Kareedouw is a farm town in the folds of the Eastern Cape, and its quiet is the first thing a rider notices after the long road. It lies on Route 62, the scenic alternative to the N2 coastal highway, in a valley between the Tsitsikamma and Kouga mountains, about forty kilometres inland from the coast near Humansdorp. The surrounding land is a patchwork of orchards, with apples and pears grown in the long valley called the Langkloof, and in spring the white and pink blossom turns the slopes into a soft cloud. In late summer and autumn the fruit is picked, and trucks carry it down to the packhouses.
The town itself is small and functional, with a few shops, a garage, a church and some roadside stalls selling fruit and biltong, South Africa's air-dried meat. It is not a place of famous sights, and it makes no attempt to be. What it offers is a pause on one of the world's longest wine and farming routes, since Route 62 runs for hundreds of kilometres from Cape Town through the Little Karoo, past Barrydale, Calitzdorp and Oudtshoorn, to the Eastern Cape. The towns along it have developed a reputation for quirky roadside cafés, art studios and pubs, and it has become a favourite among motorcyclists.
The riding in this section is good. The road follows the valley, with gentle curves between orchards and hills, then climbs over low passes with views across the mountains. The surface is generally paved and in decent condition, though heavy farm trucks and the occasional tractor slow the pace, and there are sections where the tarmac is rough or patched. Sheep, cattle and the odd baboon might appear on the road, so keep an eye out. Weather can be changeable, with cold mornings in winter and hot afternoons in summer, and thunderstorms in the mountains.
Fuel is available in Kareedouw, but it is wise to top up whenever you pass a station on Route 62, because villages are far apart. Simple cafés serve toasted sandwiches, pies and coffee, and farm stalls sell fresh fruit in season. The best months are spring and autumn.