Today we say farewell to Mum and Dad for a bit as we are planning to go north from Kings Canyon, and there rental does not allow this route.

Easy drive up to Kings Canyon, back over the road from Uluru. Booked in for two nights, and visited the bar for a supposedly kids night of entertainment. When I post the photos you can make up your own mind who the entertainment for for! Yes it was me with the wig on singing "Under the gum trees"

 

Today up early to see the sun rise over the rock (which 20,000 other people !) Brillant to see. We then had to stop of a bit of breakfast, in Wendy and Rons travelling house, which was a treat for us to have seats on the side of the road. Of course since we were up early then of to see the Olgas, the other important visiting spot around the national park.

We were all keen for a bit of a walk, but the walk turned into a bit longer than we thought. The base walk just walked around a few of the Olgas (hills) we thought. The walk was called the Valley of the winds walk. It involved a walk up over a coupe of the passes between the hills. The tracks were pretty steep and very rough. Wendy decided that see would pass on going down the first steep bit, (which in retrospect was a good move). The rest of us walked on. It was a very interesting walk with some great views.

Back to the camp for a swim and some dinner

 

Today off to walk Uluru. The kids want to climb it, but to me it does seem a bit sacred. It is a bit humorus though, as there are many signs saying how the Aboriginals don't want you to climb it, but then on the same sign, it tells you when to climb and warns you to be fit and take water etc.

Anyway, for this morning we take on the simple job of walking aound the rock. Well not some simple as it is very hot and quite a long way, almost 10km. The rangers have placed a number of water stops along the way for people like us who need addtional water (even though we took a good litre to 1.5 litres each at the begining of the walk).

Saw a number of birds and lizards, and the plants round the rock change quite considerably depending if in a river run off, shaded by the rock or in the open sun. All enjoyed the walk but the kids had had quite enough by the time we made it back. Good old Emily walk most of the way with out and issue which is a long way for  4 year old.

Back to the park for a swim and then of to see the sun setting over the rock, with wine and cheese (beer for the boys of course).

 

Today off to see the rock, and do an early morning ranger walk, well early if you can call 10:30 early! Walk was brilliant and took a coupl of hours. Boy though, at the end of the walk things were starting to warm up though.

Ulura was interesting to see, it was certainly not smooth as I expected it would be with big chunks missing, gorges and valleys. The rock itself was mostly just one big rock which I suppose is why it is so special. Also the area seemed to me to have a air of mystic or magic around it, so could certainly understand why the Aborginalas thought it was so magic.

After this we had a wander around the visitor centre, which was interesting, but very expensive. Think it was mostly setup for the flyin/ out tourists (who many were from overseas).

In the evening Josie and I took advantage of having the Grandparents around and went out of dinner. The dinner was called the Sounds of Silence, and was located at a "remote sandune" with a view of the sun set over Uluru. Had a fun night with the people we meet (sat at a table of 10-12). Meet people from oz, US, Germany and of course some Kiwis. Night started off with Champange and nibbles which watching the sun go down.  Unfortunately the food (main meal)as not up to the level I epected from the 5 star hotel that put it on, but as I said the comany made the night! Certainly at our table there was no sound of silence, we were too busy talking and having fun!

 

Off today to drive to Uluru, and see the famous Ayers Rock.

Drive was pretty interesting with a couple of large bush fires (some quite close to the road). Also we stopped and looked at Mount Connor, which initially looks like Ayers rock from a distance. Major issue is this is a hill or escarpment and not a big rock like Uluru. Also intrerestingly we drove through dessert but because of all the rain they had last winter here, there is a lot of spiniflex grass so the land looks almost like pasture in places. That is until you look closely or see if a fter a fire has been in, then there is not much plant life at all.

Arrived at Uluru, to find my parents already booked in and setup beside us, which was a wonderful suprise. They are doing a 3 month trip around the west coast and up the middle, so we should be able to get some travelling with them over the next couple of weeks.

So, what next, watching the sun set over the rock of course, and here there even have a hill setup in the campground - yes very touristy.

 

Up and off to the East Mcdonnell Ranges to see some Gaps, Gorges, and hills. First up Emily Gap (yes Emily was very excited about this!).  The ranges stretch east and west from Alice, with a small number of gaps, and passes spread through out them. Some are very picturesque. After Emilys Gap was Jessie Gap. These were places that often had water for animals and trees, so where in contrast to the stark desert. Also often these were dry now so where sandy river beds that chopped through the ranges.

Went to the Ross River Resort and had some lunch and a chat with the new managers, and then drove to the 4wd only N'Dhala Gorge. Here there was some rock carvings (quite different from normal painted art). Also tested out the 4wd skills as very sandy and some very wet sections of river bed to cross.

Overall did a lot of driving and walking.

 

Hi all, sorry with the delays in getting this up to date, but internet access has been a bit hit and miss at times.

Today we went on an organised Aboriginal tour, which I thought would be very tacky but Josie thought would be very good. Unfortunately Josie was correct and it iwas a very good tour.

We started off learning about the Aborginal names (family names) and found that here in Alice there were really only 4 family groups, but with in each family group there was 4 names. I will add a picture so you can see the names. Have a go at pronouncing them!

So couple of funny things, when the white man came along. He had to give each person a first name, as in one family there may be 4 or so people all with the same name. Some how the Aboriginals could tell each apart with a slightly different pronounciation, but not the white fellows! Also another strange thing is that their society worked well with sharing of everything, from food to kids. So as a mother you had your kids, your sisters kids and your brothers kids were all considered your kids (by you, your sister and brother). So again when the white fellow came (read Australian Government in the 70's) and asked how many kids you had. Mary said 12, Ann said 12 and Jo said 12. Of course they only had 4 each which were their blood children but to them at the time they looked after all so had all the 12. Of course the government paid for a while for 12 for Mary, 12 for Ann and 12 for Jo, for a number of years before realising there was only 12 children in total, not 36!

Another thing I found very interesting was that the Aboriginals have no words for please or thank you in their culture. THis was because everything was shared, there was no need to ask or to thank. This explained to me alot as often you think some of the Aborginal people I have dealt with where just rude or surly, but it is not normal for them to have the same cultural nicities we would expect. A large amount of what the guide said did make me re evaulate my views.

Then we got to try some bush food, some may say Yum, but I say I would eat it if I have too. We tried Whicity grubs, tasted like egg, a number of seeds and some fruits, eg bush tomatoes, peppers etc. To finish off we we had some freshly roasted Kanagroo Tail (skin on of course). Actually the roo tail was not too bad!

All got to have a through at a bomerang (note that the groups here did not have the returning ones). The Bomerangs here were made to break the leg of the Kangaroo when they hit it so that it could not run away and then the Aborginals could catch and eat it.

Finally we purchased some art from the local villagers who where painting on site. I would really recomend this tour which was done by a group called Dreamtime tours.

Back into town and we same the famous Ghan train as it snaked its way through Alice (only 2 times per week).

Then off to the repile centre, which I thoughly enjoyed (see attached pictures).

 

Today we were off to the school of the Air for the morning. Very interesting and so different from the one at Mount Isa. These guys were using the internet over satelite which was provided to the students for a subsidised rate. When the kids finished school the computer gear and Satelite disk etc were moved to another family. Their lesson where very interactive with kids able to "raise their hands" and comment as work was being done. The teacher had 2 -3 camera's they could choose from to show their face, school work or even a choir. They had even started PE classes over this system. Their classes also seemed to be longer than the QLD School of the air. Interesting to see the different challenges and how they had been addressed.

Off then to the Royal Flying Doctors Visitors Centre for Luch. Though we may as donate money for luch to them rather than McD's. Interesting video to watch and very good museum as well. Again head of stuff they do that I never thought. For example they have to maintain all the medical chests that are out at stations and remove locations, they run regular clincs in remote towns, and of course do evacuations and transfers for critcial and non critical patients.

Well, when in Alice what else to do but learn to play the Didgeridoo. We visited a shop in town that does free lessions. Heaps and fun and Harry was quite good. Emily was good with the tapping sticks. The rest of us fluctuated between moments of brilliance and noises that should only be heard in a toilet! But what fun. Harry of course now wants to buy one, but where would we put it in caravan I plead! We will wait and see on this on.

Today was a home day, or Park day were we spent most of the day, catching up on washing, school work, diarys etc. Of course we may have fixed in a swim or too!

Today Josie is up early, which is an unusual thing in itself, to photograph the Devils Marbles in the morning light. Very spirtual place to visit and see.

From the Marbles we travel south again down past a number of road houses knowing full well that in a few weeks we will get to drive the road in the other direction. There of course, was a lot of not much to see, as this is starting to get to the dessert part of Australia, apare from the fact that they have had a good rain year so much is covered in spinifex grass.

 Stopped at the Barrow Creek Telegraph Station for a visit. Was surprised to learn this was still being used in the 70's for lines men as the living conditions there was pretty rough. No power and water was very dodgy. There is still a roadhouse next door and even today this is run with solar power. You forget that electricity is still quite a luxury out here, many places have their own generators that run from 1 roadhouse to small towns and resorts.

Also got to pass through the Tropic of Capricorn as we travel further south.

Arrived at Alice early afternoon and the kids had a bounce on the blow up pillow.