Betty & Katerina
 The Rock! Last but not least was our third tour of the ten day big tour, a three and a half day trip to Uluru (Ayers Rock). We were collected from the hostel by our tour guide (mad) Fiona at 11 am feeling a little worse for wear. We hit it off with her almost immediately as we were the first people on the bus and jumped straight into the front seats. Pretty good job as we helped her fix the aircon and get the stereo working before we left town, two fundamental requirements for a road trip in the desert. Eventually the bus left for Yulara once we had been round and collected everybody, been out to the airport and back into Alice again. A mix up with a Colombian family from our previous tour not being booked on the bus when they should have been meant we had to go back to pick them up. It was quite sweet though as Julien (French student) also from our previous tour was rather fond of the daughter. Along the way, in a place called Erl Dunda (sounds Mexican eh?) we unfortunately collected a load of Germans (more to follow). After a 500km drive we reached Yulara (the small town built primarily due to the presence of that rather large stone) and the campsite where we were to spend two nights. As soon as we arrived into camp Fi dished out the stools so we could all walk up to a look out point and see sunset over Kata Tjuta (many heads in Aboriginal) A.K.A. `The Olgas` - Uluru`s ugly little sister, as well as a view out to Uluru itself. Although the weather was pretty cloudy (pretty much unheard of out here) we were amongst the lucky few (5%) to see rain and lightning at the rock (apparently). Fiona also had a friend (Cassie) joining the tour so we were introduced to her and spent the night chatting with Cas and a few of the other people on tour who didn`t speak only in German. There was a bit of a food war which was the first real display of the friendliness of our European neighbours but as usual us vegos came out on top with full bellies. This was our first time sleeping out in a famed Ozzie `Swag` (heavy duty type outdoor sleeping bag with a mattress) so we got an early night and squeezed a bit of star gazing in ready for a big day to follow. Wake up call was 4:30 (well Kaz got up then but Liz along with fi and Cas managed to sleep in). Anyway, apparently this is counted as morning and therefore not too early to start stocking up on vegiemite on toast and coco pops. By 6 O`Clock we were at Kata Tjuta and ready for our three hour long morning stroll around the valley of the winds. The walk included the dramatically named `heart attack hill` not sure what those whinging poms on our first tour were complaining about there. There were some wonderful views with amazing rock formations and the view from the top made us feel like we were in the middle of nowhere, especially as we got out before all the other groups. The fruit cake break wasn`t bad either. Before heading back to camp we had an hour at the cultural centre where we learnt a lot about the local history including the great significance of Uluru to the Aboriginal people and why they urge you not to climb the rock. Lunchtime was a welcome rest before we set off for our first close up view of Uluru. Luckily the rock was closed so nobody could climb it (we reckon they chouldn`t allow it anyway). Along with Cassie, the two of us completed the 9.4km base walk circumnavigating the rock. It was amazing to see all the caves, crevices and colours close up, photographs really don`t do it justice. We couldn`t convince Cassie of this though as she is a budding photographer, at least we had an excuse to go at a slow pace. Following completion of the walk and a chance to laugh at a load of golden oldies wearing daft fly nets over their heads we moved on to `Sunset Boulevard` where for the first time all day we were amongst the crowds. Unfortunately it was a cloudy day and so we did not get to witness the famed sunset however, our consolation prize was running into `tits on tour` and Jess and James again so we enjoyed the chance to catch up. Back at camp we enjoyed a feast (still not enough to satisfy the Germans as our good friend Katrina A.K.A. `Austria` acted as translator telling us how rude they were being). Another night out in swags, this time up at the lookout point and we even made cups of Milo to make it a real camping extravaganza. The sky cleared during the night and the stars overhead were just amazing. We woke up at about 6am (a lie-in) and as Fi promised were lucky enough to enjoy the magical site of sunrise at Uluru from the comfort of our sleeping bags. Following a leisurely breakfast, it was time to pack up camp and depart for `King`s Canyon`. As it was such a beautiful morning, Fi took us back to Uluru to get some snaps with the perfect blue sky backdrop. Sadly we couldn`t pretend that it was just the four of us on a girlie road trip this day as a couple of irish guys had asked us for our front seat spot. For once we were out done on this trip in the eating stakes as a guide from another tour tried to give us all extra food he couldn`t get near the table due to the rabble of greedy German boys. Meal times were so embarrassing it was like feeding time at the zoo but we had a good laugh with everyone else and it didn`t affect our tour. There was a pool on the way to the bush campsite for our final night and we all enjoyed a swim there, Liz forgot her `swimmers` and got to wear a shorts and bra combo which was rather fetching. By the last night the atmosphere amongst the group began to improve and we all enjoyed sitting around the campfire and eating a hearty supper before retiring early to the swags. Woohoo up at 4:45 (yep people actually pay for these kind of tours) and on to King`s canyon. If you want to walk anywhere it really is the best time of day before the heat becomes unbearable. The canyon walk was a 3 hour route around the rim of the canyon following a steep climb and a great chance to be taught by Fi about `bush tucker` (how Aboriginals used plants as a food and medicinal source). We also got to see more wonderful wildlife and let`s not forget the all important, this is where they filmed `Priscilla Queen of the Desert`. The drive back to Alice was fairly uneventful except for the unfortunate sighting of an injured Goanna (large lizard) which fi and the Irish guys had the unpleasant task of putting out of it`s misery. No doubt nothing to the suffering we inflicted on everyone else on the bus with our `Caraoke` and truck honking antics. I`m sure you`ve already guessed that we were forced out on another post tour knees up after all of this. As we got along so well with Fiona and Cassie they invited us both along on another road trip, hard to believe a tour guide doesn`t get enough of this kind of thing when working. After a lie-in we headed off in a borrowed station wagon to Ormiston gorge (150km west of Alice Springs). An impromptu game of roadside cards was an added bonus as we waited for the car to cool down and refilled the radiator. There was a waterhole along the way so we enjoyed a refreshing (read rather brisk) and brief swim before reaching the campsite within the national park. It was great to be away from the moaning members of our tour and just enjoy chatting and laughing with the amazing backdrop of the gorge. Although we had a perfectly good meal Liz decided to tuck into a few ants but that`s another story. We took our swags down to the water hole and enjoyed a peaceful night`s sleep on the white sand. With no agenda but our own we woke up as the sunrose and turned over to see several rock wallabies staring back at us. What an amazing sight juts to see them on the rocks checking us out and even a mother with a joey. After breakfast we set off on another walk (watch out Carole we`ll be joining the rambling club next) for about 3 hours around the gorge. Yet more wonderful views and wildlife including monitor lizards and budgies. Another bracing swim and an al fresco lunch was enough to wear us all out. Fi stopped off at some `ochre pits` (the brightly coloured rock that Aboriginals make into powder for painting etc...). As luck would have it Fiona was house sitting for a lovely lady named Wendy (well we`ve never met her but are very grateful to have wiled away an afternoon by her pool emptying the contents of her fridge). As we had such a fantastic time with these two lasses it was only right that we show our appreciation by going out with them for our final night. Liz got trollied, well at least she thinks that is where the bruises came from. For the last two days we have been on that lovely old asphalt once more with an express tour between Alice Springs and Adelaide. All that was of interest was our overnighter in the opal mining town of Coober Pedy (a place so hot most houses are built underground) they also make fab pizza. Our driver bore an uncanny resemblance to Michael Bolton and we were lucky enough to have the most irritating chap on this earth amongst our fellow companions, probably the closest living thing to Adrian Mole. Also managed to get in a few more signpost photo ops, by passing `Elizabeth` and also `Stockport` (where Kaz was born!) Well folks that is about all for now, we`ve just picked up a campervan (named Cassie) and are heading for Melbourne over the next week. Not before time I`m sure you will agree we`ve decided to be sensible for a bit by getting up for a few early morning walks, enjoying porridge for breakfast and having afternoon tea in the local bakeries en route (can hear the parents sighs of relief from here).
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Diary Photos
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Liz @ Kings Canyon |
 The crossover to the south! |
 Kangaroos at Uluru. |
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