Roadtrip: N1 to Cape Town in a new way…

So many times have i traveled the N1 from Johannesburg to Cape Town, yes sometimes it was a nice trip but the destinations was always the most important. Yesterday was different, a whole lot different and in a moment the long, straight, tiring road become something from a different world.

RoadTrip!!!

Early yesterday morning i left from Bothaville in the Free State quite early. the road ahead of me and the ipod playing at full blast. singing to the 90′s!! A roadtrip needs good music, that’s the most important aspect and from there on everything will just flow.

My first stop is in bloemfontein, here i meet Benjamin – he’s the petrol attendant and when i greet him on his name he smiles. a great big good morning! smile. and just here my day and his are a whole lot better. This is then step one of a better trip on the N1. meet at least one petrol attendant. i met a few and this mundane job has a bunch of really friendly people doing it.

after bloemfontein i decide not to take the obvious route, not to only stop at the usual colesberg, beaufort west, laingsburg and then Cape Town. i decide to skip the usual big petrol stations and actually go into the towns to get that cup of coffee and fill up the car. you’d be amazed at what you’d find.

on the N1 there are other towns, smaller ones that have great people and great places to sit and enjoy a cup. I meet people. i take a ride through the towns, it is going to take me the whole day anyway so what does an extra 10 minutes make.

There are towns such as Richmont that has huge libraries and the festival of words, every few kilometers there is something else to see. these towns are alive and they love sharing a smile topped with some conversation.

Younis was such a person. She serves me filter coffee in a plunger. enough coffee for three cups and she smiles. she’s been working here for 6 years and the loneliness of the road is taken away by her cheerful conversation.

I meet the toll road payment assistant, estelle, my card doesn’t work and she guides me to where i can draw cash. when i bring her a bottle of coke she smiles and for a moment we become best friends.

So next time on the highway choose to do it differently, choose to see some of the other towns and take it slow because at the end of the day you reach your destination so much more relaxed.

for a good road trip you need:

1. good music (i chose 90′s classics, always a winner)

2. stop at towns that you haven’t stopped at before, you don’t need to stop more often just new places.

3. make friends with a petrol attendant. they are interesting people, just imagine how many people the see and meet every day, they have some funny stories.

4. instead of just stopping and filling up. drive into the town and sit down for that coffee. the coffee is better and the conversation is great.

5. just take a ride through the town in which you stop. they’re small. it will take you 5 minutes. but these towns are so incredibly beautiful that you can’t miss it!!

Happy traveling!!