To the bottom of the falls... and then to the top!

Larry installed one of his new batteries first thing this morning just to test the system. Everything seems to be working fine, but of course we don't have a spare charge controller for his solar panel so we have a separate battery charger being run off the inverter of another rig. He's got the basics working again so they have power for the fridge and some lights in the evening.

The entire group set off from the ranch at around 9:00am to do a hike. Ten of us who were most ambitious would go right to the bottom of the falls, and then cut across on the way back up to the top of the falls, while the other four would attempt the more direct route to the top of the falls.

(Still getting caught up from our several days without decent internet. Tuesday and Wednesday are now updated here...

https://www.travelwithkevinandruth.com/2019/11/long-drive-to-rancho-san-lorenzo.html

https://www.travelwithkevinandruth.com/2019/11/first-view-of-basaseachi-falls-and.html)

Decent weather for a beautiful hike. The high temperature was only forecast to be 12C (54F) with a chance of a shower around noon.

Ready to set off at 9:00am.

We got to the trailhead and a shower went through.

It gave us a rainbow start to our hike!

Ruth, coming down the trail!

Still going down!

Me, and Basaseachi Falls.

Some interesting vegetation.

Still heading down.

Aron and Owenita ahead of us.

A perfectly shaped yucca plant.

Mona and Larry.

Mona is a long distance trail runner. I have no problem keeping up with her on the downhill stretches, but uphill is a different story! She certainly sets the bar higher for our fitness level on this trip.

Made it to the bottom.

We made it to the bottom at 10:45am. We spent 15 minutes enjoying the scenery and wandering around at the bottom. There was a fair bit of water coming over the falls compared to the last time we were here. Ruth put her raincoat on and went up close. There was a fair bit of mist coming at you... it was like standing in the rain!

Mona at the bottom of the falls.

It was tough to get pictures because the lens would get wet.

A rainbow at the bottom.

Can you see Ruth in her blue raincoat?

You might have to click on the photo to make it full screen!

Then it was time for the steep climb from the bottom of the falls to the top of the falls. It was an hour and ten minutes of hard climbing.

We expected to meet the other four at the top, but they weren't there. We weren't sure if they had been and gone, or if they hadn't made it that far. We sat and had our lunch at the top, and then set off on the direct route back to the ranch.

There's the group on the right side.

Looking down.

800 feet down!

We made it back to the motorhomes around 1:30pm. What a fantastic hike it was!

People did their own thing and relaxed for the rest of the afternoon. Everybody showed up at happy hour around the 4:30pm mark. People usually bring an assortment of appetizers, and sometimes we have lots of food! Almost don't need any supper! Larry and Marth did fajitas for everybody yesterday... they were great!

Today (Friday) is a free day, but Sue and Roy have offered their van to take those who didn't make it to the top of the falls yesterday. We will drive over there about 11:00am. Maybe if we are lucky there will be a taco place in the village. I'm sure there will be some more hiking and biking for the rest of the group.

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