Day 18: Rest Day in Swellendam

Total Distance Covered: 1,823 km
Distance Remaining: 187 km

Ryan and Ikumi cooked us a delicious breakfast and we were able to relax all morning which was a great change of schedule! Over the last few days, we’ve been able to cover a greater distance than we had mapped out, so we were able to take today off.

So…after hiking over 1,800 kilometers, what does one do on their rest day? HIKE SOME MORE! We spent the whole day playing tourist and walking all over the beautiful city of Swellendam, the third oldest city in South Africa after Cape Town and Stellenbosch. We checked out the local art galleries and shops, admired the gorgeous old architecture, and we found the perfect bag for Kelly and the girls tried on matching outfits.

We headed up to the berry farms at the base of the mountain and had a great time raiding the blackberry bushes…the area was stunningly beautiful!

While the day was mostly one of rest and relaxation, we were still quite productive. Around 5:00 this evening, Keegan gave a great interview on Cape Talk Radio – spreading our message throughout the Western Cape!

We’ve been really lucky to have received great media coverage throughout the hike…especially with radio stations. Ryan, Ikumi and Kelly were interviewed on Kaya FM in Johannesburg. Ruan was interviewed on RSG, the primary Afrikaans radio station covering the entire country. And now Keegan’s covered the Western Cape with Cape Talk Radio.

We spent the night at the stunning Athenian Villa Bed & Breakfast (www.athenianvilla.co.za) in Caledon, a town famous for its natural hot water springs. It was an amazing place and the Caledon Rotary Club made us feel right at home. Thanks Peter & Carol!