November 9: Cogmannskloop Gorge to Breede River Valley and Stellenbosch

With the weather perfect it is a quick ride over the mountains and down into the Breede River Valley. The area is known for being the largest fruit and wine producing valley in the Western Cape, as well as South Africa's leading race-horse breeding area. The temperature is slowly rising so the goal of the group is to make it to the large vineyard, Van Lovern for lunch and a wine and chocolate tasting treat. The route this time is on paved roads so the going is much faster and easier. A beautiful tree lined avenue greets the riders as they approach the vineyard.

After a glorious afternoon in the beautiful gardens of the winery, the group vans up and over one more pass to the second oldest town in South Africa, Stellenbosch. The town became known as the City of Oaks or Eikestad in Afrikaans and Dutch language due to the large number of oak trees that were planted by its founder, Simon van der Stel to grace the streets and homesteads.

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