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Lucy's Big Adventure
My time at Ayres Rock or Uluru as the aboriginals prefer it to be called was amazing.
Arrived on Monday lunchtime and settles into the Outback Pioneer which was nice enough - with a lovely pool to cool off in. The temperature was about 33 degrees so not too unbearable. I met a girl called cat at the airport so spent the evening at the resort with her - its amazing close to Ayres Rock itself. Theres a viewpoint behind the room where u can get a really good view for sunset and sunrise.
Got picked up by Sahara tours at 1pm on Tuesday lunchtime - I think there were about 24 of us in total - and i wasn't the only one joining the tour late from Yulara which made me feel better (the others had started it at Alice Springs)
We went off to the Olga's that afternoon after lunch at the permanent campsite we were staying at. Did a short walk through a canyon there and went to catch sunset over Uluru itself whilst knocking back a few glasses of wine thoughtfully provided by Karl our guide. Got chatting to John (an Ozzy) and Jo (English) some friends on the tour and also two lovely american couples who were interested in my solo world trip!
The evening was spent round the camp fire and tea was a BBQ and more wine :) The campsite we were staying at is permanently there for Sahara Tours and whilst it was tents they had wooden floors and real beds with mattresses (joy o joy!) Didn't realise they had no power though so the torch u gave me Matt was my saving grace!! It is very very black at night out in the desert!
Early Wed morning we were kindly awoken by Karl to get a head start on the other tours and see sunrise over Uluru. He banged on the tents at 4.45am and told us we had to shout out to let him know we were awake - I asked if it was ok if it was swearing given the time of day and my mood in the mornings!!! Still I made it and after a hasty breakfast of toast and vegemite (Please please bring marmite when u come out Matt - I miss it sooo much!) we all trundled off in the bus. On the journey it transpired that we could in fact climb up the rock and if we wanted to this was the only chance we were going to get. After all the times I said I never would I changed my mind at the last minute and John and I were the only two from our camp who did!
I can honestly say that It was the most physically demanding thing i have EVER EVER done! The climb is more than 45 % most of the way which when u see it turns out to be VERY steep. The handrail that is there for some of the route is just above knee height so not v.easy to hold on to. The rock is so smooth from the footsteps from everyone that it's really important to plant your feet well so as not to slip. Saying that the views from the top were amazing and the feeling you get whilst looking out over the desert is spine tingling. It was also really very windy - to the point that people were holding on with hands and knees when walking the steep ridges on the top - two chinese girls I saw were sitting in a little hollow and had bee foe some time as they were scared of being blown off. When we got back down we learnt that the climb had actually been closed shortly after we set off due to the high winds - didn't learn the exact speed but they were more than 26 knots which is the cut off point!
That afternoon was spent driving to Kings Creek cattle station where we had an amazing meal that Karl cooked in the fire. Also got a lesson on the Constellations from him - I can remember about three!
On Thursday we were up at 4.30am (Can u believe it - I thought I was supposed to be on bloody holiday!) to get to Kings Canyon for sunrise. We managed to be the first group up so all the photos are of scenery without people everywhere so I suppose I can see the point of the early start! Kings Canyon itself was amazing - more so than Uluru i thought and its a wonder more people don't know about it (I told Karl and jo I'd never heard of it!)
I managed to get the front seat up with Karl that day which proved to be a good choice as we drove the Mereni loop (a non tarmacced road that was all corugated and the most bumpy ride I've ever been on!) It lasted for hours and in the back of the bus the others were all bounced around like anything! That evening most of us who were doing the three day tour were taken back to Alice Springs whilst Jo and John and the others went off for a further two days. I stayed at a place called Melanka which was probaby the worst hostel I've stayed in so far in terms of atmosphere! But I did get a room to myself as Im guessing the others booked in cancelled and i was right oppposite the Greyhound stop for my ride at 7.30am Friday morning.
So Friday was another early start for me and I took the greyhound all the way back to Yulara in order to catch my flight on Saturday lunchtime. Spent the afternoon by the pool again and the evening watching Midsommer Murders on ABC (Well I have been missing my favourite show so I was v.excited when I heard the theme tune from the tv lounge!)
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