Life After The Great Trek

Our gut is our best guide to what’s good and what’s dire. We’ve been incredibly fortunate on this journey, with all the pieces falling into place. For us, that's a good sign we’re on the right track. Anyway, that’s how I see it. This time, the dealer is on our side. 

Exhausted after weeks of getting our lives back in order, Butch offered me the chance to choose a destination for a short getaway. He knew there was no need to ask twice. The Karoo in winter was the obvious choice, inspiring us to embrace new adventures and encouraging you to explore this beautiful region too.

I yearned to return to Prince Albert and Nieu Bethesda, knowing that a slow meander through the passes would inspire others to explore these gems.

While I packed a few essentials, Butch fetched our truck. I showed all the signs of a teenager in love! Racing heart and clenching stomach. I could sense them trundling down the street long before Butch parked. She was the best sight on a blustery day.

Chop-chop, we packed and set off for Worcester; we'd been so busy we hadn't realised we'd skipped lunch. At Botrivier, we turned off to fill up the Badger with diesel. I mopped over to the Ou Meul Farm stall and ordered Butternut soup for me and Tomato soup for Butch, both served with crispy, toasted, home-baked sourdough. A few weeks earlier, I'd bought delicious roosterkoek there. The deli stocks a wide range of interesting local produce, has gorgeous woven items, serves excellent coffee, and sells sweet-smelling bunches of fynbos. This will be one of my favourite quick pit stops.

We arrived at Uitvlugt Guesthouse, a perfect overnight stop just off the N1, providing a cosy base for exploring Worcester and beyond.

After setting up our camp, we strolled around the vineyard and garden. The owner, Helêne de Wet, is an old friend whose impeccable attention to detail extends from the guesthouse to the campsite.

While we enjoyed sundowners on the veranda of her Cape Dutch homestead, the light in the Heksvalley coloured the autumn sky. Paul barbecued a succulent rack of lamb.

This trip would mark our first “outing” in retirement! The idea was to rediscover favourite spots we had visited, with no agenda, no time limits, no return date, and no itinerary. This was, of course, a theoretical pipe dream.

As far as I know, there are no overnight stops along the N1 between Cape Town and Beaufort West, and Uitvlugt Guesthouse and Campsite is the perfect stop. It is situated a kilometre off the N1. Helene makes guests’ safety a priority, ensuring campers can stay overnight and sleep peacefully. I can recommend Uitvlugt Guesthouse and Campsite without hesitation.

After coffee and rusks, we set off the next morning. It is obligatory to make frequent stops on a road trip to support the many small businesses and farm stalls along the way.

There was no question we wouldn’t stop for Roosterkoek in Laingsburg, where we would stock up on droëwors, biltong, and chilli bites. We planned to travel light, shopping at local markets for fresh, seasonal produce and homemade delicacies. We were, after all, in the Karoo, home to the best lamb and where preserves and jams rank among the highest in the country.

In Prince Albert, the jewel in the Karoo’s crown, we stopped for afternoon tea and carrot cake. As we enjoyed our deliciously nutty, moist cake with the smoothest cream cheese icing, a friendly visitor pointed out that our lights were on. Not only that, he knew about our battery woes and thought we should sort out potential problems before the weekend. The surprise on our faces must have been obvious, because he quickly added that he reads my blogs and follows our adventures! I was utterly taken aback and forgot to introduce ourselves. I was on a high for the rest of the day, and Butch had to take over all duties while I massaged my swollen head!

The guy checking out Honey Badger’s undercarriage is also the proud owner of an AC Motorhome build. While Butch settled the bill, I proudly shared her vital statistics as we compared notes.

We set off for Bushman’s Valley, near the village on the other side of the picturesque Swartberg Pass. We spent one night there before heading to De Rust. I’m happy to report that life has returned to near normality after the Great Trek.

Uitvlugt Guesthouse and Campsite: