Day 77 - Fish River Canyon

We joined last nights dinner folk for breakfast and soon after they left, we departed for the ‘Fish River Canyon’. A shuttle full of departing hikers had already left for the start and we arrived as they were saddling up to move out/in/down… whatever!!!

Karen and I both felt like such loosers.... like arriving at a Marathon start and you have left your running shoes behind or some or other BS reason why you cannot take part! There was huge excitement among most of them, but certainly a few were wearily peaking down over the edge and into the hole with much trepidation as they clung to the cable assisting them over the lip and way down. By all accounts the first day is spent just getting into and descending to the bottom of the canyon. 😳

We spent the better part of Tuesday travelling to and back from the canyon. It is so incredible to have driven nearly 100km to the start, through massive tracts of sandy and stoney terrain mixed up with rocky outcrops. Distant hills and further back, mountain ranges of many different hues of blue and depending on the light, grey to black. Quiver Trees here on the reverse side of the Richtersveld ranges are sparse and ailing, much like their fellows on the southern side of the range. Not a soul to be seen anywhere en route! Sheer bliss! For that matter, not even an animal anywhere.🤔

We returned to Ai/Ai's thrilled that we had made the effort to get to the canyon. Without doubt the most stunning canyon in the southern continent and whilst probably not of 'Grand Canyon' status, is really does have the feel of such.

Being the loosers we are, we slunk into camp and undercover of Spa Towels, we limped just like everyone else into the hot water pools. The water here in Ai/Ai's is naturally heated and passes just past the devil himself and reaches ground level at 68°C!!! No artificial heating and only filtered and chlorinated for human use. The water in the pool does not get 'recycled' into the pool again, so fresh water flows in permanently. Karen and I, for most of the time sat by ourselves neck deep water well over 40*C. The Indoor pools are housed in this huge covered hall the temperature of the fountain water in excess of 50*C! We snuck in and enjoyed a few beers and ciders, all on our lonesome.

Later we 'braaied' and settled in for the night!

Love, Peace and Light !
M&K
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