For many years, there’ve been two sad old buildings full of potential on the R45 between the N1 and Franschhoek.  One of them used to house the old Groot Drakenstein post office.

Landscape architect Danie Steenkamp bought the property recently and has given it a new lease on life, selling the one building to Vicki Bell for her antique and collectable shop and keeping the other building for his, an architect’s and lawyers offices… and the Ou Meul Bakery that will become a new compulsory stop on the R45.

For years, Ou Meul Bakery in Riviersonderend has been a compulsory stop for travellers along the Garden Route, and is renowned for it pies.  They’ve opened two outlets in Cape Town’s northern suburbs and one in the city bowl, and another in Stanford.

And now Ou Meul Bakery will become a compulsory stop on the R45 for breads, pastries, rusks and light meals… oh, and the Bootleggers coffee is special too.

There’s a small gem around the back of the building — Die Gieter, which is all about bringing greenery into your home, seeing that green and luscious gardens are a thing of the past.

Across the werf, which is still being landscaped and will become a visual gem in its own right, is the Barn & Werf, which you’ll find hard to leave without buying something… and it’s affordable.