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Hello from a scorching hot Alice Springs,
We have had a couple of highly memorable days which I loved completely and Jen will probably have nightmares over for a while to come yet. It started at 6am on Friday morning when a group of 21 of us loaded on to a mini coach and started our 7 hour drive through the desert. On the way we saw several kangaroos, camels, and even a cow that had a rather messy and damaging experience with a car.
Our destination was Ayers Rock (Uluru). On our arrival we had the choice to walk up it or around it. The climb was too tough and my fear of height ensured that we chose the "easier" route of walking around. However a 8/9km walk in heats that topped around 35C+ and thousands of flies turned out far tougher than we imagined. Having said that it was an impressive site and highly enjoyable. Later in the day we went to a viewpoint to have dinner whilst watching the sunset over the rock. As the sun reaches a certain point the rock seems to light up from inside and it makes the trip suddenly very worthwhile!
For sleeping we drove into the bush started a camp fire and slept under the stars in swags. It was bloody freezing and we had very little sleep hence why Jen was traumatise by it, however, I loved it. Once clouds cleared the sky was full of stars and you really felt likle you were in the middle of nowhere.
On the second day we visited the Olgas (Kata Tjuta) these are less famous but the walk was just as impressive (more so) it was certainly more challenging with steep hills. Again though the day started at 5am so we were increasingly tired. In the evening Jen was far happier as we stayed in a camp site (just in swags but with a bathroom and shower near by). For dinner we had camal and tortillas it was very nice.
On our final day we saw Kings Canyon. Again not well known but certainly the best walk of the trip, with many areas to climb and explore. This was probably my favourite excursion of the trip even if we were exhausted from yet another 5am start. This was followed by another 6 hour drive back to Alice but as we slept most the way it did not matter.
Despite Jen's original concerns we both have had an excellent weekend though we can't wait to get to Melbourne and a decent hotel. We fly out in a little over an hour so I am off to get ready.
Hope you are all well.
Rob & Jen
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