Day 6. Sunday March 10th Condor Canyon

Up at 5.00am and then, after breakfast, a two hour drive over unmade roads to get to the canyon. Then an hour’s hike along the rim to hunt for a view of the condors. The sun comes out and it’s beautiful and we soon see some of the 25-50 condors that are supposed to live here. Several take fly-by loops to take a look at us, riding the rim thermals on their 9’ wing spans, and so we see them less than 20 or so feet away. They mate for life, the chicks stay in the nest for two years (I could give them some advice about that-charge them rent!). If the female dies first the male commits suicide by flying high enough to pass out and falling to his death. Christine is looking at me and I know the question she wants to ask me.