Awhile back I began to develop an idea of riding my bike from Wellington on the R44 to Piketberg up on the N7. And of course, riding it back for a round trip of just over 200 kilometres. This would require accommodation and a quick search on the great interweb led to a stay at the Foxenburg Estate in the rustic hills of Wellington. This family run farm produces and sells goats milk cheese and cold pressed olive oil and has tours of the pressing and milking facilities.
The self catering cottages are of good size with excellent fire places - a welcome feature in the heart of a cape winter. A more than ample supply of cut-to-size wood was provided, free of charge, by the friendly farm staff.
Goats, chickens, roosters and peacocks and a horse named Tony were our daily companions as we ambled about the farm, which offers highly challenging trail running and a well maintained network of dirt roads for mountain biking.
As for my cycling adventures - The rain was heavy. The roads were wet. Piketberg became a fading idea as roads with no shoulder and massive amounts of heavy goods vehicles passing by within inches of my mud splattered face saw me dismount in the small town of Gouda. Here I waited for my wife and a warm car and a very welcome return to a hot shower, a hot fireplace, and the warm embrace of the Foxenburg Estate.