In my personal opinion the best way to travel is by car. So when my friend, Greg, and I decided to go on a trip down to Cape Town we decided that car rental would be the first on our ”must-do” list. We opted for a small hatchback to zip around on our trip from Cape Town to Hermanus and back to the Cape winelands.

On the road…

We wanted to go to Hermanus for two reasons. First and foremost to go visit my old and dear friend Michelle, and secondly for the Whale festival. The drive from Cape Town to Hermanus is beautiful. Scenic views as you drive Sir Lowry’s mountain pass filled with flowers, then small farmhouses and the occasional shop where you can buy some of the fresh farm produce that you would never be able to get in the city. So we stopped at Aunt Millie’s Farm Stall. Known for her fresh home cooked pies we of course couldn’t resist stopping for a bite first. While sitting in the car savouring one of Aunt Millie’s notorious pies, we were surrounded by the most breath-taking view around us.

Back on the road the excitement of seeing an old friend and the fact that I was on the open road again was exactly why I loved driving through the countryside. Being on the open road always gives me a sense of freedom which you don’t experience much when living in the city. There’s nothing rushing you to simply get from A to B, but taking your time to appreciate what most people just take for granted in their rush. Road tripping is not about the destination, but the journey.

A whale of a time…

When we eventually reached Hermanus we were greeted with what I despise most, traffic. Tourists like us coming to town for the Whale festival. Luckily it wasn’t too hectic, unlike rushour traffic in the big cities. After we had found parking we waited at the local pub for Michelle to come and join us. She soon joined us and we toasted to the good life. After catching up a bit we moved down to the beach front for some whale watching. Every year the whales migrate down to the Cape waters for their breeding season, giving us much entertainment as they do their bit of showing off. The whales get up close in the bay and each view of a tail or a fin causes much excitement for everyone watching them from the shore. How lucky one feels to be part of what must be such a little part of their lives.

After much time spent simply enjoying the view of the whales we moved on to the festivities that were happening in town. There were flea markets and beer gardens, children playing around with painted faces and balloons, and music playing on the speakers for everyone’s enjoyment. The atmosphere was infectious, everybody seemed happy.

Continuing our journey…

After spending two more days in Hermanus, catching up with Michelle, sharing jokes and more whale-watching, Greg and I were soon on the road again. We took the long road back towards the Cape winelands. I was quite the happy snapper when Greg was driving. I was taking a lot of photos, but being the amateur photographer I am, it almost felt like an injustice to the beauty of the winelands. You can’t really capture the essence of what you experience when looking at such breathtaking views. We stopped at what seemed like every little shop on the side of the road, taking our time to simply enjoy the splendour surrounding us. We took every dirt road and steered clear of any highways. We didn’t set schedules and didn’t book any accommodation beforehand, because this is not what a road trip should be about. It is about enjoying whatever comes your way and being spontaneous!