Somewhere in the never, never of the Australian Outback

The drive to Kings Canyon is through and around cattle stations...B-I-G cattle stations, i.e., 5000 sq. km, 3500 beef cattle on one station.  In fact, if you drove from St. John's to Clarenville you would probably pass only two or maybe three cattle stations. No small potatoes!!

We settle in at 'the oasis in the desert', Kings Canyon Resort.  Don't let the facade fool you...awesome first class digs in the middle of nowhere.  Again, enough stars in the sky to intoxicate...dazzling! Again.

Rise early and Walk The Rim!!!  Why not??

I was geared up for the Uluru climb but it didn't happen because of wet conditions on the rock, hmmm, wet condiitons on the rock...why does that sound familiar.  I can't leave without climbing something! 

Warnings and essentials for Kings Canyon - a good level of fitness, supportive footwear, a hat for the sun, and a minimum of 2 litres of water!!  It's a strenuous walk  -  6.5 km, 3-4 hours.
I'm going for it!  The alternative is a shaded walk on the canyon floor looking up at the canyon walls.  No way, I want to be up there - arthritic knees and all.
Walk time is 6:30am.  Two consecutive mornings of rising in the dark -  the spirit is willing... But...

Why am I the only one in my tour group on this bus???? What do they know that I don't???

Then I look up at the freakin' cliff.  Is that where I'm going???   It's 6:30 in the morning for God's sake, not even light yet!!!  They mentioned the strenuous walk, where were the words "st-e-e-e-e-e-p cl-i-i-i-i-mb"???   This must be where they invented the saying 'walking on the edge'.
How steep?? Only a challenging 500-step climb(triple that for me), nearly 1000 feet of rock and gravel.  How steep???  When I look up, what do I see...the soles of the feet in front of me.  So steep that there is always a guide bringing up the rear. And...that's why there's no turning back. 

I wonder as I wander...what are they going to write about me??? The Red Centre engulfs Gramma...but at least she tried.  And that 2 litres of water...don't be fooled.  That's to push your stomach back down as you let out these gulps throughout the adventure. 

Up and down sheer rock faces for nearly four hours.   Only one bout of vertigo, just before the climb down, when the guide tells us to take one last picture then leads us to the path home - a meter-wide path - and to the left  - A GORGE.  I walk down with my face nearly touching the canyon wall to the right...with a tight grip on any branch I can find.  

Nevertheless, I DID IT, through the Lost City and the Garden of Eden.  You can do it too.  Don't miss it, it's an experience of a lifetime.  Drive away with the satisfaction that you conquered the beast.   ROAR!!!  How dare you challenge me?

Just a few pictures. Now, onwards to Alice Springs and Sydney.