Canyoning - it's wet and wild in Ecuador!

Breakfast meeting with the hotel recommended Tour Company - Jose and the Two Dogs! Jose recommended 'Canyoning' - another name for abseiling down waterfalls! Despite Tina having a back injury picked up on yesterday's bus, we were keen to give it a go and by 10.00 we were in a pick-up truck and on our way.

The heavy rain of the night before had pretty much stopped and it was a cloudy humid morning in Banos. No reported volcano activity and it was still shrouded in a mix of ash and cloud.

We drove 20 minutes to the starting point of our adventure and began with a 20 minute walk / climb through beautiful jungle-type scenery to the first waterfall. Some trepidation for all of us but it was only Ian that seemed to have trouble keeping upright - much slipping and sliding until he mastered the fact that you had to lean back at all times.

The picture is of Tina taking her first steps at Canyoning and despite looking nervous at the beginning, as you can see from the video, soon looked a natural.

By the second waterfall, even Ian was getting the hang of it. What a great experience - to be abseiling down a tributory to the Amazon - the water was warm and the whole atmosphere very special.

In total we went down 5 waterfalls and by the end we were all feeling very secure in what were quite challenging conditions (for us anyway). Couple of minor bumps and grazes - but the hot springs tonight (41 degrees!) should sort those out.

Planning to visit some more falls tomorrow - although not in such close quarters! Also going horseriding , weather permitting to the base of the volcano. Apparently it gave a little cough at around 12.00 today so we may have to keep the plans fluid (or is that molten!) - the locals however seemed totally unconcerned - they have seen it all before.

Banos - which actually means 'toilet' in Spanish is a great town - surrounded by mountans and waterfalls and only a couple of hours from the equator.