We checked out of the lovely Bird’s Cottage after another excellent breakfast ready for the next leg of our journey and set off for Mossel Bay on the R328 (88km). The route was another stunning drive up and over the mountains with incredible views around every corner and we even got held up by a troop of Baboons in the road at one point!
Our initial thoughts on arriving in Mossel Bay were ones of disappointment as we were expecting a surfers paradise but found it to be incredibly built up and industrial. It was also the first time this trip that we were stuck in traffic for a bit. However once we got through the industrial sector to the centre it did turn into a charming seaside town.
We then joined the R2 which signalled the start of the Garden Route and which would take us all the way to Plettenberg Bay (another 140km) past the towns of George, Wilderness and Knysna.
We quickly passed George and chose to stop in Wilderness for a light lunch at the Ilali restaurant. Becky’s mum had stayed in Wilderness when she was 17 having taken a boat from England all the way for 3 weeks to Cape Town so it was nice to follow her footsteps nearly 70 years later! We picked up some groceries from the local spa and got back on R2.
The scenery was lovely and you can see why it is called the Garden Route. I imagine its even more spectacular in the spring/summer when everything is in full bloom. We made swift progress and passed through Knysna which was a favourite place of my parents when they came a few years ago. Shortly afterwards we arrived in Plettenberg Bay and found the Fynbos Ridge Country House and Clivia Cottage, our accommodation for the next 4 nights. The views are stunning over the valley from our patio and we feel like we are in the middle of nowhere.
After settling in, we headed into the centre of Plettenberg Bay and had a walk along the beach. There were lots of warnings about sharks and there was also a Shark Bite First Aid kit available which was interesting!
After a brief stroll in the sand, we headed into town and had a lovely meal at Nineteen 89 which the girls loved as it is the name of a Taylor Swift album (and it had incredible milkshakes!).
Load shedding was due to start at 10pm so we returned to our cottage promptly to get ourselves sorted for bed and write this blog before the electricity cuts out!
The Perry’s Travel Blog 