Life is a Journey not a Destination

We left Erldunda about 9am, after enjoying fresh baked bread (again) for breakfast. We arrive in Alice Springs about 11.30am. Our room wasn’t ready but we got the van set up, then had some lunch while sitting in the sun. Kevin arrived shortly afterwards, having gone to get a new tire for the bike.

While we waited for our room to be ready we went into town - first to the visitors center, then for a wander around the mall and finally to get some groceries - well a lot of groceries.

We went back to the van park and our room was ready. We unloaded the groceries and all our bags. Our cabin is very nice and it’s good to know we’re here for the next 5 nights. The girls are happy cause they each get a top bunk.

The girls went off to play at the park while we sat and enjoyed some afternoon tea.

Mum & Dad left about 6.30pm and we had dinner and watched Wipeout - the show we discovered last week. The girls loved it yet again. Then the girls had a bath in the HUGE bath and we all headed off to bed.

Tomorrow : Alice Springs Desert Park

We left Kings Canyon around 8.30am headed back to Erlunda. We arrived about 11.30 and had a nice salad for lunch. Then Pop, Kevin, Amy & I hopped back in the car and drive an hour away, some of which was on dirt road, to see a meteorite site. We walked around the rim and then back to the car. It was a pretty area - lots of rocks.

Back at the van we sat in the sun, enjoying the warmth (and some potato chips). The girls played at the park and later in the van. We’ve got internet access here so I’m uploading the last few days diary entries.

Funnily enough we’ve got the same room tonight that we have when we stayed here last week.

I finally got a decent nights sleep – great bed and okay pillows. We had a quick breakfast in our room this morning.before Mum & Dad picked us at 8am. We drove out to Kings Canyon and I was amazed at how many coaches and cars were already there. We started our climb about 8.30 and finished around 11.30am.

It was so fantastic. Once you get up the huge rock staircase it’s quite an easy walk over the rock surface. We stopped quite a few times to rest and take in the view. It was a very enjoyable walk and the landscape spectacular. Well worth doing. And Mum made it and is very proud of her achievement.

I went with Kevin on the bike back to our room where we changed out of our hiking boots and went over to the van. After a brief rest we walked over to the café to have some lunch. Kevin & I shared a yummy vegetarian pizza.

Next up we went to the pool in the hotel area. The girls enjoyed a little swim and we enjoyed lazing the sun. Kevin had a little sleep in the room.

We then packed up most of our luggage and put into the car before heading over to the van again. We had some afternoon tea sitting in the sun. Then I wrote up my diary for the last 2 days, the girls worked on their visual diaries and we chatted and relaxed.

Around 6pm we had dinner, then headed back to our room.

Pop picked us up at 9am. We loaded up the car and went back to hitch up the van. Just before 10am we left for Kings Canyon. Along the way we an emu crossed the road in front of us.

We stopped briefly for lunch in the van and arrived in Kings Canyon around 1pm. Kevin was already there and checked in. We went around to the van site and got the van all set up.

We sat outside in the sun for a bit. I did a load of washing (things that got missed yesterday). The girls played at the park and later we took them for a swim. The water was pretty cold so they didn’t stay in very long.

We went for a drive out to see Kings Canyon (I went on the bike) so Mum could have a look at the steps at the start of the climb. Kevin and the kids went part way up and Mum decided she’d give it a go tomorrow.

Later we had dinner in the van and then Dad took us back to our hotel room. We settled down for the night with the girls watching the Wizard of Oz (only Christy watched to the end). I tried to read and Kevin watched his own little TV.

Still not sleeping the best at night but I was up at 7am. Around 8am we went around to the shops to stock up on groceries. Kevin, Amy & Christy all got croissants to have for breakfast. By 9am we were all ready and waiting for Nan & Pop to pick up the girls. I went on the bike with Kevin out to the Olgas. I really like the Olgas – they are lovely to look at.

We stopped first at the lookout. After chatting briefly with a Scottish guy who was cycling throughout much of Australia, we did the short walk and enjoyed the view.

Then it was on to the Olgas and to complete the Gorge walk. A much shorter walk than yesterday, this one only took an hour. It was rougher –most over rocks – and it was much winder and colder but I really enjoyed it. We stopped at the end to have a drink and snack before the return walk.

I hopped back on the bike with Kevin for the ride back to our apartment. So much nicer on the return trip as it had warmed it. Plus Kevin had finally solved the sound problem I was having with my comms systems.

The girls got into their swimming costumes and we walked around to the Sails in the Desert Resort. We sat out in the sunshine and ordered some lunch. The girls went off immediately for a swim, Amy got out briefly to eat her lunch when it arrived. They had a great time and we all enjoyed our lunch (and a bit of peace and quiet). I had a really yummy Asian salad – though I used Amy’s honey mustard dressing instead of the one my salad came with.

After the got out and dressed and Christy ate some of her roll for lunch, we went and had a look through some of the shops and bought a few souveniers.

Then it was back to the apartment to get ready for our helicopter flights over Uluru and the Olgas. Poppy paid for the girls (and us) so he took them first, then Kevin & I went. This was fantastic and so worthwhile. It’s amazing seeing these giant formations from the air and gives a much great perspective of their size. Truly a magical experience.

When Kevin & I got back we hopped on the bike and rode over to the van so I could finish off some washing (Mum had started it for me earlier). We did this then got Pop to drop us back to our room around 6.30pm.

I made us TVP tacos tonight, then wrote up my blog and played on the computer for a bit while Kevin did the same, Amy wrote in her art diary and Christy played with her new giant plastic insects.

Wow - what a fanastic day. My Dad picked us up from our apartment just after 9am and took us over to the van to make our final preparations for our day. Then I went on the bike with Kevin out to Uluru. Upon arrival we quickly went over as our free guided tour had just started. This was great and we learnt a lot about the Mala aboriginal tribe who once lived here (well, some of the time as they were a nomadic tribe). We saw some of their sacred sights (where no photography is allowed), some cave drawings and the magesty of Uluru up close. The guided tour last about 1 1/2 hours then we set off to complete the walk around the base of the rock. It was a BIG walk - and took us a further 2 1/2 to make it around the base. We stopped briefly to refill our water bottles and have a snack but otherwise we were on our feet the whole time. It was great, beautiful, tiring and hard on the legs. Unfortunately my lower back was very sore and I could feel a bit of a niggling from my heel spur. But it was so worth it. The girls only complained briefly so overall did really great walking for 4 hours.

We were very tired, sore and hungry by the time we got back to the car so we went to the nearby cultural center and headed straight for the cafe to get some lunch. It was nearly 2.30pm and we only just made it before the cafe closed. It was so nice to sit for a bit. After lunch we bought some souvenier t-shirts and a certificate for the girls which we had signed and stamped to say they had walked around the base of Uluru. The girl here spent lots of time chatting with them and even gave them a folder to put their certificates in.

Next up motorbike rides around the rock - courtesy of Kevin. Christy went first and we met them over near the rock so we could watch the “mad” people climbing up the side while we waited. It looks so dangerous ( and around 2 people die each year and many are injured). Plus to Mala people don’t want you to climb it. I had no desire to do so, but them I’m also a bit cautious with the ankle I broke 7 years ago.

Next on the bike was Amy, then Nanny, then Christy and Amy did a second lap each. While waiting Amy went to read the plagues left to commemorate people who died on the rock. One was a 6 year old boy - can you imagine who horrible for his parents - and another a 62 year old women whose life long dream had been to climb the rock and a heartattack while doing so. All the more reason not to climb if you ask me. Nowhere else can I imagine you’d be able to do something so dangerous. Apparently when the rock was given back into aboriginal ownership (for 99 years) was that the climb not be closed to white people.

Lastly it was my turn around the rock on the bike, then back to our apartment. Nan & Pop stayed to have dinner with us tonight. They and Kevin & Amy ordered steak from room service. It took a long time and when we ran to follow up they didn’t have our room number. That given it promptly arrived, complete with 3 free deserts. A very nice touch, especially as were were very hungry by the time we ate.

After they left, we all headed to bed.

Currently blogging for the last 3 days. Unfortunately I can’t get any photos to load. Will try to do so soon. I think Kevin managed to get his photos of Uluru on his blog so you can look there. I can’t believe we’re into the second part of our trip. It seems like we left home many, many weeks ago and yet we seem to have do so much since we’ve been gone.

After yet another bad nights sleep we got up at 6am. Around 8am we took our bags over to the van where we had breakfast with Nan & Pop and helped them get ready. We managed to buy some really yummy homemade bread today so we all enjoyed that for breakfast. We all set off about 9.15 bound for Yulara (the resort near Ayers Rock/Uluru). Kevin left with us today but quickly took off down the road. We had a brief stop at Mount Connor.

We arrived at Yulara at 12.30pm and after getting the van set up we had some lunch sitting outside in the sunshine. We even got to take off our jackets it was so warm.

The girls went off for a play at the park and at 2pm we headed over to Emu Apartments to see if our room was ready. It wasn’t, so we went and did a bit of grocery shopping and enjoy an ice block. We ended up hanging around for a further half an hour waiting for our room, which was finally ready at 3.30pm. It’s very nice and it will be wonderful having more room and a full kitchen.

Just after 4pm we left to drive to Uluru where we drove around the base and then went to find a spot to watch the sunset. It was very nice but not as spectacular as I’d been expecting. Watching it go from bright orange to brown in a matter of minutes was pretty special.

The girls watched hanging out the car roof top, which they thought was great fun.

Kevin stayed longer than us so he could get some shots with stars in the sky. On the way home we saw our first dingo in the wild. That was quite exciting.

Back in the room I got dinner organised and then worked on my blog.

Tomorrow - We walk around the base of Uluru.

After a bad nights sleep we got out of bed around 6am – well we actually lingered in bed cause there was no lounge to go sit on. We watched a bit of TV while waiting for Christy to wake up.

Kevin left around 7.30am and were over at the van around 8am. We had breakfast with Mum & Dad and the girls went to play at the park while we packed up. We were on the road just after 9am. We didn’t stop until lunchtime where we refuelled, had some lunch and the girls played outside – running around trying to miss a water sprinkle – good fun since we can’t have sprinklers at home. Today we saw some wild horses and yesterday we saw our first emus.

Onwards we went to Erldunda, arriving around 2.30pm.

We got unpacked and went for a walk around before enjoying some afternoon tea sitting in the sun. It was nice to be warm for a change. We heard today it is now snowing in Ballarat – kinda glad we missed that as it was cold enough when we were there.

We went for another walk around to see some emu’s and some of the local kanagroos, before watching another play that the girls had made up earlier – they were aborigines in this one making a campfire.

Dinner in the van again tonight with Nan & Pop.

Tomorrow - What this trip is all about - seeing Uluru.

I was awake at 4am and read for bit, then went back to bed, but didn’t really sleep well. The bed was rather hard and I got a sore back. Around 6am I got up again.

We were packed and on the way 9.15am. Lots of travelling to be done today.

The landscape changed pretty quickly and you could see the horizon on all sides. Very barren, sparce and red.

We stopped at Woomera where a lot of missile testing and development was done in the 1950s. We went through the museum which was pretty interesting.

We stopped another hour or so up the road to have refuel and have lunch. I shared a vegetable burger with Poppy. It was nice to have something warm and tasty on yet another cold, windy day.

A few more hours drive and we arrived at Coober Pedy. A strange looking town, known as the opal capital of Australia. Many of the shops, homes and hotels are in underground caves.

After unhitching the van and checking into our hotel room we drove into the town and were lucky enough to visit the Old Timers Mine. We had to don miners hats and got to walk through the mine, which was all hand dug. We also got to see through a home, which was very interesting. The girls were amazed that people lived there – the last family moved out in 1990

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We also went to a nearby lookout area. It’s a bit like looking at a moonscape I think. The sun was setting and we had a great view.

We headed back to the van park and Kevin & I went and ordered some pizza for dinner. It was quite a wait for it but we enjoyed watching the man making them. It was also very delicious so well worth the wait. After having dinner in Nan & Pops van we went back to our room and got into bed (no lounge here) to read.

I was up around 5.30am and read for a bit till everyone else was awake. We had breakfast, packed up and were on the road just before 9am. The landscape was lovely yet again as we drove through the Adelaide Hills area. Lots of the green fields with rolling hills in the background. We stopped briefly at a local water mill. Very pretty spot - it would have been nice to have stayed longer.

We stopped for lunch at Port Germaine. A very cute little town, famous for the having the longest wooden jetty in the world. The girls were very excited we stopped at a great play area. They played and made some friends while we ate lunch and then went for a walk, just to the start of the jetty as it was rather cold and windy.

The girls ate their lunch in the car as we drove on to Port Augusta, which we arrived at around 2.30pm.

After we unloaded Mum and I went to do some laundry, then took a run to the supermarket to stock up on some more supplies. The girls went for a play and Kevin had a rest. Upon our return we had some afternoon tea and Nan, Kevin and I checked our e-mail/did blogging.

The green grass is behind us now and we are onto rocks and dirt.

Tomorrow : Starting the drive up the center of Australia.