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climb over the Langeberg Mountains . Then on the other side , the Little Karoo appeared as a completely different territory , where savannah , grasslands and barren mountains formed the backdrop to a desert scenery of wild beauty . The road also changed , now with long straights , continuous ups and downs and rare curves that gave us the impression of venturing toward unlimited horizons .
We are travelling along the fascinating Route 62 , which winks at the mythical Route 66 of the U . S . The wild west ambience , the farms lost in the prairies and the atmosphere we breathed in places of motoring memorabilia , among old gas pumps , beer , and burgers , such as Diesel and Creme and Ronnies Sex Shop , real " hideouts " of Easy Rider-style bikers , made us feel deep in the purest of the on-the-road mood .
Often on the prairies we would see ostriches , curious birds that look like something out of " Jurassic Park ," so big they cannot fly but capable of running at 80 kilometres per hour , much taller than a man , with a beak bigger than a hand and whose egg is so sturdy it can support the weight of a person .
Oudtshoorn , capital of the Little Karoo , is also the world capital of ostrich , which for more than two centuries has been raised on large , specialised farms , once only to use its soft plumage and now also for its prized hides and prized ostrich fillet , a popular dish in these parts . On some farms it was also possible to observe them close , discover their characteristics and undergo the " ostrich massage "... an experience really not to be missed !
Near Oudtshoorn another special road awaited us , the Swartberg Pass , thirty-two impressive kilometres of an ancient track that snakes through the Swartberg Mountains .
This gravel road is quite easy to ride , even when travelling with a pillion , although the presence of
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