Modern Vespa

I just returned home from 9 days in the beautiful city of Cape Town... I was lucky enough to be traveling there for business, and extended my stay for a week for fun. Before I left, I found a place that rents vespas online (ScootDr), and asked about guided tours. The owner was really helpful, and connected me with a guide that does 2-wheel tours, and so I was booked for a day.

The weather was beautiful the entire time I was there, except on the morning of our ride... it was rainy, and cold, and so cloudy we couldn't see anything.

The world famous, Chapman's Peak drive, known for it's beautiful scenery? Completely in the clouds. I'm sure it would have been beautiful!

By the time we reached Cape Point, it did stop raining and while the sun never fully came out, it warmed up for our ride back to the city. We stopped at Boulders Beach (of course!) to see the penguins, and than through Constantia winelands.

Despite the rain, it was still a really amazing ride. Cape Town is truly one of the world's most beautiful cities, and the roads were very nice to ride on. Not a pothole in sight!

Here we are at Cape Point... All of my clothes were soaking wet at this point (that's me on the right)


The weather is starting to clear up...


I did get the chance to go back to Chapman's Peak on a clear day, and this is what it would have looked like....


Our Route:

Great photos. Thanks for sharing.

Totally jealous! We were in Cape Town last October for several days and we had made reservations to rent scooters at Scoot Dr, too! Despite our best intentions, we were not able to do the scooter ride due to other travel plans and tourist items. =(

We were there during the sudden transformation of spring to summery weather, it went from cold and rainy to hot and sunny in just the short time we were there.

Hope you didn't get snagged by any of the many speed radar cameras on the way down or back from the cape!

That's a good days ride did similar route in car when we were there, beautiful sunny day for us

Awesome. I never made it over there when i did my 3 month Africa tour. Africa's huge. Someday and a bit different from Vermont,eh? Great photos. 8)

I'm already planning my trip back, Judy.

It was a full day ride... we left at 9am and returned to the shop precisely at 5pm closing time. I think it was around 120km or so.

I had a lot of scooter firsts! I ride a 150 at home, but rented a 200, so it was my first time on a larger vespa (I want one). We went for a short bit on the highway , and it's also appropriate to filter forward at red lights . Only a small part of the ride was through any urban traffic, though, so it was a very fun ride!

For some strange reason i love Africa. Something about the animals and super friendly people. I got as far a J'Berg and wanted to get to the skeleton coast but my flight was out of Nairobi so i went up the middle. Saw the gorillas in Rwanda so it was worth it but can't wait to go back. Expensive airfare from here tho. Glad you had a great time.

That sounds amazing Judy. In Africa, I've literally only ever been to Cairo and Cape Town! There is a LOT left to see.

I was actually there for an African travel trade show, and walked away with a hundred new "must see" places. *sigh*

Be warned, your hooked now. I did some riding in Malawi but as a passenger. I can see more that way. Plus i tend to get lost a lot. Moto taxis everywhere. Had one for me and one for my luggage. Some amazing places in Africa. I stayed in a cabin on a game preserve in Malawi. Turned my bed and left the door open. Had a lake about a 1/4 mile away and it was awesome to lie in bed and watch the migration at dusk. Paid $5 for that and it was priceless. Only one there that nite. 8)

Nice photos. Cape Town is a beautiful place. I made the same trip from Kaapstad (Cape Town in Afrikaans) to the Cape of Good Hope and back via Simonstown. That was more than twenty years ago -- in a car.

Wow! The more pictures the better! I probably won't make it out there but it sure makes it feels as if I were there. Thanks for the pictures.

Great photos...and it looks like a terrific ride, despite the weather.

Thanks for sharing!

That is a lovely ride around the peninsula. I did it a couple of times in the 1960's when I scooted down from Johannesburg on holiday on my Vespa GS150. A one and a half day, 1500 km ride. Stayed at the Stan's Halt youth hostel, up the hill between Table Mountain and Chapman's peak.

On one of my rides through the reserve near Cape Point I rode right through the middle of a troop of baboons. I was very nervous!

On another occasion, on the 2nd January, I was cutting across from Kalk Bay to Fishoek on the False Bay side, when I encountered the Fishoek Mardi-Gras forming up. There in the middle of it was the Cape Town Vespa club, so I joined them and became part of the Mardi-Gras. Picked up a pretty lass in the procession, who I then dated for the rest of that holiday.

It is a beautiful part of the world. Thanks for the memories!

Mike

I've visited Africa numerous times. It becomes addictive. I've never felt more alive than when I am there. Cape Town is absolutely fabulous. I visited there the first time in the early 90s - interesting times. A full-blown first class seafood dinner with a bottle of wine was about $15.00 U.S. (with tip).

Things get a little dicey up above the Val River and more so over the Limpopo. Riding a two wheeled vehicle ups your odds for adventure.

If you find squirrels daunting - Cape Town's resident, freeloading baboons will take it to another level.

What a fantastic adventure!!

Definitely adding Cape Town to the travel list.

Thanks for the pictures you look like you had a great time!