Nature's Domes

So the alarm went at five.........what sort of a holiday is this?

Breakfast started at five thirty for the early birds who wanted to make the Canyon Rim Walk.....among them us. They close it at 9AM on a hot day. We managed to wolf down breakfast (two courses) in about 15 minutes and headed off on our walk.

The opening bit was tough going, as we essentially climbed from the valley floor to the canyon rim. However taking it slowly helped and we were up in a really strange landscape of red rocks and trees growing in cracks. It really is a sight to behold with the rock eroding into domes and a variety of trees growing where they can get a root into a deep crack to find water...... river red gums, cypress pines....etc.

The views into the canyon and off into the plains were glorious. Less glorious was that it was crowded. We either had a group of grumpies (older tourists) or surlies (younger tourists) around us for a reasonable part of the walk. That is because we went slow.....mostly because I was forever taking photos, but partially also because Marjan was nursing the knees.

The crowds are a shame, but I understand why they want to see this. It is magic. I also wonder about the recentness of this particular park and the deals done to turn unprofitable cattle country into very profitable tourist country....... so who pays for the road? It is essentially a road to a resort to feed and house tourists who do this one walk. Hmmmmm...... I am just an old cynic. Here and Uluru though, are slick money making ventures aimed at the tourist market. Not sure other national parks could duplicate this, but it sure seems to keep the facilities decent in very remote locations.

Anyway, enough politics, we dropped into a wide crack in the rock called The Valley of Eden. This is deep enough to reach the permanent water table, and thus we actually have permanent water. A water hole at the end of the crack, which becomes the head of King's Canyon.

There was actually life in the water. The local people ask that we not bathe and nobody did, though I have seen dozens of tourist shots with people swimming. So one up for the tour groups going through on this day.

We actually rested here for a while as it was very peaceful. I loved the reflections. Marjan listened to the frogs. All in all we rested and found serenity.........I think that is what it is called.

Anyway off to the other side of the canyon and down. More domes, more incredible rock, more exercise for the joints.

All up we did it in three hours for the 6.5k up and down. I am sure some of the surlies did it in an hour and a half with selfies at every cliff face.

It was quite warm by the time we finished, so Marjan wanted a rest. I took her back to our room, whilst I did the walk along the creek. It was really hot by then. But interesting checking out all the trees in the valley.

When I got back from my walk, we had some lunch and checked out the pool. I do not have internet but I suspect we got up around 38C. Was not too bad by the pool with a lounge and some shade and some rainbow bee eaters keeping us amused.

After dinner we were sufficiently recovered to shoot some stars..magellanic clouds again

This one with the moon and milky way.