Day 12

Day 12  - Knysna to Swellendam (Tue. 19 Nov.)

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Our 2nd breakfast at The Greywood is as good as the first. Great food, great service. And weather is still sunny and warm - but for how long? The forecast is for some rain this afternoon.
Mikes bus is loaded up with our luggage and we ride out of Knysna, stopping just to refill at the local Gas station. We ride westwards for an hour or so and make a 10:30 stop the viewpoint overlooking Herold's bay, and then a slightly later stop at Mussel bay (Mosel Bay).
This is my chance to take a swim in the Indian (ocean). The beach is lovely and sandy here, and very few people. Not all the group bathed in the sea, but I did and enjoyed it. The water was a lovely temperature. A good swim, after which I showered and got changed (all these facilities are freely provided for public use) and we met with the rest of the group who were up at the Pavilion beach front café. Great location, great setting, just not great service. Good job it wasn't busy then. We sit outside there and have a bit of an early lunch. For me it's apple pie and cream.
Back on the road again, eventually we find our way out of Mossel and on the N2 road west, towards tonight over-nighter at Swellendam. We make a rest stop at 2 pm, just in a lay-by, just before Riversdale. We stop again in the small town of Riversdale for Gas and a coffee at the Wimpey station. This is at about 2.30. Our intention now is to detour off the N2 to take in the Tradouws Pass, which is supposed to be one of the most scenic roads in the Western Cape. Taking in all of this mountain pass would leave us on the wrong road to reach Swellendam, so what we’ll do is ride the best bit of the pass, as far as the viewpoint, and then retrace our steps back to the N2, and on to todays destination.
We reach the viewpoint at about 4 pm, and the views from here are absolutely magnificent. And there's a waterfall on the cliff side of the road. The weather's not looking promising now though, well it looks like it's promising rain. Can we dodge a soaking? Lets try. A great ride back down the pass and onward, we meet only a couple of brief sprinkles before arriving at the Marula Lodge, tonight's resting place.
Mr. Mike's already been here and off-loaded our luggage into the Marula's laundry room while we were on a detour. Mrs K and I have the room next to the laundry room so were soon settled in, just as the heaven open and let loose a mega thunderstorm complete with hailstones - but the suns still shining!. In the room it's really noisy, what with heavy rain on the corrugated metal roof (which is quite a common construction in S.A.) A few of the others can't be accommodated here so Mike takes them and their luggage w a little way down the road to where they'll be staying.
The storm passes. Here at Marula there's a guest lounge with an honesty bar - just take what you want and write it on the sheet. You settle up when you check out. A little later we all meet up there for a drink before dinner, which we booked some weeks ago, at a local restaurant, Vagabonds. It's come recommended on TripAdvisor and probably the photo there of a load of Harleys parked outside swayed our decision.
Mike comes to eat with us and runs us up the road in his bus. Thanks Mike. Vagabonds looks good, they have the bale for ten ready. The menu looks good. Then it starts to go bad. They take ages just to get us all with a drink in front of us - like 45 mins. To get the food, was about an unacceptable 90 minute wait. Not good. Some had issues with the quality of the food too - like a stew with no meat , just bones. Disappointing. So, the owner was summoned, and complains were made. He listened, made his excuses, shrugged his shoulders and asked us not to come back again. As if.
It's a short hop in Mike's bus back to the Marula, to the Guest lounge/bar for drinks before bed. Slept well.

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