Going to Uluru

I left Alice Springs with an outfitter to go to this spectacular area.  We traveled over 1,000 k.  I have no conception of how far that is; anyway a very long way into the outback.  Our first stop was to Kings Canyon and my group of fellow travelers (all young backpackers from almost every country I ever heard of).  They went on a hike up the canyon wall and around—I stayed at the bottom and enjoyed birds and beautiful wildflowers. 

Then on and on, stopping often for petrol and necessities; finally winding up at an area with many campgrounds.  Showers and such are in the middle, along with a huge eating tent.

We needed to be close to Uluru so we could be at The Rock at sunrise (the absolute best light to photograph it)  The outfitter had swags for everyone and I think they are the greatest camping item ever.  It’s a  mattress and sleeping bag covered with canvas.  You get ‘in’ it and it’s comfortable and convertible for weather changes.

The best part of that night was going to a section where someone very knowledgeable about the stars and constellations gave a very interesting talk and I finally realized I was looking at a different sky—the southern hemisphere.  The entire sky was vivid and the Milky Way was awesome.  As a matter of fact, I could hardly sleep for looking at the sky.

Uluru is a 'inselberg' (island mountain).  A large sandstone rock formation.  Humans settled in the area over 10,000 years ago and Europeans arrived in 1870.  Uluru belongs to the Aborigines and about 3,000 live in the area.  They own and run the only shops in this area and are educated and very good business people.

We were at the Rock watching the sunrise on that incredible setting.  Some of the young people walked up on the only path they are allowed to use.  I walked the base, and it was wonderful.  I looked like it was ‘on fire’ and I photographed it hoping to capture this magnificent sight.  My pictures are on slides, these pictures are from the web.

We do the long trip back to Alice Springs for me to take the train (The Ghan) to Adelaide.

The train was ok, however, people were more quiet and better behaved on the bus.  It was a pleasant ride and nice to be able to walk around; go to the toilet and to buy a beer.  The scenery was beautiful; farms, sheep and lots of green.

It took a long time to build this railroad and the story is told about the sand shifting and all hands and passengers moving it back on the tracks.  Another story was about a woman complaining to the Conductor that she was about to give birth.  He said "You should have thought about that before you got on."  She replied "I wasn't pregnant when I got on!"

Well on to Adelaide.