Tuesday May 19, 2009 - Mountain Hike

We were awakened this morning around 5:30 a.m. with the sound of the Bungy jump crew preparing the ropes on the bridge which is just above our tent. So after breakfast, we went to watch the 8 people who chose to bungy jump and swing. I think its the fear factor that attracts people to do this! But although I admire them and respect them for overcoming their fear, there is no way I would ever do it...not even contemplate it..in fact I was almost sick watching the first few people flying backwards and forwards over the canyon floor....but it was fun watching. After that Ray and I set off up the mountain behind us on a 4 1/4 hour trek. About 2 1/2 hrs straight up, 30 minutes for lunch, and the rest on the way down. It was quite hot, 32-36C, so the hike was strenuous, but we took it slowly, stopped and took pictures, chatted to the locals, etc. and thorougly enjoyed ourselves. Most of the way up was stone steps, but in some parts the narrow path had been washed away, and in others the path was just stone and dirt. A couple of people asked us to take pictures, and we did. The views over the canyon and valley were stunning, but unfortunately very hazy. Coming down was easy, and we had a local family tailing us for a while as they would not pass us, so we felt the pressure to speed it up, until eventually, we pulled into the hillside, and ushered them past! We had shared our lunch with them, taken their pictures, and I guess they felt some responsibility towards to us. When we got back, one of the girls off the other truck cut my hair, then I had a quick shower and went off to my Ayerurdic (????) massage. Amazing! Absolutely fantastic! Complete whole body (yes front as well) massage which surely got all the soreness and stiffness out from the hike. Then it was dinner after which we watched the video of everyone doing the bungy and swing. As we thought the rafting and conyoning were very tame, and choosing the hike up the mountain was definitely right for us.