CAPE HOLIDAY POTPOURI

In the "Wind in the Willows", Ratty told Mole that "there is nothing so nice as simply pottering around in boats!"  I put it to you that there is nothing so nice as simply pottering about the Cape in South Africa in your hired car! There is something great and exciting around every corner.

For example, Montagu at the start of Route 62 has some wonderful working farms where one can enjoy the evening tranquility from the stoep of  a converted labourer's cottage. Walk up into the mountains, help harvest apricots or enjoy a bottle of Pinotage around the braai fire. Use this as a base to explore the surrounding country side such as Bonnievale, Robertson, Mc Gregor, Swellendam and my favourite vineyard Van Loveren, which is run by the Retief family.

Or perhaps you would like to hire a houseboat on the Langebaan lagoon. After parking on the shore, you have to ferry everything out to the houseboat where you can enjoy your Strawberry Daquiries in seclusion from the upper deck,  as the sun sets majestically over the ancient western mountains.

Or perhaps you would like to go on a cruise boat on the Bree River. Enjoy the drinks and snacks provided by the boating company as you calmly sail between the reed covered banks in complete tranquility. Take your binoculars as the bird life is magnificent, ranging from Cormorants to brightly coloured Kingfishers!

Or perhaps a wine farm would be more up your ally? Stand outside the entrance to Haut Cabriere wine tasting rooms, situated in the magnificent Franschhoek Valley where the French Huguenots originally settled. You have to book but an exciting,educational experience  can be taken in by watching Arnhem van Aachen, 'subrage' a bottle of Haut Cabriere sparkling wine with a sword, just as the ancient Polish cavalry officers used to do! There is also a wonderful restaurant that one can delight in.