Submitted: Sunday, Sep 28, 2008 at 15:49

We were up at 7:00 am, and had cereal and coffee for breakfast. We cleaned up camp and then set off for Ulura at about 9:00 am. Our first stop was for Dennis and Sue to refuel as their Camry didn’t have an overly large tank. ULP was 35c cheaper here at the resort than back at Curtin Springs. We popped into IGA for a few bits and pieces for lunch, and then headed off to see Uluru. We paid our $25.00 each for adult entry and in we went. It is still just as magical as the previous 2 times that we have been here.



We missed the 10:00 am guided Mala walk, so we did our own walk along the Mala track. We went over to the cultural centre for a look, where the kids got their postcard and hatpin and I got my car sticker. Tracy decided that she fancied one of those leather hats and a t-shirt, but had conveniently left her eftpos card in the car, so guess who got to pay?



We drove the 44 kms out to the Olga’s and did the Walpa Gorge walk. The scenery was beautiful, although the wind was blowing and a bit chilly. Tracy stayed back at the car while we did this walk as she was still feeling pretty miserable with the flu and having some major coughing fits. The walk took us about an hour or so. We took plenty of photos and video while the kids decided to get somewhat feral and thought they were mountain goats, trying to climb the walls of the gorge.



We got back to the car and drove away from the Olga’s, stopping at yet another viewing point for yet more photos and video. We also drove past the Great Central Road turnoff, where we had originally come in only a few days ago. I can remember on both previous trips out here that I had mentioned that I would travel that road one day, which I have now, although I still have the abandoned section of the Gunbarrel to complete, which I will get to one day.

We arrived back at the sunset viewing area of Uluru with about an hour to spare before sunset, but the car park was already quite full. We found a spot and set up the camera ready to catch the sunset on film. The kids had positioned themselves on the roof rack with their video camera for a nice clear view.



The sunset was pretty good. It was better than the last time we were here, but still nowhere near as good as the first trip out here. I think its just a matter of luck as to how good the sunset is. This time the colour change was only very gradual and reasonably difficult to see, unlike the first year we were here, where it was just so vivid and well defined. Nonetheless this year was still quite spectacular.



We had to pop back into the resort on the way out as I needed to refuel. Once again we also had to visit IGA to stock up on a few bits and pieces to last us for the next few days, before we did a full restock in Alice Springs. Diesel had dropped from $2.26 / litre on Sunday to $2.10 today, Tuesday. No one can convince me that there is no profiteering going on with service stations. No real milk available at IGA so looks like we are on the emergency pack of long life.

We took it pretty easy on the way back to Curtin Springs doing about 90 kms / hour and watching for wildlife on the road. We arrived back at camp at around 8:30 pm, negotiating a dozen or so cows on the road just before turning in. Just a slap up dinner of cap-a-soup tonight for all of us besides Jackson who was so tired that he just collapsed into his sleeping bag. We again sat around with Dennis and Sue for a while before heading off to bed ourselves at about 10:30 pm. Tonight is the coldest so far, and we are all rugged up pretty well for bed.

Tags: 4WD, Camp Cooking, Camper Trailer, Camping, Places/Destinations, Travel Journal, Travelling with Kids, Family
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