It seemed like only 5 minutes since we'd turned the lights out in the prison cell. The alarm went off at 4.20am this morning and after several moans and groans from random bunk beds, we started getting up. Breakfast was at 5.15am and we were leaving at 5.45am. True to form I carried on with my eat at breakfast regardless of the time routine and poked down some peanut butter on toast. The coach was quiet on the way out to Uluru, but you could almost feel the excitement for seeing the sun rise. We listened to aboriginal didgeridoo music on the way, in the dark, which was kinda creepy. We got there and walked up to the viewing platform, ready for the sun to come up. The sky was already an amazing orangey, yellowy, red colour. The sun gradually started to highlight Ayres Rock and we took pictures for about half an hour. Such a fantastic sight. We headed back to the coach and drove to the base to start our 10.2km walk round it. We managed to do it in 1 hour 50, which was at a reasonable pace and gave us the chance to take in what we were actually seeing, although I still don't think it had really sunk in. None of it is still.
On completing the walk, I was soon greeted by my Harley Davidson bike and rider, ready for my quick spin of Uluru. This lasted half an hour and took me out round the base and out onto the highway. How, flipping, amazing. Courtney was out on my ride too on another bike so sometimes we'd ride side by side and take pictures of each other, and overtake to be infront. Such an awesome feeling to just cruise round the winding roads in the sunshine, taking in the views. Managed to get a picture of the reflection of Ayres Rock in the drivers helmet - pretty chuffed with that one. I was pretty scared before I started but loved every single minute of it.
Back on the coach by 11am - what a morning! We came back to the resort and sat by the pool with a beer with a few people. Taking a bit of time out to relax before tonight. I'm toying with the idea of a sleep right now, just to make sure I get through tonight!....
I did some washing and had some lunch, then went for a sleep. The early start had caught up with me. By the time I woke up it was time to get ready for our big champagne sunset evening at Uluru. We all put dresses on and made an effort to look nice for some good pictures (the girls wore dresses, just to clarify!). Everyone was buzzing on the coach on the way, we knew it was gonna be a good night. Tim and Jara set the table up with champagne glasses and loads of snacks and nibbles. Awesome effort on their part. We all took a glass of champagne with strawberries and toasted the group. The next hour or so was spent taking loads of group sunset photos, eating and having our champagne constantly topped up. We got through 22 bottles pretty quickly and the atmosphere was wicked. Everyone was having such a good time. It was dark by the time we travelled back so Tim put the flashing lights on in the coach and we all had a dance and a laugh. Cue the video camera - so glad I bought that! The drinking and dancing carried on back at the hotel for a few hours. People were merry to say the least, dancing to the live music played by a bloke on the stage.
Definitely the best day so far, by a mile.....