George lies at the foot of the Outeniqua Mountains, a long blue ridge that shuts off the sea breezes to the south and gives the town a warm, sheltered feel. It is the largest town on the Garden Route, and it sits in a strip of green country between the mountains and the Indian Ocean, with forest, farmland and rivers close by. The Dutch founded the settlement in 1811 and named it for King George III, and the old oak tree planted in the early days still stands in the centre of town, protected as a national monument.
Timber built George, and the Outeniqua forests were a source of the yellowwood and stinkwood used in the furniture of the Cape. The mountain passes that cross the range, many of them engineered in the nineteenth century by Thomas Bain, opened up the interior, and several of them still carry the main roads. The Outeniqua Pass leads north to Oudtshoorn and the Karoo, while the Seven Passes Road heads east toward Knysna, winding through forested gorges and across several rivers on old stone bridges. This is the old coast road, quieter than the highway, and a lovely way to see the Garden Route.
As the start of the ride, George is a convenient base, with fuel at several stations and everything a rider might need, including supermarkets, bakeries and repair shops. The town has a lively centre and a good range of cafés. It is worth fuelling the bike and the rider here, as the Seven Passes Road has few services.
The weather on the Garden Route is mild but changeable, with rain possible in any month and mist in the mountains. Summer is warm and busy, and winter days are cool and often clear. The surface on the main roads is generally good, but expect wet leaves and the odd rockfall on the passes, plus slow trucks and tourists. Leave early, bring a rain jacket and enjoy the green hills.