A beautiful wedgetailed eagle
We spent a long day in the car driving to Yulara, roughly about 750 kms. The terrain was a little more interesting with at least some vegetation along the way. We did see lots of wedge-tailed eagles. They are beautiful birds and hover over the road waiting for someone to provide some road kill for them to eat. We arrived just in time to see the sunset over the Rock and the Olgas.
Next morning we headed off with our bikes on the back of the car for Uluru. Not cheap to get into the national park ($25 each) but the ticket lasts for 3 days. It was quite cool but once we got out of the shade and into the sun we soon warmed up. The size of the rock staggered us. We had expected big, but this is BIG. It took us just over an hour to ride the 10 kms around the base of the rock, an easy ride with lots of photo stops along the way. On the way we passed a gaggle of Loreto girls from Toorak. Lucky they were all behaving themselves or I would have had to tell on them. I do have contacts you know!! Our intention was that, when we finished our ride, we were going to attempt climbing the rock, but the conditions were quite windy and the climb was closed.
Next morning we headed off with our bikes on the back of the car for Uluru. Not cheap to get into the national park ($25 each) but the ticket lasts for 3 days. It was quite cool but once we got out of the shade and into the sun we soon warmed up. The size of the rock staggered us. We had expected big, but this is BIG. It took us just over an hour to ride the 10 kms around the base of the rock, an easy ride with lots of photo stops along the way. On the way we passed a gaggle of Loreto girls from Toorak. Lucky they were all behaving themselves or I would have had to tell on them. I do have contacts you know!! Our intention was that, when we finished our ride, we were going to attempt climbing the rock, but the conditions were quite windy and the climb was closed.
Uluru
We have met some nice people on our adventures and seem to be running into them each place we camp. Hence we now have a drinkies group to play with each night.
Saturday we ventured out to the Olgas for a walk that took us through this amazing rock formation. It took us about 3 hours but well worth the time and effort. We went back in the afternoon for photos at sunset, then home for an early night as we were knackered.
Olgas
There have been a number of dingos roaming through the caravan park both at Uluru and Kings Canyon and you have to make sure that you put everything away at night or they will take it, but I haven’t seen one take a baybeee yet!. They love to howl at sunset and sunrise and about 2am for some reason.
Tuesday we spent a quiet morning watching people leave then did some washing and sat in the sun and read. In the afternoon we went for a drive to Kathleen Springs. A nice little waterhole but a bit disappointing after yesterday’s magnificence. We leave early tomorrow to drive to Alice Springs. We will once again be in mobile range so will have a chance to upload the blog and talk to the family. Different caravan park - familiar pose
Dreamtime and story telling are very big in this area and I do have a story to tell about life in the caravan park. I was quietly sitting reading my book in the sun and I noticed that one of the cars was leaving to go for a drive. Next thing there was an enormous bang and a man yelling. It appears his wife was going to the shop and drove off without disconnecting the electric chord from the back of the car to the caravan. This man started telling a story in a very loud voice about a female dog who came from Effing (near Lalor in Melbourne???). This story didn’t seem to distress his wife at all even when he told the whole camp that it was the third electric chord she had wrecked. She smiled sweetly at him and happily got back into the car and drove off. He continued to relate his story even though she had left. It was very hard trying not to laugh out loud at his antics. I suppose I shouldn’t laugh too much as I haven’t done it yet, but it is probably only a matter of time.
Mother’s Day was spent travelling to Kings Canyon. The vegetation was very different from what we had previously seen, lot of trees and shrubs, more eagles and the odd camel grazing on the side of the road. The caravan park was very tranquil and shady apart from the group of kids from Townsville who are making a bit of a racket. We took a short walk out to Kings Creek then back to the park. There are a lot of the same people at the park again and I think this will be the case until we reach Darwin when some will head east and the others west. Also everyone is on a different time schedule so some we disappear quicker than others.
We have been having far too much to drink. Each night we sit with someone and drink whatever, gin, wine, beer until it is dinner time – usually about 7.30pm. By then it is hard to actually cook and clean up so there has been a lot of cleaning up in the morning.
Monday we went on the Kings Canyon rim walk. It was a 3 hours and 30 minute walk/climb around the rim of the canyon. I think you could easily class it as difficult, especially the beginning where you climb vertically up the wall of the canyon. We started the walk behind a girl who obviously loved cheese (Nata, you will understand what I mean) but soon passed her and her boyfriend. The scenery very much reminded us of the Kimberley. The colours, rock formations, Stephen’s blue singlet and my grey shorts brought back fond memories of our trip last year. I am sure the Scapers will agree when they see the photos. You could feel the serenity. I must remember to change the wardrobe when we next go on a trip. We had lunch at the “Garden of Eden” which was probably the nicest spot along the way and got a second wind to resume the climb. Took some wonderful photos, picture postcard style. Certainly a must see on everyone’s bucket list. Rewarded ourselves with an icy-pole when we returned to the caravan park. Stephen tried out his solar panel to recharge the second battery with some success. We have had a few problems with the car and will have to see a mechanic when we get to the Alice in a few days.
Mother’s Day was spent travelling to Kings Canyon. The vegetation was very different from what we had previously seen, lot of trees and shrubs, more eagles and the odd camel grazing on the side of the road. The caravan park was very tranquil and shady apart from the group of kids from Townsville who are making a bit of a racket. We took a short walk out to Kings Creek then back to the park. There are a lot of the same people at the park again and I think this will be the case until we reach Darwin when some will head east and the others west. Also everyone is on a different time schedule so some we disappear quicker than others.
We have been having far too much to drink. Each night we sit with someone and drink whatever, gin, wine, beer until it is dinner time – usually about 7.30pm. By then it is hard to actually cook and clean up so there has been a lot of cleaning up in the morning.
Monday we went on the Kings Canyon rim walk. It was a 3 hours and 30 minute walk/climb around the rim of the canyon. I think you could easily class it as difficult, especially the beginning where you climb vertically up the wall of the canyon. We started the walk behind a girl who obviously loved cheese (Nata, you will understand what I mean) but soon passed her and her boyfriend. The scenery very much reminded us of the Kimberley. The colours, rock formations, Stephen’s blue singlet and my grey shorts brought back fond memories of our trip last year. I am sure the Scapers will agree when they see the photos. You could feel the serenity. I must remember to change the wardrobe when we next go on a trip. We had lunch at the “Garden of Eden” which was probably the nicest spot along the way and got a second wind to resume the climb. Took some wonderful photos, picture postcard style. Certainly a must see on everyone’s bucket list. Rewarded ourselves with an icy-pole when we returned to the caravan park. Stephen tried out his solar panel to recharge the second battery with some success. We have had a few problems with the car and will have to see a mechanic when we get to the Alice in a few days.
Kings Canyon
Familiar photo - different face
There have been a number of dingos roaming through the caravan park both at Uluru and Kings Canyon and you have to make sure that you put everything away at night or they will take it, but I haven’t seen one take a baybeee yet!. They love to howl at sunset and sunrise and about 2am for some reason.
Tuesday we spent a quiet morning watching people leave then did some washing and sat in the sun and read. In the afternoon we went for a drive to Kathleen Springs. A nice little waterhole but a bit disappointing after yesterday’s magnificence. We leave early tomorrow to drive to Alice Springs. We will once again be in mobile range so will have a chance to upload the blog and talk to the family. Different caravan park - familiar pose
2 comments:
Hi anne and Stephen,
I
wrote an enormous reply and then hasd to log on and become a new user so lost all I said. Not one to be lost for words.... your trip reminds me of Adrain and my travels in 1989. Trying to hammer in Coober Pedy is nearly impossible! Sounds all very energetic and we hope to see you in Perth before we leave on our own travels. Keep well and safe. Love to you both, Suzanne and Adrian
Hi anne and Stephen,
Good to read that your enjoying yourself, found any of those huge pyhons hanging from the cliffs yet?
Pictures are excellent keep up the good work.
Spoke to Barry the other day, your appear to be following in his tyre tracks at the moment. He has head up north of Perth now as he has been told that it is becoming popular for poeple in Perth to head up norht form now on form three months or so and it becomes hard to find accomodation/camp sites etc so they changed their plans and decided to go now and beat the rush.
Hope the rest of the trip goes well and beware the crocs!
What's up with the truck?
Cheers
Leigh
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