To uluru

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So 6:00 am came, and we had managed to just check out of the hotel when the bus turned up. I say bus, but it was actually a lorry chassis with a sort of bus thing stuck on the back. That was the first surprise. Anyway, Liz our tour guide introduced herself, we loaded the small amount of luggage and then got onto the bus.

We then spent the next few minutes creeping around the suburbs of Alice Springs picking up other passengers, although one of the new hotels Liz couldn't find as it seemed to be on an unmarked road. After a while she managed to locate it and then we were off proper. She gave us a few facts and figures about Alice Springs and noted that this tour would not be like any other we had probably been on. We would be sleeping in tents, we'd be expected to help a little with food preparation and cleaning up, and the days would be fairly full.

So first was a 3 hour drive down to the national park that held Uluru/Ayer's rock. We stopped a couple of times on the way down, first at a camel farm where we all had a ride on a camel. Camels were brought into Australia to help in the early days crossing the deserts but when road and rail took over many of them went wild, and today there are lots and lots of wild camels.

Next Liz asked if we'd like a camp fire that night - which we all thought a good idea. So she pulled off the long long long straight road, and we gathered some firewood which she stowed on the roof of the bus.

With a bit of prompting from Liz, we saw what looked like Uluru, but turned out to be a table top mountain called Mount Connor. So we drove on and on, and then finally the real thing started to appear. However before going to visit it, the more important business of lunch was needed and we drove to the campsite. We'd been on the road since 6 and it was now noon, so we were ready for something. We had a lunch which we helped prepare of quiches, bread, salads and cheese which went down well.

Then, we got back on the bus and went to visit Uluru, first going to the cultural center in the park, where we couldn't take photographs, and then to Uluru itself. Some members of the group were going to do the basewalk - the walk all around it, a couple were doing the climb, which the native Aboriginals are not keen on but is allowed. We stuck with Liz who took us to a couple of different locations around the rock where we could see different things and get photos and even touch the rock. Its a curious thing to be sure. It was formed by a lot of sand being washed from a mountain into a big sink hole. All the big bits of erosion were caught in another sinkhole, leaving only the fine sand to fill this second one, which got compressed into the sandstone that is Uluru. However it got squashed and battered which means that it is now sitting upright with the layers running up and down rather than across as they were originally laid down.

After we'd done all these things, we all reassembled and then drove off to a place to watch the sunset on the rock, where there was a table for us filled with nibbles and champagne. So we stood and drank and nibbled as the sun slowly set over the rock. Our group didn't seem to be drinking very much and I found I had to help out with the stocks and got through about 4-5 glasses by the time we had to leave.

Then back to camp for an Aussie BBQ, which Simon and Rachel cooked most of. Sausages and steak with salad, bread and fruit salad to finish with. We also had our campfire and played some silly games around it before getting ready for bed. As it was by now dark, and we only had a wind up lantern of little power, this wasn't easy. The other shock we got that tomorrow would start with a wake up call at 5:15 am!! The tents were quite solid affairs with two beds in each with a sleeping bag. We all got into bed and wondered how we'd get up even earlier than the previous day.

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Comments

[Granny Sue]

THE ROCK
Fabulous pictures! what an amazing experience for the 4 of you. How will you ever come back down to the brown earth of Bridgford?! GS

[anj]

looks amazing rachel. i miss u loads. when r u comin home?

[Rosemary]

Wow! The thing to do when you are young, I think. Not for the oldies! It is fun to share in your fun though. Thank you SO much for continuing to send the blogs. Rosemary

[Chris Howes]

Uluru
What amazing colours! I loved your photos of the rock against the setting sun. No wonder people rave about it. The sausages looked pretty good too.