A bike made for 2...

Why hire a car when you can reminisce about the good old days of travel by enjoying the Cape Point Route in a vintage sidecar?

The saying goes “it’s the journey that counts, not the destination”. To this we can add “it’s the transport that makes the journey”.

And one of the best modes of transport is by vintage motorbike and sidecar. This sedate form of transport will give you celebrity status and the drives around the Cape Point Route are best experienced by the sights, sounds and smells of traveling in an open vehicle.

If ever there is a reason to take the long route, Boyes Drive is it. The road cuts a path on the mountainside above the towns of Muizenberg, St. James and Kalk Bay, with most of the drive above human settlement. By sidecar the route is best enjoyed if traveling from the Muizenberg side as the sidecar is on the left and the passenger is lower than the motorcycle rider. There are spectacular views of False Bay you won’t want to miss with numerous places to stop. Look out for the shark spotters on the road and the hardy surfers balancing on the waves below you.

As you descend into Kalk Bay you will be sure to get a friendly thumbs-up and countless waves from the passing traffic as they marvel at this old-style form of transport. The traditional route to Cape Point travels through Fish Hoek and Simon’s Town towards the the gate at Cape Point and although the journey is mind blowingly beautiful with mountains on your right and ocean to your left, we recommend trying the Red Hill Route.

Turn right up Red Hill just before Simon’s Town. It’s quite a steep climb but there is a fabulous look out spot which is well worth the stop if only to enjoy the spectacular view of Simon’s Town and the naval dockyard. About 1 km further on is a sign indicating the grave of Just Nuisance (a famous Great Dane dog in the SA Navy). Once you cross over the ridge you’ll have some hairpin bends on the descent to the Atlantic seaboard. Look out for the curio menagerie at the road junction where the road forks – left to the Cape Point Nature Reserve and right to Scarborough, Kommetjie and Noordhoek.

Both directions have their own variations of breathtaking ocean scenery and each village has a pearly beach with its own pocket of solitude and unique character. If you stop for lunch rest assured that your “Victorian lady” sidecar will bring the locals out to talk.

Natural beauty is reason enough to journey on the Cape Point Route, with a mountaineous national park framed by the Atlantic and Indian Oceans in a picture perfect image.

For more information on attractions, activities, restaurants and places to stay on the Cape Point Route please visit: www.capepointroute.co.za