Wheelchair Holidays : South Africa

South Africa's Route 62

How many people could tell you what the “R” number is of the road leading from Cape Town to Port Elizabeth? It is, of course, the R62, but these days it is referred to as the much more upbeat “Route 62”. An unabashed coning of the legendary Route66 from Chicago to Los Angeles, it is clever, and lingers in the mind. It is certainly working well, if the number of European travellers we met across the B&B breakfast table, all eagerly unfolding their Route 62 maps, is anything to go by! Internet surfers will find the search engine Google.com returning over 210 results on the name, but why waste time searching, go straight to www.route62.co.za.

In 1926 America’s Route 66 was established as an east-west artery and in much the same manner Route 62 provides an inland link between Cape Town and Port Elizabeth. Partially sandwiched between the N1 to the North, and the N2 to the South, this scenic route passes through farming towns such as Calitzdorp, Ladismith, historic Amalienstein, Zoar and the fruit growing and wine producing towns of Barrydale, Montagu, Ashton, Bonnievale, Robertson, McGregor, Worcester, Ceres, Wolseley and Tulbagh.

Ironically the lobbying for rapid mobility and improved highways that gave Route 66 its enormous popularity signalled its demise in the 1950's. Route 66 was replaced by a national highway, which caused a severe decrease in traffic. With the completion of the N2 highway in 1958, the R62 suffered the same fate. But now, over fourty years later, it is being reborn as a shorter, more scenic alternative to the N2 highway.

We made a point of using B&B’s throughout our trip, finding them able to provide “home-from-home” hospitality, and a wonderful opportunity to meet people from all over the world. Our first morning from Cape Town took us straight to Robertson to replenish the wine stocks! Six farms later, with lighter wallets, and the “business” portion of the trip taken care of, we kicked back into holiday mode and cruised up to Swellendam where Adin & Sharon Greaves and their famous “Hideaway” were our hosts. These folks have won every hospitality award there is, and their Hideaway really is as good as a B&B can get.

Our next stop, Oudtschoorn, was an eye-opener! The first B&B in Oudtschoorn was started fifteen years ago by “Bisibee’s” Isabe Fourie in an effort to assist parents of SANDF recruits doing their national service outside the town. It can now, during peak festival periods, boast of an incredible 300 B&B’s! This town is organised, and switched on to the tourism industry, with plenty of restaurants to cater to all those B&B beds, excellent signage, and a cross-section of attractions to keep all family members occupied and interested. As a round day trip we took off for the beautiful MeiringsPoort, on to Prince Albert, returning through the awesome Swartberg Pass. I don’t use that last adjective lightly. Best driven on a good day, it is not for those afraid of heights, but my goodness, what a sight from “Die Top”! MeiringsPoort is a city dwellers SeweWeeksPoort, stunning rock faces and changes of light and shadow, but with a good tar road underfoot. Indeed Route 62 may be known as the “Longest Wine Route in the World”, but it could also be known as the “Route of Mountain Passes” for there is some incredible geological scenery on display.

Another wake up call came from the little town of Prince Albert. This centre for olives and mohair, with its single main road, is no sleepy backwater, highlighted by “Sampie Se Plaastal” which is open from seven to seven, seven days a week! . . . now, to get the Robertson wineries to remain open for more than just a Saturday morning! . . .

Our return journey brought us home through Ceres and Tulbagh. At the Klondyke Cherry Farm outside Ceres we teamed up with some friends and turned an afternoon’s picnic under the trees into a cherry picking session, or was it visa versa? Needless to say, anyone joining us for supper in the next six months only gets one guess what is for dessert! Tulbagh is best enjoyed on foot, leaving the car at one of the restaurants after a good meal, and walking off the excesses in the tree lined streets. Historical Church Street is the focal point, but I have to ask why the town fathers saw fit to tar it when a tasteful brick paving would have worked like a charm?

Route 62 is an area of magnificent landscapes and towering cliffs, crystal clear streams and an abundance of trees and indigenous flora, all contributing to making the Breede River Valley and the Klein Karoo two of the Western Cape's most diverse regions. The towns nestled along the valleys all offer ample opportunity for visits to wineries and game reserves, tribal art, cultural tours, museums and for the more adventurous: hiking trails and mountain climbing, 4x4 routes, canoeing, horse riding, even ostrich riding, fishing and caving. The sights to see and places to visit are far too many to list in this article, a testimony to the wealth of opportunity within the region, but the Internet websites, or the mailed brochures will provide you with plenty of ideas.

For further information try the following Internet addresses :
www.route62.co.za
http://www.breederivervalley.co.za/intro.htm

Or contact the following tourism bureaus :

Breede River Valley Tourism Board
Kleinplasie, P O Box 91, Worcester, 6849
Tel : 023 347 6411
Fax : 023 347 1115
eMail : manager@breederivervalley.co.za

Klein Karoo Regional Tourism Board
P O Box 127, Oudtshoorn, 6620
Tel : 044 322 2241
Fax : 044 329 2667
eMail : kkdr@pixie.co.za


Hilton Purvis

Hilton is permanently based in a wheelchair through spinal muscular atrophy. Together, Hilton and his wife Loretta have repeatedly proved that travelling in a wheelchair need be neither daunting, nor limiting, and hope their experiences will be of benefit to anyone who may be planning such getaways. 

Reproduced with kind permission of Hilton Purvis
P O Box 371,
Noordhoek, 7979,
South Africa.

Wheelchair Holidays : South Africa