Our 13th Annual Tour was called the East ‘n West Tour, because the tour started in the Western Cape at Calitzdorp and motored down the famous R62 road along the Langkloof to spend three nights in Cape St Francis in the Eastern Cape. The tour featured some lovely historic venues and apart from a very short transit distance on the national N2 road, took place on country roads that offered interesting and exciting driving as well as some of the best countryside that the Cape has to offer.
Calitzdorp is well-known to the club as it has featured in a previous tour as well as a fund-raising classic car show. This delightful village in the Klein Karoo not only has interesting, historic architecture but is also known as the Port capital of South Africa; even though we are no longer permitted to call this tasty libation Port. Nevertheless, we still get world-class Cape Vintage fortified wines. Our members gathered on Sunday, 13 November to register and renew friendships and enjoy a lovely dinner at the bistro of De Krans.
The Monday saw us motor through Oudtshoorn along the R62 toward the Easter Cape. Our coffee break was taken at a quaint farm stall, “Gwerna”, where many were pleased to purchase home-made preserves and cookies. What made it special is that the whole family were involved in serving us and attending to our needs and they said that it was one of the first big groups that they had since the lifting of the Covid restrictions. We were pleased to chat to them and, hopefully, to make little difference to their fortunes.
Our lunch stop just before we crossed into the Eastern Cape was at the historic KlipHotel Country Store; a beautiful sandstone building that was originally a hotel built in 1931. Here too we shared the story of the owners who had moved from the north of the country just prior to the outbreak of the Covid pandemic and who hoped to start a new business and a new life. For some two years they had almost no visitors and they certainly made up for this with the hospitality that we were shown. Ours was a simple lunch of farm style chicken pie and salad but was enjoyed so much that the proprietor was soon chatting to the ladies and handing out hand written copies of her recipe.
Our overnight stop in Kareedouw was at Assegaibosch Country Lodge, which has also featured in previous tours and events and is well-known for its comfort and hospitality. This, too, had its origins in the 19th century when it was a popular hotel for travellers between Algoa Bay and the Western Cape.
Our third day motored through Patensie, a citrus farming area, and down to the historic Gamtoos Ferry Hotel. The hotel is situated next to where there was a pontoon to cross the wide Gamtoos River. When the first Dutch farmers arrived in the Kouga and Gamtoos region and had wanted to cross the Gamtoos river, they were forced to travel upstream for quite a distance. Sometimes, travellers would even be forced to wait for flood waters to subside over the course of a few days before being able to cross. By the mid 1800’s a pontoon was used to transport people and vehicles across the Gamtoos River. The problem was that this very primitive method of crossing a broad tidal river was frequently a source of much annoyance and delay and carts and wagons were often delayed on either side of the river for several days, although it must have been good business for the hotel.
We spent 3 lovely nights at the Cape St Francis resort which became a base from which we toured in the area. The fourth day was taken up by a most enjoyable boat cruise up the Kromme river to a guest farm with some enjoying walking trails and which featured a delicious seafood braai (BBQ) while on the return we toured the famous canals of Cape St Francis. The Club had identified a local charity, a school and shelter, which would, in keeping with our tradition, benefit from funds raised. This school has a Marimba steel band which had been good enough to perform in an international competition in China. The Marimba band entertained us during pre-dinner drinks and proved both talented and very popular.
On the 5 th day we visited nearby Jeffreys Bay, one of the most famous surfing beaches in the country and the highlight was a sumptuous lunch of seafood prepared on open fires. All agreed that the “Walskipper” will long be remembered for the wonderful dining experience right on the beach.
On the last day, a Friday, we motored back to the Western Cape aiming for our overnight destination at luxury Pezula Resort and Spa Hotel in Knysna. The route took us along the “old Road” and beautiful Nature’s Valley. The Gala evening featured a middle eastern theme and all of our members entered enthusiastically into the spirit and dressed accordingly. The hotel astonished us with its authentic middle eastern cuisine and a local belly dancer not only entertained the guests but also encouraged them to join in the festivities.
Too soon goodbyes came over a “lekker brekker” and thoughts turned to the 2023 tour.