We strongly considered splitting the day into two shorter stretches, but were unable to find any halfway accommodation. Also, we were already 3 days behind schedule as a result of our rest days and the shorter days we did after Oudtshoorn during the heat wave, so we decided to push through.
Traffic was really bad all the way, with cars and trucks speeding in all directions, making the days walk quite a nerve-wracking experience. It's interesting how weird people react to you around the bigger cities, as opposed to the deeper rural areas - people are much less open and inviting, instead appearing almost threatened by your presence. Big city paranoia, I guess...
Aside from the traffic stress, the days walk was most uneventful. We made a quick winetasting stop at Rooiberg, with lunch being a full-sun affair due to the complete lack of shade / picnic spots along the way. We planned to walk until 19:00 (by which time we were hoping to be in Worcester) and to then phone our host for the night, Neil from Da Rooms B&B, to come fetch us. However, due to the impending darkness and the fact that we entered the town via a fairly dodgy informal settlement & gangster area, Neil arrived a little bit sooner to take us past the problem areas to our overnight spot at Da Rooms. (Thanks, Neil!!)
Earlier in the day, we had a quick roadside chat to a guy called Robert. Much was our suprise, upon arriving at Da Rooms, to find Robert awaiting us, and offering us dinner at a local restaurant. Though we were dead tired, we obliged, and it ended up being quite an amusing evening.
Turns out Robert is more or less Mr Vespa in SA, having started a few clubs, driven just about everywhere in the country (barefoot, apparently...) on one of his (4!) Vespa's, and even being featured in Weg Magazine.
His next challenge is the 8 passes of the Drakensberg, including Sani Pass before it gets tarred. Should be quite a epic trip!!
And so another day came to an end with an unexpected twist in the tail.
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