Early Morning at the Car Service
March 17th was an early start. I arrived at the car place at quarter to 7, before they even opened up. Everything was as promised. Adrian, one of the bosses, gave me a ride into town — about 3 or 4 kilometers — to a great place to sit down and have a coffee. He said he’d pick me up again once they’d finished investigating the entire car.
Good News and a Pleasant Walk
Around 10:15, Adrian called to let me know that everything checked out as expected. It was just a matter of changing out filters and getting the necessary parts, with the work expected to be completed within a few hours. I decided to walk the 3 to 4 kilometers back toward the garage rather than wait. Despite some morning rain, the weather was pleasant, and I was undercover during the rain, so it worked out fine.
Discovering On Foot Roastery
Along the way, I stumbled upon On Foot Roastery, a seemingly new coffee roastery that also had a coffee bar on-site. Most roasteries probably don’t have a bar, but this one did, which made for a nice stop. I had planned to visit a mall, but the car was nearly done, so I walked back to the garage instead. Adrian insisted I shouldn’t walk — “”it’s too far”” — but I walked anyway and enjoyed it.
Car Service Complete
It took a little more time to wrap things up, handle the remaining details, and pay the bill. The car also got a thorough wash with everything included. It turned out to be a really good experience overall. I was able to leave close to 2 o’clock, which gave me time to get cracking and head further east.
Arriving in Port Alfred
I drove all the way to Port Alfred, which turned out to be a really lovely town. I found an Airbnb called Pavilion, and it came with some wonderful surprises. First, there was a garage I could use — the owner moved his own car out so I could park in it, and it was tall enough for my extra-tall vehicle at 2.40 meters. They also pointed me to Guido’s restaurant on the beach, which was very worthwhile and a great dining experience.
Meeting Rob and Marianne
When I came back from dinner, we had a little wine together. It turned out that the owners, Rob and Marianne, had some fascinating connections. Marianne was born in Dordrecht in the Netherlands, which instantly created a bond. They’ve been running their bed and breakfast for about 16 years, though they won’t be doing it much longer.
A Connection to Namibia and Sesriem
Before Port Alfred, Rob and Marianne had spent 15 years in Namibia near Sesriem — a place I had visited with Gert-Jong. They ran a property on 13,000 hectares that was 90 km by road to Sesriem but only 40 km if you flew. By the time they left, it had grown into a 9-bedroom accommodation, and they had even built their own airstrip. They showed me documentation from their time there. It was an absolutely special place.
Another Great Night on the Road
There was so much to talk about, and Rob and Marianne were equally interested in what I was doing on my journey. It was another fantastic evening — you just can’t make this stuff up. Thanks for coming along, and we’ll see you tomorrow.
