Cape Town - Route 62 is without a doubt one of my favourite drives. It’s a scenic alternative to the congested N2, offering stunning landscapes that rise up over the hills and around the bends as it winds through diverse regions.
I recently got to cruise along this road in the style, like a movie star of yesteryear in a 1956 Cadillac de Ville.
I was in Montagu adjudicating the dance section of a youth festival when I spied this vintage automobile stately parked outside the well-known Art Deco masterpiece and charming Montagu Country Hotel (MCH) where I happened to be staying.
Upon hearing that the Cadillac was up for hire, a good friend and co-adjudicator Fabulous Fiona and I swiftly booked the ol’ girl and discovered that there’s no better way to scope out the town and take a drive along the route. It’s a slow, unhurried drive that matches the laid-back pace of country life.
It would be remiss of me not to give you the low down on this magnificent vehicle. A four-door hard-top in sky blue, it’s the epitome of style and luxury, a grand dame with an engine that purrs and thrums right into your chest. This “caddy”, like so many of the classic cars of its era, begins with the signature ornament on the hood and ends with the sharp tail fins on her rear – a masterpiece from start to finish. The body is curvaceous and easy on the eye, with shiny chrome finishes, big headlamps, fancy air intakes, soft leather seats, a huge steering wheel, and fancy trims and emblems on the sides. The interior is incredibly spacious, so much so that my attempt to touch the dashboard with my toe from the rear seat was totally unsuccessful, so this is clearly also a great car for tallies. It comfortably seats five passengers but a group of four is recommended for the hotel’s excursions – three at the back and one up front next to the chauffeur.
The ’56 Cadillac is a dreamy ride, a throwback to the days when it was understood that there was no rush to get anywhere. Back in the day I’d have stepped out of the car wearing a slinky emerald green dress, gloves, a plume hat and a lot of attitude.
On the beautiful mild winter morning of our outing, the hotel’s general manager PJ Basson was the designated driver. He knows so much about the town, the area and its history and made for the perfect tour guide. We glided through Montagu, with a smile and a wave, taking in vineyards, valleys, old homesteads, new villas, vast estates and fruit orchards, and then drove out of the village up until that famous hole in the rock on the Kogmans-kloof road that links Montagu and Ashton.
The hole is known by many as the gateway to the Klein Karoo. It was blasted into existence in the late 1800s by Thomas Bain, a South African road engineer born in 1830, who literally moved mountains to create close to 900km of roads and passes back then.
Basson shared interesting facts about the various peaks that are found in the Langeberg mountains flanking the route that runs 250km in length from Worcester, past Robertson, Montagu, Swellendam, Heidelberg and Riversdale to George.
He showed us the jagged peak that resembles a woman in profile, lying on her back, and also pointed out the highest peak on the one side of Montagu called Bloupunt, which, when clouded over, means rain is coming, according to the locals. The great thing about this excursion is that you get to stop whenever you want during the hour long the tour – so you’re free to take pictures, ask questions and use those 60 minutes at your leisure.
There’s a lot to be said about Montagu itself. It was founded in 1851 and named after former secretary of the Cape Colony, John Montagu, and there’s lots to do as well. A historical walk (book through Montagu Tourism) down Long and Bath Street shows off the fishtail gables, thatch, “broekielace”, and fanlights of no fewer than 14 national monuments – old homes in Victorian, Cape Georgian, neo Gothic and Cape Dutch architecture, dating back to the mid-1800s. Nature lovers can opt for hikes and walks, the more adventurous can go quad-biking or cycling, and foodies can indulge in wonderful dishes at Ye Olde Tavern, the Kloof Padstal, the Montagu Country Hotel (their lamb shank is delicious) and Die Boord. Browse in quaint vintage stores like the Diva Dressing Room at Church Corner, visit the Saturday morning market, the Montagu Museum (comprising Joubert House, Old Mission Church and the KWV Building Complex), the Nature Garden and the art galleries, or head for the hot mineral springs to languish in the soothing waters.
There are more than 50 wine cellars in the Montagu area and they say Route 62 has the longest wine route in the country. So it goes without saying that a wine tour is a must, and many of the locally cultivated brands will impress the most discerning of connoisseurs. Montagu-produced “takeaways”, other than the nectar of the gods, include olives and olive oil, dried fruit and nuts, honey, rusks, rose geranium products and preserves.
Montagu is 183km from Cape Town, so head out to the Klein Karoo for some springtime country rejuvenation and, once there, book a ride in the Cadillac. You can thank me afterwards.
Weekend Argus