Monday 23 July – Wow! Another strenuous day but was it worth it!!  Amazing scenery, beautiful day and another challenge met.  We didn’t wake till about 7.45 this morning, and didn’t rush to get away too early.  The drive to Kings Canyon was about 34 km, and we got there at about 10.15 ready to tackle the rim walk.

So fully equipped with our backpacks and enthusiasm, we started off at 10.25, walking down the track to the start of the mountain range we had to scale.  We had been told that the first part of the 6.6km walk was pretty steep, and that is certainly no exaggeration.  When we got to the base, I did turn over in my mind whether I could make that starting climb, as it looked really scary, but clenched the teeth and off we headed.  Grant decided to stay behind me in case I slipped.  I’m not sure what he could have done, but I have faith in him.  I very soon realised that the only way I could make the ascent was to do it on my hands and feet, so I basically did the first hour that way.  Of course I had several stops, and we allowed anyone coming up behind us to pass, as we didn’t want to be keeping everyone down to my pace.

Once we reached the rim of the Canyon, the walk of course wasn’t as steep, but it was very rough, as it extremely rocky, and you had to have your eyes on the ground for every step you took.  So of course there were lots of stops to take in the magnificent views.

At the furthest extremity of the walk, you then go on very steep steps down into the canyon then up the other side.  Down near the bottom there were a couple of waterholes and amazing ferns, ghost gums and various other plants.  We enjoyed these on the wooded bridge which spans the gap at this lower level, then made the climb back up the opposite side to the one we had just walked.  This climb was much easier as it was several stages of man-made steps (pretty close to ladders) and no rocks to complicate matters.

But of course once we were on the opposite rim, the track was the same as earlier.  Eventually we spotted the carpark, and the descent to the flat country was again very challenging, as it was rock steps going down the sides of pretty sheer mountains.  But at last, after four and a half hours, we were back at the car, enjoying a sit down, a cup of soup and a snack.  And mainly resting my very sore knees and feet.  Grant even had a bit of soreness in his hips, but boy, it was well worth the discomfort.  I’ve got to say Grant was great today, giving me an arm to grab when the steps were too steep or too narrow for me to be confident with, and patiently matching his pace to mine.  I would not have been able to do the walk without his support.

Back at the camp it was a lovely hot shower, a sit with a cuppa in the sun outside the van and a hamburger for tea from the station shop.  Today has been a most memorable experience, and I just hope the photos give an inkling of how good it was.

Won’t be too long out of the cot tonight as tomorrow we have a pretty big drive to Alice Springs.