From the Coast to the Wine Route N62 to Ladismith

On the way from Plettenberg Bay to Mossel Bay, I stopped at a few sandy beaches and explored a little while enjoying the sound of the ocean. One highlight was the view from Dolphins Point of a disused railway bridge. The road always followed the coast, sometimes at sea level and sometimes along the higher cliffs. Upon arriving in Mossel Bay, I walked along the cape there. This time, the sandy beach had turned into rocky coast. So I climbed over the rocks and observed the wildlife living between the rocks. I was able to observe sea urchins, fish, and starfish. Time flew by and in the evening I cooked something in my accommodation. This morning, I left the coast and headed inland again. From Mossel Bay, you have the choice to continue along the coast towards Cape Town or to drive into the Klein Karoo desert. After reading a bit beforehand, I was more interested in the desert. Along a very steep mountain pass, I reached a high plateau, the Klein Karoo desert, in no time at all. It is not a classic desert, but rather a very dry rocky area with many cacti. Once again, the landscape changed abruptly after only a few kilometers and I was amazed. I made my first longer stop for a fish snack in Oudtshoorn. They served hake with fries. Hake tastes and looks exactly like "hekk," which is known in Hungary, it is probably the same fish. Oudtshoorn became famous for its ostrich farms and there are still large ostrich farms near the city. As I drove by, I could see huge ostrich colonies in the fields. After the break, I continued along Route N62, which is often compared to the famous Route 66 in America, towards Ladismith, my destination for today. Route N62 is the longest wine route in the world. On the left and right, you can see huge vineyards and corresponding farms. Since it is currently winter in South Africa, the vines were naturally empty and pruned, unfortunately. In summer, it is certainly beautiful here because not only wine is grown, but also apricots, peaches, and much more. Shortly before Ladismith, I took a 40-kilometer detour. Based on a tip from the internet, I drove through a mountain range located in the Klein Karoo desert. After every curve, another impressive rock formation awaited me, and I often caught myself with my mouth wide open in amazement. If you would like to follow me on this journey, you can watch a video about it here. In the evening, I arrived in Ladismith. I would have loved to visit a wine tasting at the many wine farms, but as in Germany, the rule for me here is "Don't Drink and Drive." So it will probably be just one glass of wine with dinner :) Tomorrow, I will continue back to the coast to Cape Town or to Fish Hoek. The town is located slightly below Cape Town on the cape. I have rented an Airbnb accommodation there for two nights and I am looking forward to drinking more wine and cooking something delicious.