Garden Route via the N1

Garden route N1 by motorbike: from Cape Town to Worcester to Ashton to Swellendam to Mossel Bay to Knysna and finally ending in Pletternberg Bay.

As you head out of Cape Town on the N1 and you head up the freeway, you will see the ocean in your mirrors along with Table Mountain. A great place to stop before you really hit your road trip is the N1 Engen so that you can fill up with fuel and possibly hook up with other mates who tend to meet there before heading off in their own direction.

Just a few kilometers out of Cape Town, one gets to the Du Toits Kloof Mountain Pass. Of course the motorists go via the Hugenot Tunnel, but the bikers prefer to go over the pass. The roads are sublime, with great sweeping bends.

Once through the pass you head on toward Worcester with some hair raising top speed corners. Not that you have that much time to look at the view as you are holding on to the handle bars, but it is really a breathtaking site, with the larger than life mountains surrounding you on either side.

At Worcester you can stop for a warm cup of coffee before heading on through toward Robertson.

The town of Robertson is known for the manufacture of spices. It is only a couple of kms from Worcester.

Not too long thereafter you reach Ashton. This town is known for canning of fruit. As you are about to exit the town there is garage on your right-hand side, where you can grab something to eat, while filling up with fuel. I really would advise that you fill your bike up in Ashton, as Swellendam is a further 60kms away from Ashton.

The trip from Ashton to Swellendam is just wow.! There are passes that are just to die for. It is quite a nice quick ride through farmland and wine farms with the occasional farm stall. But at the speeds you get through here, there is no time to stop to buy something at a farm stall.

I would suggest that if you have time on your hands, to do the Ashton leg a couple of times.

Swellendam is a great place to stop to get a bite to eat and a small refreshment.

Unfortunately after Swellendam through to Mossel Bay there is nothing to write home about. The road is pretty straight and just seems to go and on. On the bright side, you need to rest your wrists after all the earlier twists and turns, so it is maybe a blessing in disguise.

Enjoy!

Wayne

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