Road Trippin

For those of us who have followed our dreams and were brave enough to venture out with no real agenda, other than to live and grow through experience, we've been fortunate to learn that there’s more to life than daily routine. We realise that everything we dream about is right here on our doorstep.

 

This is what happened to some friends who packed their bags and said, “Let's go!” What followed was an amazing adventure that none of them had expected or planned. This story is about their experiences, and is intended to paint a picture of what may be encountered during life on the road.

 

A group of eight mates got together in Johannesburg from where they road tripped in two cars to Cape Town and then along the coast to Jeffreys Bay. Meet 'the guys': Australian James Meyers; Sean Erasmus, who has lived in Australia for two years; Dylan Benson, who has also lived overseas for a year; and local lads Gabriel le Roux, Andrew le Roux (Stoltz), Michael Tout (Tout), Daniel Schlebusch (Mr Muscles) and Michael Schlebusch (Busch). Equipped with tents, sandboards and supplies, they hit the road.

 

A group of eight mates got together in Johannesburg from where they road tripped in two cars to Cape Town and then along the coast to Jeffreys Bay. Meet 'the guys': Australian James Meyers; Sean Erasmus, who has lived in Australia for two years; Dylan Benson, who has also lived overseas for a year; and local lads Gabriel le Roux, Andrew le Roux (Stoltz), Michael Tout (Tout), Daniel Schlebusch (Mr Muscles) and Michael Schlebusch (Busch). Equipped with tents, sandboards and supplies, they hit the road.

 

Long roads were made short with good music and even better company, and after an overnight stop along the way, they arrived at Contermanskloof Farm, Durbanville, for a four-day-long trance festival known as Rezonance. With a theme centred on transformation and a line-up of more than 50 of the nation’s hottest local psytrance, progressive, techno, dub and electronica overlords, it was guaranteed to be one big party right from the start. Unable to spend the first night at the venue due to security reasons, they went to Llandudno Beach for an afternoon of relaxation and fun. Early the next morning, they headed to Muizenberg to take in the sunrise and do a bit of surfing and bodyboarding before heading back to Rezonance. When surfing, no wave is the same, and one learns to appreciate and make the most of this ever-changing experience. Much like life, one learns to love the moment for all it has to offer.

 

As the festival got underway, the DJs enthusiastically thumped out their sounds and there was stomping all around. Over the next four days, the nights were spent enjoying the eclectic mix of people, jamming and dancing, while the days were spent tanning, surfing, bodyboarding and just taking pleasure in the absolute beauty and power of the ocean.
As daylight welcomed in a fresh new day, the party came to an end and a different adventure was waiting to unfold. It was destination Betty’s Bay for the next two days, with a night in Kleinmond. Betty's Bay is a fifty-minute drive from Cape Town as you head east along the coast. It is one of South Africa's largest heritage sites and home to some of the most incredible dunes around.

 

What had started out as a perfect second day in Betty’s Bay was turning out to be not so perfect. Busch had been stung by a bee upon leaving Rezonance and his foot ballooned as a result of an allergic reaction and had to be taken to the hospital in Hermanus for treatment. Just as one crisis was averted, a new one revealed itself and involved reversing the other car into a pole. Thankfully there was little damage and all was laughed off. After an eventful day, accommodation for the night was either in the car or in a cave on Gansbaai Beach. Sleeping in the mouth of a cave just 20 metres above the roar of the ocean, whilst it was raining, turned out to be one of the most amazing and tranquil experiences for the guys.

 

Bidding Gansbaai farewell, the group headed to Franskraal, where they had a fantastic time kite flying and swimming in the ocean. Their next stop was Cape Agulhas, the most southern-most point of Africa, and where you'll find South Africa's second oldest lighthouse. They then travelled to Struisbaai, a small coastal settlement in the Overberg region and after finding a free campsite, it was time for an awesome game of soccer that was played within 10 metres of the sea.

 

The next morning, they headed to Stilbaai, stopping along the way at Waenhuiskrans, a fishing town also known as Arniston. The scenery here is gobsmackingly beautiful and sandboarding on the beach exhilarating.

 

With cameras out and a small jump on the slope, GoneSkiing sponsored snowboarder, Andrew Le Roux, threw down some tricks that made for some picturesque photographs. The rest of the day was spent sandboarding and bumboarding, all done with due care for the natural environment. Andrew summed it up nicely when he said, "Leave only carve marks and footprints." Dinner, at the lagoon in Stilbaai, was a festive occasion with some locals, and by the end of the evening, new friendships and connections for the future had been made. They then set up their tents on a remote beach to end off another great day.

 

With a stopover in Knysna for lunch, next up was Plettenberg Bay. Booking into a backpackers on the main street, they spent a chilled afternoon on the beach. Jumping off the Bloukrans Bridge early the next morning was a definite highlight of the trip. At a height of 216 metres above the ground, it is the world's highest bridge bungee and a serious adrenalin rush. A sure attraction if you are ever in the area. The next three days were spent enjoying the peacefulness of the beach and recharging batteries for the remainder of their stay in Plett.

 

On the way to Jeffreys Bay, the group stopped to explore the beautiful Tsitsikamma Forest. A 45-minute hike through the lush environment led them to the top of a magnificent waterfall that flowed into the sea. Like kids in a candy store, everyone enthusiastically took their turn jumping straight over the face of the waterfall into the gurgling pool below. The serene splendour of Mother Nature had worked her healing magic, as everyone agreed how great they felt during and after the walk.

 

Jeffreys Bay was the final stop and Island Vibe backpackers became a temporary home. Island Vibe is a party place and has many international guests staying there, so no travelling was necessary to find entertaining company. Their stay in J-Bay consisted of visiting the beach, surfing this world-renowned surfing destination and generally taking things easy during the days, whilst meeting new people and living it up in the evenings. Andrew pointed out that J-Bay is home to a number of surfing schools and the constant swells along this stretch of coastline make it the ideal spot for beginner or aspiring surfers.

 

Touring on a tight budget didn't mean that the guys enjoyed their trip any less, proving that having a good time and staying healthy does not need to be costly. It's all about planning wisely and packing things like a soccer ball, frisbee, some kites and a slack line (a tight rope used to balance on), provided entertainment and minimised costs. Music made the driving seem a breeze and a portable speaker meant that it was accessible anywhere. Two Canon 60D cameras captured everything, allowing the experienced photographers to bring the holiday home to share with everyone. All in all, when the petrol, food and drinks costs were split between them, each person did not spend more than R5 000 for the two weeks. One tip though for anyone planning to do a trip like this is to pack a first aid kit, tow rope and jumper cables.

 

Having been on the road for two glorious weeks, it was time to head back home with open eyes and a completely fresh perspective on the value of life. Many beneficial life lessons had been learnt and the breathtaking sights, meeting new people, being in touch with nature and having loads of fun with great friends had all combined to create one unforgettable holiday. So if you're thinking of going on your own road trip, it's time to stop thinking and start doing.

 

dinFO:

A community Facebook group has been created for the continued sharing of this holiday. Be sure to like the page 'SA Road Trippin' and you are welcome to share your similar stories and photographs, as well as any ideas on the page.