South Africa > Overweight during Sinterklaas

We leave Knysna and drive along the N9 toward Cape Town, where we will arrive tomorrow. The route takes us along the Garden Route. In Mossel Bay, we stop at the Dias Museum. The museum houses a replica of the ship Bartolomeu Dias used when he reached Africa in 1487. It also features the 500-year-old Post Office Tree, where letters were placed to be picked up by the next ship back to Europe. In Swellendam, we stop for lunch at The Old Gaol House. In this restaurant, the black staff members are part-owners—a worthwhile project to support. After lunch, we stop at the Spar in Swellendam to stock up on supplies for the braai. Tonight is the last evening with Gerhardt. The days in Cape Town are free to plan. As we leave Swellendam, the police direct us to the weighbridge.

South Africa - Police check the bus and we are found to be overloaded

The bus is apparently too heavy to continue. Strange, since it isn’t even completely full yet. The pressure on the rear wheels is high. Gerhardt and Hofard are busy discussing and making calls while the police measure the bus. Meanwhile, we amuse ourselves by watching really heavy trucks being weighed. Progress is slow. Eventually, a separate minibus is arranged, and eight people transfer into it. When the bus goes over the weighbridge again, it is still too heavy. Only when everyone sits in the front does it just barely pass. This doesn’t make sense! A few kilometers later, the minibus stops, and everyone returns to the big bus. With a two-hour delay, we continue to Hoop National Park, a coastal nature reserve. We have four-person cottages here. We quickly start the barbecue since we brought quite a lot of meat. Since today is December 5th and our last evening together, we play the Sinterklaas dice game. Everyone has bought a gift worth about 50 Rand. By rolling the dice, gifts can change owners. When the alarm goes off after roughly three-quarters of an hour, the gift belongs to the person holding it. This leads to plenty of hilarity.