Because of the early night I awoke early at 6.30am and wandered out at 7am but not a soul was stirring until an English couple we had met the night before came out for brekkie, so I joined them. They had been travelling for about 4 months overland and were headed for WA to meet up with the guy's sister. Eventually everyone from the group emerged . Kim described the different walks available but some of us decided it was easier and safer to follow our fearless leader on her walk (which she hadn't done before) which was a hike down to the river then half way back up and further along to an area controlled by local people who had built the trail along with bridges, steps and ladders. It was 10 Yuan to enter the area and we discovered, another 10 Yuan to exit the area unless you wanted to go all the way back to the start which wasn't really an option. We also got charged another 10 Yuan on an optional crossing to a large rock that was in the middle of the river but for what amounted to about $AUS8 it was well worth it for the experience. We actually walked down and back up from the riverside two times so we covered a lot of ground. On the way back out of the gorge we came across a section which offered two alternative routes up. There was a "dangerous ladder" or "safe steps". We all agreed to take the ladder until we actually saw the ladder and then half of us 
decided to take the safe steps which didn't really look that safe either. Of course I decided to take the dangerous ladder which was a bit scary but actually a lot faster than the safe steps. The ladder was made of steel concrete reinforcing rods which were fixed into the cliff face and welded together but it was straight up, no slope so you needed to have a firm grip on it. The whole hike was very exhausting and we all had aching legs afterwards, so I wouldn't say our rest day was really restful, but none of us would have wanted to miss it, certainly the most interesting hike I've ever done. Even Kim said it was now her favourite hike in the Gorge.
After walking the 2kms back along the road to out Guest House we ordered a late lunch and sat around talking. Six of us (myself, Adam, Barbara, Sue, Phil and Rowena) decided to try the Tibet Guesthouse for dinner and we played Yahtzee and shared 7 delicious dishes plus apple and honey pancakes for dessert which came to a total of just 160 Yuan ($AUS36). It was then an early night again to rest for our final 4 days cycling.
decided to take the safe steps which didn't really look that safe either. Of course I decided to take the dangerous ladder which was a bit scary but actually a lot faster than the safe steps. The ladder was made of steel concrete reinforcing rods which were fixed into the cliff face and welded together but it was straight up, no slope so you needed to have a firm grip on it. The whole hike was very exhausting and we all had aching legs afterwards, so I wouldn't say our rest day was really restful, but none of us would have wanted to miss it, certainly the most interesting hike I've ever done. Even Kim said it was now her favourite hike in the Gorge.After walking the 2kms back along the road to out Guest House we ordered a late lunch and sat around talking. Six of us (myself, Adam, Barbara, Sue, Phil and Rowena) decided to try the Tibet Guesthouse for dinner and we played Yahtzee and shared 7 delicious dishes plus apple and honey pancakes for dessert which came to a total of just 160 Yuan ($AUS36). It was then an early night again to rest for our final 4 days cycling.
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