Did a whole 116km today and it took me 4 hours.Did a whole 116km today and it took me 4 hours. Left Paternoster at 9-30 in the fog, was hoping for sunshine but there you go. Headed for Vredenburg and the secondhand bookshop but realized I had all the gear on the bike and no where safe to park up so left it and headed on to Langebaan. Stopped for a cuppa and got chatting to a couple on pushbikes from Belgium, 3 years they have been peddling - respect. Say they have nothing back where they came from so no point in going back.
Then headed off through the West Coast National Park, locals pay 20 rand us foreigner's 60 Rand, said I was a pensioner so got it for local rate. Well its true I am in receipt of a pension. Toodled along as there were signs saying think of me with a tortoise on them. Saw one in the middle of the road, stopped but before I had the camera out of my pocket it was gone. Carried on with camera hanging off wrist at 20kmh until I saw another one quarter of the way across the road, stopped, hazards on, grabbed camera and he was across the road on the kerb. Slow, they break the speed limit. Other than that a few ostriches and a very impressive lagoon.
Out of the park and rolled down the main road at 80kmh (not in a hurry today), saw a sign saying Darling so turned off as it rang a bell and no-one has ever called me that.
Got there and it is the first town in South Africa I have seen all races walking about and NO security fences, doors, gates etc. Stopped at a Guest house and they said sleep with the windows open (no burglar bars) as long as you are in the room no problem but lock the bike in the back yard behind the gate, do not want anyone playing with it. It was only 1km from the shops and 100m from the museum.
Stops for lunch between 1 and 2 so went and found a bar that did food and broke my rule, beer at 1-15 with a salad and then back to the museum. Mainly about butter production and some agricultural machines.
Back at 4 and sat by the pool reading, water was way too cold to get in.
They have a local little brewery so will try one of the local brew before bed, safe to walk down there for one as everyone does, all very happy and cheerful. Great little place is Darling.