We got up early to do the 7 km walk around the rim of Kings Canyon. It was a hot day so we used our camel backs for the first time.

It was a very steep start, but worth it. Sheer cliff drops more than 270m to the canyon floor. The walk lead us around the rim, then into the gorge where there was an oasis called the Garden of Eden. It amazes me how there is so much lush vegetation in the middle of the desert. There were a few people swimming in the swimming hole.

We felt pretty good after the walk, so knocked back a few beers. We bought some overpriced goods from the store and cooked up a nice meal of steak, mashed potato and a side of flies (not a misprint).

There seemed to be more dingoes than usual at this campsite and they were sniffing around Dory all night. I had nightmares of being cornered by dingoes. In the morning a rather expensive looking leather sandal had appeared at our campsite. Later on in the morning, its owner (a rather scrawny dingo) came to collect it.

This time we got up early to see the sunrise over Uluru. Again it was cloudy, so it was a bit of a fizzer. Plus all the tourists were starting to get on my nerves. Every one of them seemed to be smoking at 6am in the morning!

After the sunrise we headed off to the Olgas to do a couple of walks. We did the Walpa Gorge walk and the Valley of the winds walk then moved on.

We arrived at Kings Canyon in the afternoon and set up camp.

We had to use up some veges, so we had pasta with zucchini and mushroom in a olive oil and garlic sauce.

We had a bit of a laugh at the couple that set up camp opposite us. They brought out their fancy table, laid a nice table cloth, put two red wine glasses on it, opened a bottle of red wine, lit some candles, then opened two tins of baked beans for their dinner.

We awoke in the middle of the night to our neighbour’s car door slamming about 100 times. As I started to come to, I realised it was morning and they were probably heading out to see the sunrise over Uluru. We had planned to do this the following morning but as we were already awake and thought we should make and effort to go see it. We missed the sunrise, but we did the 9km walk around the base of the rock.

The climb was open in the morning. Mike got all excited and put on his boots ready for the climb. Then we got to the base and he realised how steep it was and he is scared of heights. He decided not to go. I thought about it but thought the base walk would be better. Later in the day the climb was closed to wind.

Back at camp we bought a couple of head nets as the flies are starting to get to us. We blobbed out for the rest of the day and went and saw the sunset at the Olga’s. Again it was a bit too cloudy for the brilliant red colour, but was still very impressive.

Dinner we had pork with hokkien noodles and a teriyaki sauce. I don’t think we could eat better if we ate out.

Some aboriginal art:

Today was a long drive as it is about 800kms from Coober Pedy to Uluru. As we crossed the border into the Northern Territory the speed limit signs changed from 110 to 130. Then the border police stopped us and Mike was breathalysed for the second time since we arrived in Aus. They must have a drink-driving problem here.

About 200 km’s short of the border a Ute had pulled off the road, all doors open and three aboriginals lay out on the dirt next to it, passed out. Probably had too much to drink and just crashed when they got tired. Lucky they didn’t make it to the border I guess.

We arrived at Ayers Rock Resort and just had time to set up camp and go and see the sun set on the rock. People were there with their champagne picnics. I wish we had thought of that. I had a beer instead.

The rock is indeed very impressive. There was too much cloud to really notice the changing of the colours, but it was still very cool.

We cooked some soy marinated pork and rice for dinner. It was quick, easy and yum.

Just leaving Uluru and heading for Alice Springs. Will write a blog later as in a rush.

Coober Pedy is an opal-mining town. They originally mined for gold but found opals. Once they dug out the mines and removed all the opal, they converted the mines into accommodation. That’s why there are a lot of underground houses, motels and hotels here.

We haven’t had much of a look around, as we want to push on to Ayers Rock. We may stop on the way back and do a mine tour.

Here are some more long road limericks.

“There was a young lass from Coober Pedy
Who was a little bit needy
She lived underground
And also slept around
She was a little bit Seedy”

“There was a young lad from Coober Pedy
Who was a little bit greedy
He stole all the opals
Away from the locals
And moved in with the girl who was seedy”

Here’s another song we wrote on the drive to Coober Pedy.

Sung to the tune of “Its a long way to Tipperary”

Its a long way to Coober Pedy
Its a long way to drive
Its a long way to Coober Pedy
Where the opal town survives

They all live underground here
In their little holes
Its a long way to Coober Pedy
Where the locals live like moles.

Here’s our route so far. You will need to join the blue lines up as this is where the GPS went flat.

We were a bit late leaving Adelaide today due to a series of events probably within our control.

First of all we had to wait for the tent to dry as the rain had rudely arrived after 80 days of drought.

Then we did shopping.

Then we had noodles for lunch.

Then we went to Kathmandu to get wind up radio

Then I lost handbag

Then we found handbag still at noodle bar.

That wind up radio actually saved us a lot of money, as I might not have realised until we got to Port Augusta that it was missing. Lucky the shops were shut on the weekend.

We have made it as far as Port Augusta for the night. We were warned not to come here, as drunken native Australians are likely to mug us for our beer. But we really had no choice. The caravan park is surrounded by barbed wire. We’ll be sleeping in Dory tonight with the doors locked.

Then

Adelaide hasn’t had rain for 80 days, and the day we are due to pack up our tent it chucks it down. Typical! As well as the city shutting down for Easter, so has they sun.

Anyway we are heading for warmer pastures today, somewhere up the centre towards Ayres Rock. We’ll see how far we get.