I last saw a volcano erupting 2 years ago in Ecuador and that night view of the red hot lava pouring down the mountainside was at least 1.5 kilometres away.

The afternoon started with a rather lengthy time to process payment by all of us - credit card not accepted and not enough change at first with just one van to make two trips to get us all to their office, getting the transport arranged and finally time to source some bananas. Then a puncture in one of the 3 vehicles. These things do happen. Running so late now I feared that we would miss the sunset as I was expecting a 2 hour walk up the volcano.

Leaving the tarseal road and onto the dirt road ... well lets be honest and say the rather at times deeply rutted single lane dirt oxen track that only a 4 x 4 can drive over took a very long hour to get to the base of the volcano. We bounced around like anything. I was fortunate enough to have a front facing rear seat with garb handle in the new Toyoto Hi Lux along with 2 others. All the others were in 2 old Toyoto Landcruiser sitting on 2 lengthwise facing each other bench seats. The tour company actually wanted 10 of us in each van - 5 on each bench seat. It would have been fine if we were midgets.
 
Instead of the anticipated 2 hours, it was less than 30 minutes scrambling over the loose scoria to reach the point where sunset is observed. We had plenty of time and I was expecting a non event due to the distant cloud clover but again was proven wrong. Am glad I had my tripod as I had locked my camera to ISO 100, exposure compensate varying them from - 1 to -1/3 and away I clicked.

Time to eat the filled baguette etc before the short level 10 minute walk to the edge of the crater.

One could smell the sulphur and certainly hear the volcano well before we saw the edge of the crater rim. It sounded like a non stop muffled jet engine.

By now it was dark and we were told it is best to lie down at the edge of the crater rim and look down to see the red hot lava.

I set up the tripod and slung the camera neck strap over my head just in case!

I don’t like standing on edges (of anything) anymore so gingerly somehow took only 7 images starting off at 30 secs.

I’m happy with my results. My 7 photos does not show how far virtually below us at the bottom the active red lava was coming out of the crater. I have a 200 mm lens and it was fully extended.

While waiting to leave, I turned my radio on as that is part of my emergency wind up torch and Hotel California was playing.

Anyway time to head down a different route. Torches on and yes, the first 15 minutes one had to watch their footing. It was then easy .. In fact much easier than coming up by a different route. My new wind up LED torch did its job but had to be kind off continually recharged to give the brightest light. I should have taken one of the offered LED torches in my other hand.

Back to the vans and then the slow hour long drive down the dirt track stopping several times to move branches and rocks. At one stage we met a 2 bullock team with trailer behind them and they had to back up! Having the lights on in fact one could see more clearly the rocks plus dips and holes in the road. It made it look worst than what the ride was.

Picked up the repaired puncture tyre then back into Leon. Was it worth it? Yes, despite the unexpected and at times unnecessary delays and other factors not mentioned here at the moment.