Day 7 Kings Canyon to Erldunda by Caroline

Last night we stayed at an unpowered site at Kings Canyon resort. There were dingos and wild dogs throughout the park, which was a great incentive for the kids to stay close. 

This morning after we got organised, we drove about 10 minutes to Kings Canyon, and decided that since we did the rim walk last year, we would only do the Kings Creek walk this time, through the centre of the Canyon. 

Somehow, Adelaide convinced Tilly to piggy back her the whole way...

 

It was a very pretty walk and well worth the hour. 

 

 The last 20 meters of the walk was closed, so we detoured a bit, and could see where a stack of rocks had fallen off the cliff and smashed the viewing platform.

We were a bit inspired after that walk, so we decided that we would do the rim walk again...and it was great, but hard work. 

Tilly found this little bloke and we watched him change colour as he moved across the rocks. 

 

We had lunch at the garden of Eden which was pretty, and an extra k's walk. 

 

We think that Adelaide might be part mountain goat. Danny thinks she is just like the kid off The Jungle Book. ( Mogley ) She refuses to brush her hair, or dress appropriately. She disappears into the bush, and when we find her, she is drinking at a spring. 

She did not stop talking the whole way around Kings Canyon. A couple of times she told me that I was holding her hand too tight, but look how steep the cliffs were!!

! 

She was worn out by the end of it, but the older kids coped well. Their faces say it all in this photo..

 

For the last 2 k's Adelaide kept trying to bribe Danny and I to carry her. She offered us all her money, then a foot rub, and when that didn't work, she even offered Danny " one of those squishy foot rubs" if he would just carry her all the way home. 

After we finished the walk, we had a sandwich at the float, and drove to Kathleen Springs to have a look at it. Danny and I had a quick look, and told the kids it was only another 2 k walk, but they were not keen at all, so we are now driving back towards the Lasseter highway. ( The main one between the Stuart Highway and Ayers Rock.)

Our plan was to get to Alice Springs tonight, but I don't think we will get that far. We spent too long at the canyon. Danny and I thought that we would have more time to relax on this trip, but we find that we are just finding more things to do. 

We are spending the night at Erldunda roadhouse. It is actually really nice. ( it's all relative! )