Day 1 of the Garden Route

Today Grandpa, Grandma and I started our journey along the Garden Route to Capetown. It was fun and exciting to get out of Port Elizabeth to see some new sights and to take in the environmentally diverse coastal region of beaches, mountains and farmland. We took the N2 freeway out of Port Elizabeth and drove an hour or two until lunchtime, where we stopped in Jeffrey's Bay, a beautiful surfers haven, known as the South African Surf capital. The Billabong Factory is in "J-Bay", as well as the annual Billabong surf tournament.

We had lunch at a really cute cafe, the Lavender Cafe. Grandma and I had tea, Grandma having English Breakfast, and myself having Slimming Red Tea. The tea pots were totally awesome. Although Grandpa had coffee, he agreed the tea pots were pretty cool, and bought one to bring back to the States.The tea pot is clear glass, with a loose tea tube that goes into the pot for the tea leaves to seep. The tea pot is set on a base that has a tea light candle in it, which keeps the tea hot. A sand/salt hourglass timer comes out with it so you know when your tea is done. For our meals, Grandma had vegetable stir fry cous cous and Grandpa and I had seafood stew. The meal came with a basket of really good bread. For dessert we had what I will call a sweet biscuit-I left official names of everything we ate in the car. It was a fried fritter, glazed in honey and chilled.

After lunch, we drove onward, stopping of to view the dramatic river valley of the Storm's River. It was here, that we ran across the director of my department where I am interning. The world sure can be a small place. Thankfully, he suggested we stop next at Tsitsikamma National Park, where the river meets the ocean. He told us he feels that the area is the most beautiful place in all of South Africa. It was indeed! Huge crashing waves and stirring water set against the lush moutain side.

After Tsitsikamma, we drove onward to Plettenburg Bay, another stunning coastal view, and then on to Knysna, where we have stopped for the night. Here in Knysna we are staying at a hotel, which Grandpa says reminds him of a lodge in the Rocky Mountains. We had dinner at a rib joint across the street from the hotel. Grandpa and I had racks of ribs, and Grandma had chicken schnitzel. After dinner, Grandma and I faced off at cribbage, and she again won the series. After a full days driving along the Garden Route, we are all tired, but looking forward to what tomorrow's drive will bring!