King's Canyon

6th January 2009

Another early start, waking to the alarm at 04:00 again.
Instead of a walk on level ground, though, the first half hour involved a steep climb up rough, uneven steps cut out of the rock up to the top of the ridge. This was particularly hard for a “senior” like myself, but there were many kind souls ready to give me a helping hand when necessary.

Again, the rising sun gave some great photo opportunities over the surrounding country.

The six kilometre walk around the rim was quite strenuous but gave wonderful views down over the canyon below and of the beautiful rock formations visible in the cliff walls and all around us.

This cycad is a rare species which existed in the Jurassic period, at the time when dinosaurs were roaming the Earth.

In the central section there were parts that would have been too steep to climb and wooden steps have been erected.

Yet again, I have to record that the day was another unforgettable one - exhausting, with temperatures rising to with temp 32 degrees Celsius by 08:30, but absolutely superb.

Jean

Camping

I had imagined that we'd have been carrying our tents with us on the bus and woould have pitched them ourselves, like Rachel and I did on our Namibian safari adventure a few years back.
In fact the “tents” were permanent ones, each housing two people, with a group of tents being set up in a circle and a toilet/shower block close by.

We were able to use a long canteen which had basic kitchen facilities and a table just big enough to house the twenty four of us.

Apart from a fridge-freezer and gas rings, large pots were available for cooking the stew and vegetables.

The most unwelcome visitors at the campsite were three black scorpions, although this one, taken late at night with flash, looks much paler.

Jean