Friday saw our weekend away down the West Coast kick off, and with the kids collected early, it was off in the Accent (which embarrassingly turned out to need two full cans of oil added before our departure – been a while since we last checked it would seem!).

Even more embarrassingly though, our trip to Jacobsbaai took an eventful turn when, as we were hurtling down the N7, it dawned on us that we had completely missed the Melkbosstrand turn-off to join the R27, meaning a sudden and slightly confused stop was in order.

With the radio immediately silenced because I couldn’t think (beautifully detailed in Defending the Caveman, well worth checking out if you ever get the chance), it was a quick husband/wife argument, then some fumbling with Google Maps on Chantelle’s phone (the GPS on my phone remains broken), followed by some jerky wandering around through the Atlantis area.

Sadly, our (unnecessarily) chosen route to join up with the R27 turned out to be a long, dusty, gravel road affair, which needless to say didn’t please me very much. However, as luck would have it, we did stumble upon a pretty cool sight: a light aircraft coming in for a landing right across the road in front of us – turns out we had happened upon Skydive Cape Town’s home base!

IMG_20150206_141108 sky dive cape town airstrip

Anyway, we did eventually join up with the R27 and were soon happily hurtling along again (or at least, driving as fast as the average speed camera system would allow us), and before long we happened across the eccentric West Coast Farmstall, that farm stall/diner/aviary/lion park/nursery that we’ve stopped at before.

Perfect… time for lunch (and a well deserved lunch if I say so myself)!

IMG_20150206_144515 jessica lotter smiling with sunglasses

As per usual, the Weskus Padstal is an absolute assault on the visual senses, the artistically inclined owners literally throwing anything and everything on the walls, creating an absolute visual treat that keeps you interested despite the fact that you just know that you’re actually sitting amongst a giant junk site.

I love it. It’s like being in a typical, junk-laden Afrikaans bar that just happens to have spilled outside.

Anyway, with Jessica and Emily happily entertained, Chantelle and I both ordered some wildsvleis (venison) pie, which I am happy to report was quite delicious.

IMG_20150206_150605 chantelle lotter eating venison pie

A relaxing, tranquil and enjoyable stop, it’s no wonder that I now seem to always include the West Coast Farmstall on the itinerary whenever we head down the West Coast! :)

Related Link: http://www.westcoastfarmstall.co.za