Day, 13

Say thirteen
Wednesday 29th January 2020
Current position
Robertson Backpackers
4 Dordrecht Avenue
Robertson 6705
South Africa
S 33°47.81136'
E 19°53.46798'
Good news it seems to be hot and sunny every day now.
Today we did our longest trip in the car so far a total of 203 kilometres to a town called Robertson.
We didn't realise yesterday but when we arrived in Oudtshoorn we had ony just started Route 62. Today the road was longer and straighter than we've been use to and the surface was silky smooth.
Traffic's a word that can't appear in the South African dictionary. There just isn't any. On Route 62 as far as the eye could see there wasn't one single car or truck. It sounds silly but the roads are too straight to overtake. When behind the occasional truck the road ahead is obscured you need the occasional bend to be able to see round and you can't just pull out as sods law there will be another vehicle coming in the opposite direction.
At the halfway stage we called in at Ronnie's Sex Shop. No we did not stop for whatever you're thinking. We simply stopped for coffee. Twenty five years ago Ronnie started his general provisions store in a little shack literally in the middle of nowhere. Unfortunately the shop was not doing very well so one night his mates decided to spice things up a  little to drum up some business so they painted the word Sex next to Ronnie's sign on the front of his shop. The altered sign 'Ronnie's Sex Shop' was taken in good spirit by Ronnie and did indeed increase passing trade his friends then persuaded him to turn the shop into a bar. The café was added later and now Ronnie is a legend still serving customers and cheerily welcomed us. The small bar is decked out with ladies Bra's and Knickers we didn't ask where they all came from. It was my sort of place as I like quirky things so I just had to have the T shirt. It's also the kinda place I find hard to leave but needs must as Route 62 beckoned.
Back on the road which was still tediously straight with no traffic and only the endless hilly mountains for company. All a bit bland I'm afraid. So I had to keep my wits about me to stop dozing off. It's shown us again why we like buses and trains to get around as it gives others the responsibility delivering us safely.
We arrived at Roberson's Backpackers earlier than expected at four o'clock. It was a small place with half a dozen rooms. Our hostess agreed that backpacking is not what it used to be as all the spontaneity has gone as smartphones booking.com Uber and Google maps mean nobody asks for information any more or chats about what they've seen and they all sit in silence tapping on their phones.
We spent the rest of the afternoon sitting on our terrace sipping tea and tapping on our phones. I hasten to add that we were the only guests and had no one else to talk to.
We had a two kilometre walk to and from the restaurant this evening Ros was a bit wary as we would have to return in the dark. Robertson is a relatively small town so we both agreed that it should be OK. The walk there in the light was pleasant and the food at a roadside restaurant was amazing. My peppered steak was delicious as was Ros' smothered chicken. And the walk home? Well that was fine too. A little on the dark side but as there were no other people about whatsoever there was nothing to worry about.