Friday : Spent the day driving from Yulara to Kings Canyon where we pulled in, set up camp, did the washing and relaxed. The day was again hot travelling. George and I went to a slide show talk by a ranger about the areas history, geology and fauna and flora in the evening. It once more covered the 3 desert types: Ranges, sand and river. There were quite a few dingoes roaming the campsites here each night.
Saturday : We were up early as George and Jessica did the canyon rim walk, and the day was to be particularly hot for walking, 35 degrees. We had decided it was not within my range nor safe for me to walk as it had a steep climb at the beginning up to the rim and of course back down with many stairs and uneven ground. (my knee had swollen after the Uluru walk and as we have done several others since, both knees are being temperamental) They also descended into the 'Garden of Eden' midway into the walk. This is a gorgeous, breathtaking walk and Jess was glad I had made her go without me. I am very lucky that I have done it before – but I was still disappointed, even tho' we guessed when leaving Sydney that these types of walks were probably not within my ability any more.
We spent the afternoon relaxing and George and I had a swim in the pool. Went to a family/country music show at the tavern in the evening. George and Jess got up to sing and have been invited to perform at the Locomotive in Tamworth next year.
Sunday : After packing up ready to drive back out to the Stuart Hwy, where we will begin our journey south to S.A., we completed the last of the walks in the Kings Canyon area. These were short 2.5 km walks. The first walk was the ' Kings Canyon Creek' walk which takes you along the creek which traverses the middle of the rim walk and gives you wonderful views up to the canyon walls. You can see people walking the rim above. The head of the canyon is a sacred area still used by the local Aboriginals. The second walk was the 'Kathleen Springs' walk. This walk followed another small canyon to its head where there is a small spring fed waterhole, also a sacred dreaming site, one of the nicest waterholes to be seen. On the walk there is remaining evidence of cattle fence traps and a water tank from earlier cattle days. These provided a great photo opportunity. Lots of different birds and lizards on this walk especially down at the waterhole. This was another hot day.
Had a scare on the drive back. A 'willy willy', which is nothing new to us after all these years of outback driving, hit the bus with such force that George called for us to hold on and the soft red dirt edge of the road looked really close for a moment. But all was well, George had seen it coming front on and with experience had done all the right things.
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