Update of Trip back from Durban to Moorreesburg

Shocked realiasation that I was last on this forum in March when in Durban.
I had mentioned that I would give feedback on the Durban trip and the car used, well late but some feedback.

Durban:

We decided due to the roadworks we encountered on the way to Durban that we would use the N3 and go via Harrismith, Ficksburg back to Cape Town.

All was well on the N3 until we left via Harrismith then onto Bethlehem. All seemed good and looked like a relaxed drive ahead as we passed through. The first roadworks we encountered was on route to Ficksburg, and then the nightmare experience that took very long time to get through was experienced.  When we were not waiting at the roadworks we were crawling around huge pot holes that seemed to ingulf the whole road. Finally just nearing Zastron we seemed to be through the worst of it. I was glad to be through and also reminded myself that the roads were being worked on and that that was a good thing.
We overnighted in Hanover at the hotel and we were treated to a lovely country meal with desert. The owners were ex Hermanus people who decided to move inland. We were up early the next morning and continued our way to Cape Town on the N1 roadworks in progress most of the way.
We had breakfast in Laingsburg at a family run restaurant just next to the Engen garage where we reflected on the journey so far hoping that the next process would be smoother.
We arrived home in Moorreesburg later that night after leaving the N1 after the Du Toits Kloof pass and passing through Paarl, Wolsley, Riebeek and finally home. Glad the trip was over.

Car:

We used a Volvo C30 D2, we believe the first diesel C30 to be sold in South Africa for this trip. Well that is what the Volvo dealer at Tygervalley told us when we collected the car. We found the ride to be great and secure, now and again a bit hard, but then again this is supposed to be for use in the city and surrounds.
The huge potholes in the Free State were very nerve wracking and when we stopped at Colesburg for Diesel, I looked at the tyres and rims and all seemed good. When we stopped for breakfast in Laingsburg I had a closer look in the day light and all seemed 100%, tyres good, rims good and bodywork good.

We eeked out 700 kilometer a tank. We left Moorreesburg on a full tank we filled up next in Port Elizabeth having done over 700 kilometers. At the next fill ups we resolved to fill up when on 1/4 tank as running tank nearly empty not really a good idea.

The cruise control was really great enabling us to keep to the various speed limits, in some places were were not sure and cruised at 100 km (Open road) just to be on the safe side. The seating was comfortable and the boot big enough for our meduim bag as well as our laptop, netbook and on the move bags which contained snacks and drinks for the road.

The main reason for investing in a Volvo was for the safety and reliability we had heard of through the years. When Lynne first saw the C30 when it first came to our shores, Lynne had decided that was her next car and so was very pleased that she could secure her dream car and know that it was not just a cool design but also a safe and reliable car.

More next time on my thoughts and what has happened since our Durban trip.