CHEVERELL FARM-GRABOUW
28th April 2022

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The trip today was based on “a new kid-on-the-block theory” – Cheverell Farm in the Elgin Valley.  The day was right in the middle of many public holidays, so numbers were slightly diminished!  However, 22 of us set off from Tableview at 08h45 heading to Constantia village to collect the second part of our group on a ‘traffic-free’ road.

We headed directly to South Hill Vineyards, along Valley Road in Elgin– Possibly our favourite place in the valley.  Sandy met us and she had graciously arranged a long table outside for wine tasting or coffee.  This was served with complimentary savoury scones and lemon cake – what fabulous hospitality.  Sandy took the group who wanted to do wine tasting through their various wines; coffees and cake or scones were also enjoyed, and it was not easy to leave South Hill – we had ‘settled’ into their fabulous country hospitality!

A very short drive – interrupted by Google maps – where they told us there was a short cut to get across to Cheverell Farm, which resulted in us having to turn the coach around and head back on our originally planned route.  Solution: do not trust Google especially on farm roads! (Interrupted by road repairs).

Arriving at Cheverell Farm shortly afterwards, along Highlands Road, was to find a very good venue!  They have converted an old apple shed into their ‘restaurant cum gift shop’ with views to die for in the Valley.  They even have a glass greenhouse nursery. (and accommodation).

After the ‘compulsory’ shopping – amazing how ladies find things ‘they just-to-have’ everywhere we go – the group settled down to a pre-snack on the table – sliced sourdough bread/herb butter/and marinated olives.  Drinks were served.

Lunch followed shortly after – a choice of a salmon poke bowl – a selection of freshly cut salad vegetables, smoked salmon trout, edamame beans, sushi rice and miso mayo dressing OR a Gourmet Burger with roasted tomato, mature cheddar, caramelised onions & harissa mayo dressing.  This was followed by coffees and our dessert which was Cheverells Apple and Frangipane Tart served with homemade cinnamon ice cream.

By 15h15 we all loaded onto the coach for our homeward bound journey.  Of course, you cannot come to the Elgin Valley without stopping at Peregrines – and so many gourmet foods and pies came back to Cape Town with us.

Our first stop was Constantia Village by just before 17h00!  Then we started our ‘trek’ back to Tableview.  This was a disaster, as once we had gone past Paarden Eiland, we hit bumper-to-bumper traffic which ended up in us arriving at our drop off point in Tableview nearly an hour and a half afterwards!  Crazy, we were passed by a police vehicle hurrying along the My-City route and a few ambulances but never witnessed an accident!  Obviously, something ‘dramatic’ to slow the traffic down to this degree – and sadly a bit of a tiring end-to-a-glorious-day out in the country

“Life is either a great adventure or nothing”

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