| In my personal opinion the best way to travel is by car. | | | | pub for Michelle to come and join us. She soon joined |
| So when my friend, Greg, and I decided to go on a trip | | | | us and we toasted to the good life. After catching up |
| down to Cape Town we decided that car rental | | | | a bit we moved down to the beach front for some |
| would be the first on our "must-do" list. We opted for a | | | | whale watching. Every year the whales migrate down |
| small hatchback to zip around on our trip from Cape | | | | to the Cape waters for their breeding season, giving |
| Town to Hermanus and back to the Cape winelands. | | | | us much entertainment as they do their bit of showing |
| On the road... | | | | off. The whales get up close in the bay and each view |
| We wanted to go to Hermanus for two reasons. First | | | | of a tail or a fin causes much excitement for |
| and foremost to go visit my old and dear friend | | | | everyone watching them from the shore. How lucky |
| Michelle, and secondly for the Whale festival. The drive | | | | one feels to be part of what must be such a little part |
| from Cape Town to Hermanus is beautiful. Scenic | | | | of their lives. |
| views as you drive Sir Lowry's mountain pass filled | | | | After much time spent simply enjoying the view of the |
| with flowers, then small farmhouses and the | | | | whales we moved on to the festivities that were |
| occasional shop where you can buy some of the | | | | happening in town. There were flea markets and beer |
| fresh farm produce that you would never be able to | | | | gardens, children playing around with painted faces and |
| get in the city. So we stopped at Aunt Millie's Farm | | | | balloons, and music playing on the speakers for |
| Stall. Known for her fresh home cooked pies we of | | | | everyone's enjoyment. The atmosphere was |
| course couldn't resist stopping for a bite first. While | | | | infectious, everybody seemed happy. |
| sitting in the car savouring one of Aunt Millie's notorious | | | | Continuing our journey... |
| pies, we were surrounded by the most breath-taking | | | | After spending two more days in Hermanus, catching |
| view around us. | | | | up with Michelle, sharing jokes and more |
| Back on the road the excitement of seeing an old | | | | whale-watching, Greg and I were soon on the road |
| friend and the fact that I was on the open road again | | | | again. We took the long road back towards the Cape |
| was exactly why I loved driving through the | | | | winelands. I was quite the happy snapper when Greg |
| countryside. Being on the open road always gives me | | | | was driving. I was taking a lot of photos, but being the |
| a sense of freedom which you don't experience much | | | | amateur photographer I am, it almost felt like an |
| when living in the city. There's nothing rushing you to | | | | injustice to the beauty of the winelands. You can't |
| simply get from A to B, but taking your time to | | | | really capture the essence of what you experience |
| appreciate what most people just take for granted in | | | | when looking at such breathtaking views. We stopped |
| their rush. Road tripping is not about the destination, but | | | | at what seemed like every little shop on the side of |
| the journey. | | | | the road, taking our time to simply enjoy the splendour |
| A whale of a time... | | | | surrounding us. We took every dirt road and steered |
| When we eventually reached Hermanus we were | | | | clear of any highways. We didn't set schedules and |
| greeted with what I despise most, traffic. Tourists like | | | | didn't book any accommodation beforehand, because |
| us coming to town for the Whale festival. Luckily it | | | | this is not what a road trip should be about. It is about |
| wasn't too hectic, unlike rushour traffic in the big cities. | | | | enjoying whatever comes your way and being |
| After we had found parking we waited at the local | | | | spontaneous! |