The Kings Canyon Debacle

I left the Uluru Kata Tjuta National Park and headed North towards Kings Canyon, without the company of the Spanish Guys. The plan was to get close to Kings Canyon, camp for the night and then hike the rim of the canyon at first light, before the day become too hot. I arrived in the area of Kings Canyon at the place I had intended to sleep for the night around noon, I ate lunch and it was only 1pm. I couldn't force myself to hangout and wait the whole night, so I drove to Kings Canyon and did the valley walk instead of the rim walk, as the rim walk was closed for the day because of the intense heat. The canyon was okay, but much less spectacular than I had hoped, I didn't think it was worth waiting around for to do another hike in the morning so I decided to head towards my next destination, further North.

The GPS in my car told me I could get to the next town by 6pm, and I knew I would be able to find a place to park the van and sleep nearby the town, so I followed the GPS directions North.

Approximately 30 minutes out from Kings Canyon a sign was posted saying "Unpaved Road". I pulled onto the road and it was gravel, but straight and flat with some rocks about. I slowed down to 60 km/h and drove dodging rocks on the ground. There were some places with corrugation, but it wasnt too bad and after 5km's the road was paved again. I checked the GPS and it still showed that I would be at my destintion by 6pm. After another 5km's of paved road it turned back to unpaved road and was heavily corrugated. I slowed right down to marginally faster than idol and the car bounced around like crazy. I drove like this for about 5 more kilometers and the road remained very bumpy.

I thought to myself "If the GPS is recommending this way, it can't possibly be like this for the whole 3 hours", but the further I slowly bumped and rolled along, it stayed this same bumpy dirt road. I stopped the van and checked all of my maps and guide books but none of them were very clear on when this would become paved again, if at all. I kept driving and watching the GPS time, I decided that if the GPS arrival time changed to 7pm, I would turn around and go back. I didn't want to be driving this slowly and bumpily all night long. After a total of 40 kilometers from when I first got onto this unpaved road, the GPS arrival time changed to 7pm, and the road was still very much unpaved. I gave up turned around and drove the same bumpy 40 kilometers back the way I had come and then down to the place I had stopped at earlier at noon and spent the night there!

Does this look like a pig to you?

Check out the rest of the day's photos HERE