Somewhere in the never, never of the Australian Outback

The drive to Kings Canyon is through and around cattle stations...B-I-G cattle stations, i.e., 5000 sq. km, 3500 beef cattle on one station.  In fact, if you drove from St. John's to Clarenville you would probably pass only two or maybe three cattle stations. No small potatoes!!

We settle in at 'the oasis in the desert', Kings Canyon Resort.  Don't let the facade fool you...awesome first class digs in the middle of nowhere.  Again, enough stars in the sky to intoxicate...dazzling! Again.

Rise early and Walk The Rim!!!  Why not??

I was geared up for the Uluru climb but it didn't happen because of wet conditions on the rock, hmmm, wet condiitons on the rock...why does that sound familiar.  I can't leave without climbing something! 

Warnings and essentials for Kings Canyon - a good level of fitness, supportive footwear, a hat for the sun, and a minimum of 2 litres of water!!  It's a strenuous walk  -  6.5 km, 3-4 hours.
I'm going for it!  The alternative is a shaded walk on the canyon floor looking up at the canyon walls.  No way, I want to be up there - arthritic knees and all.
Walk time is 6:30am.  Two consecutive mornings of rising in the dark -  the spirit is willing... But...

Why am I the only one in my tour group on this bus???? What do they know that I don't???

Then I look up at the freakin' cliff.  Is that where I'm going???   It's 6:30 in the morning for God's sake, not even light yet!!!  They mentioned the strenuous walk, where were the words "st-e-e-e-e-e-p cl-i-i-i-i-mb"???   This must be where they invented the saying 'walking on the edge'.
How steep?? Only a challenging 500-step climb(triple that for me), nearly 1000 feet of rock and gravel.  How steep???  When I look up, what do I see...the soles of the feet in front of me.  So steep that there is always a guide bringing up the rear. And...that's why there's no turning back. 

I wonder as I wander...what are they going to write about me??? The Red Centre engulfs Gramma...but at least she tried.  And that 2 litres of water...don't be fooled.  That's to push your stomach back down as you let out these gulps throughout the adventure. 

Up and down sheer rock faces for nearly four hours.   Only one bout of vertigo, just before the climb down, when the guide tells us to take one last picture then leads us to the path home - a meter-wide path - and to the left  - A GORGE.  I walk down with my face nearly touching the canyon wall to the right...with a tight grip on any branch I can find.  

Nevertheless, I DID IT, through the Lost City and the Garden of Eden.  You can do it too.  Don't miss it, it's an experience of a lifetime.  Drive away with the satisfaction that you conquered the beast.   ROAR!!!  How dare you challenge me?

Just a few pictures. Now, onwards to Alice Springs and Sydney.

Kata Tjuta

Kata Tjuta, or the Olgas, is the second major feature of Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park. The main one is Ayers Rock(Uluru).  I have a confession...these are more stunning and more beautiful than Ayers Rock. Yes, Uluru is impressive, but this is powerful - 36 steep monoliths, immense rock domes - a stunning environment.!  Not to be missed, if you’re in the Red Centre. These are a must.

After they take my breath away, and I recover, I continue on the Walpa Gorge Walk with our tour guide, 2.5km, about one hour – an easy stroll up rocky slopes and into the gorge between the domes.  You really can’t describe it.  My pictures don’t even do it justice.

Uluru from Kata Tjuta

Time to sleep.  Kings Canyon and The Rim Walk tomorrow!!

Sunrise over the Rock

Sound familiar!  But this is a different rock.  Unfortunately imitating our weather for these two days.  Pick up time is 6:00am.We travel to the opposite side of Ayers Rock for sunrise.  Again, those baggage compartments are opened on the buses - tea, coffee, hot chocolate and crumpets for an early breakfast. 

Line-ups for the big scene, but again cloud cover.  Who cares?  Noone!  One guy says he'll photoshop the sunrise into his pictures.  Not me, here's what I saw.  Look at those Olgas, 31kms away and waiting for our visit this afternoon.

The Olgas in the distance. We'll be there soon.

Getting Brighter and Brighter...

Good Bye Ayers Rock.  You're much more than I ever imagined!!

Uluru Tours and Sunset

I can’t tell the stories…

The only way to truly experience Uluru is to visit it. So save your money and do it.

I can’t take a picture that really shows its magnificence.

After a visit to the Cultural Centre we embark on two base tours of Ayers Rock.  Uluru holds deep Aboriginal significance and we hear many stories as we wander its base and view numerous Aboriginal paintings.

The first hike is the Mala walk through painted caves and hunting grounds of the Mala people and the stories of their traditional law. Some areas of the rock are clearly marked as sacred.   We can’t take pictures and no entry.  That’s why you have to come here to see for yourself!

We hiked to the waterhole of Mututjulu with more ancient cave paintings and aboriginal legends.  At this permanent waterhole we hear of the clash between ancestral snakes.

The visit to the Kantju Gorge at Uluru was stunning!!

Then…..Who would have guessed that it would be overcast and raining at sunset????  We didn’t get to see the changing colours of this huge rock, but it was an experience of a lifetime nonetheless.  Our guides still entertain us with eerie tales and a big bonus!! Out of the baggage compartments of the bus -  tables, seats, hors oeuvres and champagne.  What a way to celebrate sunset – Boulder and Bubbly!!

The pictures speak volumes but more can be told...

Heart of stone!!

I'll drink to that!!

Finish the evening with an Aussie BBQ, but no camel burgers or kangaroo sausages for me...thank you very much!!