Route 62, Wacky Wine Weekend and a little Innovation/Entrepreneurship.

Hello,

In the Western Cape of South Africa we have a road referred to as Route 62. This is a road much loved by motorcyclists and a very interesting ride. Officially, Route 62 starts in Ashton and proceeds to Oudtshoorn, then through the Langkloof to Port Elizabeth.  What I am hoping to do over the next few editions is to share Greg Beadle's "Ultimate Road Trip" adding a few twists and turns of my own. Greg,  authored a book called  Bike, Tar and Gravel Adventures in South Africa (MapStudio 2011, ISBN 978-1-77026-294-2) and is a recommended purchase for anyone wanting to experience the best motorcycle rides in South Africa.

If you are a motorcyclist living in the Western Cape you have probably ridden this road a dozen times. If you live in South Africa and have not ridden this road, just get out and do it. If you are an overseas motorcyclist and would like to ride this road, see a great country and have a fantastic holiday, please get in touch, I would love to ride this road with you.

Besides what I said in the first paragraph, Route 62 for me starts at the traffic circle leaving Robertson. In today's edition I am going to discuss Robertson and Montagu and in later editions take you as far as Port Elizabeth and then back to Cape Town.

But first, it's "Wacky Wine" from the 6th - 9th June 2013.

The Robertson Wine Valley hosts a number of wine festivals during the year, it is "Wacky Time." Over fifty participating wineries from the area, from Robertson to McGregor and through to Bonnievale. I highly recommend a visit, make a long-weekend of it, great wine, excellent food, friendly and interesting locals and wonderful scenery. I love the Klein Karoo.

Route 62

In his book Greg states that only ten percent of South Africa's roads are tarred, he goes on to say that most of the fun on a road bike is to be experienced in mountain passes, on winding roads and the open desert road. Let's begin .....

Starting in Cape Town head out to Stellenbosch on the N2 and then onto Franschoek via Helshoogte and Pniel. I enjoy stopping on top of Helshoogte to experience the view and to have a cigarette.

Top of Helshoogte on the way to Pniel.

I have spoken about Franschoek in previous posts, in my opinion the prettiest town in South Africa. I suggest stopping for a cup of coffee at one of the many coffee bars on the main road. After coffee, another cigarette, a courtesy break and a visor clean it is onto the Franschoek Pass, really exciting and follow the road to the dam and turn left for Villiersdorp.

Over the Franshoek Pass en route to Villiersdorp

Theewaterskloof Dam

Once through Villiersdorp proceed towards Worcester, at Aan-De Doorns turn right, follow this road until you reach the T- junction, turn right onto the R60 direction Robertson. Robertson is also a pretty town, a wine producing region. From Robertson you ride to Ashton and the official start of Route 62. I do not know a great deal about Ashton, it is in a fruit producing region and Langeberg Foods has a large processing plant. Over and above that I now that the SPCA has an animal shelter and there is a Licence Department where Minnie did her Learner's Licence for the motorcycle.

Now it gets exciting, from Ashton to Montagu. Minnie and I have an old house in Montagu where we try and spend a number of weekends a year. "We love Montagu" with it's quaint architecture, lovely locals and it's exceptional weather. Someone once told me that Montagu has the best weather in South Africa for retirees, I cannot remember who told me and if it is based on any scientific facts. Wonderful hot summer days, forty degree Celsius is common, cold winter mornings and clear warm days. I have included a collection of photo's of Montagu below:

Between Ashton and Montagu

The tunnel just outside Montagu - the site of an old British fort

Beautiful rock formations surrounding Montagu

The Vic Hotel

Typical architecture

Our little "olde" weekend home

Cape Town to Montagu is about a two hundred kilometre ride, if you are not in a hurry I suggest that you sleep over in a local guest house, visit the hot springs, visit a wine farm, have a drink at one of the local watering holes and a meal at one of the restaurants. My favourite wine from this region is Zandvliet, "My Best Friend Red" and for a great wine-tasting experience visit Viljoensdrift on the Breede River, order your picnic basket and your bottle of wine and have it on the River Boat whilst enjoying the scenery and the tranquility.  In the next edition we will discuss the ride from Montagu to Barrydale, Ladismith, Calitzdorp and Oudtshoorn.

Innovation and Entrepreneurship.

In the next week or so I hope to be interviewing one of my past students who went on to open her own business and is being successful. I hope to be sharing her story with you, we in South Africa have to encourage entrepreneurial activity and innovation and share the success stories to stimulate others to open their own businesses. Unemployment in South Africa is currently in excess of twenty-five percent.

Ciao, until next time, have fun and ride safe,

Clive :-)

-oOo-