moved away from the comfort and coolness of the coast and headed inland en route to Howick via Umtata. Bungee jumping fans, extreme ironing boarders, base jumpers, would have loved the road between Bisho and Kokstad. A treat, if you are inspired by bloodlust and road rage, not recommended if you are a vegetarian.
After Kokstad, the crazy Toyota drivers disappeared. Snobby’s blood pressure plummeted to a level that wasn’t going to blow blood out of his ears. And we made it safely to Howick, navigating through potholes that are more at home in the Grand Canyon then anywhere else, we made it to Cloud 12 (assuming there’s only up from Cloud 9).
Day 3 – 10:
BLANK
Kidding, family fun on the golf courses, in the area which are majestic and have a tendency to swallow balls whole, bush golf, fine dining and delicious breakfasts. Special mention goes to the Piggly Wiggly for one of the best breakfasts in the country. Their claim of the Best Cappucino, however overstated, and pretty vague as to how they won this title, on what criteria, and against whom, is fairly good and received the Snob Nod.
There were 3 very young vineyards that we visited. We were snooty and judgey and bought bottles of Beyerskloof, Fat Bastard and Chocolate Block, but to be fair the wine had floaty bits in it (the local brand not the Block). However, in a couple of years Lion’s River/Curry’s Post is going to be a gem for wine lovers and they are already making killer Grappa. Take that Platter.
Day 11:
Looped the loop around Lesotho, phenomenal views and a great drive (pothole dodging breaks the monotony at times). Almost ran out of petrol, due to the lack of petrol availability, but that’s what happens in the 3rd World, I guess.
Day 13:
Into the Swartberg, at the beginning of Meiringspoort, we found the greatest camp site, which I will not name, otherwise you’re going to steal our spot. But I digress. No cell signal.
Day 16:
Calitzdorp! The Wine capital of the Karoo. Wine tasting available wherever you stop, with air conditioning (with 45°C in the shade) they really do trap you and funnel the stuff down your throat with their friendly service.
We made stops at Boplaas, De Kranz and The Calitzdorp Coop. And Platter’s got it spot on, the De Kranz Tawny and Vintage ports are fantastic and Boplaas’s Shiraz/Cab Sav blend is divine with olive notes but Platter missed the cheeky Merlot at CC which is tasty, dirt-cheap and a keeper (in the Sanan Random Ranking system, Killer is higher than Keeper).
We also spent New Year’s with Saarkie. An experience to say the least. Snobby got a cap signed by the band!
Day 19:
As we drove into Cape Town we realised, our car was full of some of the best wine our country has to offer, we were hungover and our wallets were tired. So we drank Marguerites, drove go-karts (Snobby got beaten), and turned tail and stumbled home.
Moral of the story:
We now have a wine rack!
