Julie and I were supposed to be hiking the 5,000km Continental Divide Trail in the US in 2020, but COVID-19 derailed that plan. Instead, we will have an adventure in Australia, circumnavigating the country on our bikes, a distance of about 16,500km taking approximately five and a half months. We will use minor roads where possible and occasionally catch ferries across rivers and inlets to avoid busier inland routes. We will camp some of the time and stay in motels, hotels, etc, at others. There will be stretches of up to five days with no accommodation or resupply available, so we will need to be self-sufficient.

Round Australia Bike Ride - Day 082 - Kings Canyon

Day:  082

Date:  Monday, 21 September 2020

Start:  Kings Canyon Resort

Finish:  Kings Canyon Resort 

Daily Kilometres:  20 (click for Julie's Strava and photos and click here for our walk)

Total Kilometres:  8278

Weather:  Cool early, then sunny, warm and breezy

Accommodation:  Cabin

Nutrition:

  Breakfast:  Egg & lettuce sandwiches

  Lunch:  Ham, cheese & tomato sandwich/Chicken, lettuce & mayo sandwich

  Dinner:  Chicken schnitzel, salad & chips/Hamburger & chips, ice-creams

Aches:  Nothing significant

Highlight:  Kings Canyon Rim Walk.  After an initial steep climb (500+ steps) up onto the canyon rim plateau, the 7km walk wound through a maze of red sandstone outcrops and beehive-like weathered rock domes, and past gnarly trees and ghost gums in little gullies, as it circumnavigated the main canyon.  Of course, the views from the sheer-walled canyon rim down into the canyon itself and also out to the vast arid plains to the south and west were the main event and we found ourselves taking way too many photographs.  Half-way along the walk we detoured down to the "Garden of Eden" on the narrow canyon floor where we found inviting rock pools (no swimming allowed) and shady glens populated with cycads and ghost gums. We had a snack break in a serene setting by the largest pool with no one else about.  The weather was mild and sunny with a cool breeze; perfect for hiking.

Lowlight:  None really

Pictures: Click here

Map and Position: Click here for Google Map

Journal:

We got up at 7am and set out to ride 10km to the Kings Canyon trailhead at 7:30am.  Yesterday's blustery dust-laden north-westerly wind had been replaced by a cool south-easterly breeze and perfectly clear air which was perfect for today's planned hike (but not so great for tomorrow when it's forecast to be a stronger headwind for a long day's ride).  On our unloaded bikes, it was a quick and pleasant ride and we were soon locking them to a fence at the trailhead before eating our breakfast on a nearby bench.

Soon after 8am, we began the Canyon Rim Walk in perfect conditions.  Everywhere there were signs warning about the ruggedness of the hike, the dangers from the heat (walk closed when 36°C and above forecast), and to stay away from the canyon edges.  This was reinforced along the way by more signs, defibrillators, emergency supplies and telephones, marked helicopter pads and, sadly, two memorial benches to young women who had died (one only 14 years old) on the trail.  Despite all of this, the walk was fantastic (see above) and we thoroughly enjoyed it.  As is becoming common these days, mainly due to the efforts of our bike team social secretary, we met other sightseers, some for the second or third time, who have seen us on the road and wanted to know more about our trip.

After the hike we rode back to the resort in time for lunch and had a quiet afternoon travel-planning, doing laundry, hanging by the pool and watching TV.  We had an early dinner again so we could try for a better sunset viewing at the "Sunset Viewing Area" and this time it lived up to expectations (although, on the way there, I got a clip on the head from a swooping bird ….. thought it was Julie).  Despite being part of a small crowd, it was still a very peaceful and beautiful scene.  Then it was an early night before a long ride tomorrow.

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