Uluru (Ayers Rock) and Kata Tjuta National Parks

Wednesday 5th September
Uluru is 443kms from Alice Springs.
The whole National Park is a World Heritage area for both it's natural and cultural values. Uluru (Ayes Rock) is 348 metres high and 9.4 km long.
Kata Tjuta (The Olgas) Aboriginal meaning many heads is a series of 36 rounded pecks the tallest being some 200 metres taller than Uluru.
We Arrived at Uluru just after lunch and stayed at the camping ground as no free camping at Ayers Rock so $36 a night for unpowered $45.00 for powered we decided on unpowered set up camp then packed a bag with wine,beer,cheese and crackers then headed off for the sunset over Uluru. What a lovely relaxing time waiting with about 100+ other people also waiting forth sun to set over the rock. After dark we headed back to camp about 8.30 and guess what no where to park the prado as they put a camper trailer in the car parking bay where we had parked also on the other side of us a dam whoosh bang van with two froggies in and they were parked just about on top of us so for 2 night no dam sleep Whoosh bang,whoosh bang all night for those that don't know what a whoosh bang is its a van that has a side sliding door. Thursday morning up early so we could watch the sunrise up by 5.30 out the door by 6.00. We took the gas cooker and some bread so after the sunrise we had a cuppa and toast in the carpark to warm up. Temperature at daylight was 3 degrees so bloody cold. After breekie web drove back around to where the track goes up the rock (Uluru) as there was no wind Warren would have the chance walk up Uluru as no many opportunities as its always windy and they shut down the climb. My hip is still playing up and as it is so bloody steep I was a bit sick of myself for not be able to walk it so decided Instead to walk around the rock which was also hard going walking in soft powdery dirt like walking in soft sand. It took Warren 1hour 40 mins from the carpark and return including spending 30 minutes at the summit.
Warren has a video of his descent that will be posted at a later date after Melinda is able to edit and post it for us. We left Uluru and went the 50 k onto the Olgas and found a great place for a picnic lunch. Just as we where unpacking another couple from Germany decided they wanted the picnic table all for themselves (seats at least 12 ) and we said we will share the table with but they got the shits and packed up and went to another table and spread out all their gear. They had words in german about pack up then left oh well we had the table to ourselves. Must try this tactic again when we have whoosh bangers around us. We then went into the Olgas Warren and I walked the gap track and I got half way then decided I had had enough of gaps they all look the same some with rocks some with stones so I left Warren to finish the walk and I went back to the car park. There was another walk about 7.4k which took about 4 hours getting to late for that one so headed back to camp.
Friday 7th
Left Uluru and now driving back to Alice Springs, we were going to stay at the Wintersun caravan park where our friends Ken and Marguerite are staying but after ringing up and wanting to book for a night the manger wanted my credit card details and i wouldn't give them to her I didn't like the caravans parks owners attitude so after driving the 500 k into alice Springs we stopped at the Heavitree caravan park and set up camp with television reception so we could watch the NRL semi finals. Go the doggies eh!!

Alice Springs

Alice Springs is the centre of Australia
Max Temp 19-36
Min Temp 4-21
Annual rainfall 279mm
Population 28,000
History
On the 11 March 1871 an Overland Telegraph Line (OTL) surveyor,William Mills discovered a waterhole and named it Alice Springs after the wife of Charles Todd the superintendent of Telegraph for South Australia.
Arrived in Alice Springs just after 11.00am, called into NT Vehicle registry so we could find out about the law with our windscreen. Only have 28days to get fixed so up the road to a windscreen shop, book in, then on to a van park drop off the van so we can get the car sorted out. Drop car off then walked into town while waiting hoping to get a haircut, been trying since Darwin. That was no luck with two hairdressers they don't take booking you just que up like a barber shop. Let's hope better luck tomorrow. Got a phone call around 3:00 to say car was ready to pick up with the new windscreen fitted. We then drove up the road to the inspection centre and queued up in the line of vehicles that were waiting for inspection. Eventually it was our turn and the car went over the pits, brakes were Checked, steering etc then we were given a clean bill of health then the defect Notice was removed From Vehicle and we were
Wished a happy time in the Northern Territory by the copper. All we Are
Waiting for now is the mail that had been redirected from Melinda. Went for a look at the east and west McDonald ranges on Saturday then got back in time to see the All BLeeeecks wip the Aussies in union.
Sunday 26th
Went to kmart to stock up on small gas bottles, a 12v dust buster vac and some other items we Needed, then noticed cars Parked everywhere on the side of the highway and everybody looking north with their cameras ready, at the roundabout I asked a lady what was going to happen and was told a hall of fame Truck procession was Coming. We parked on the side Of The road as Well as we could see The line of Vehicles Coming.
What a great spectacle with all the highly polished vintage and new trucks honking their air horns and driving real slow and the driver and passengers waving to all the crowds. Next to the van park there was a Sunday market happening so we decided to go a have a look see. The usual shit that we all throw away at home was there and the local abos were going through the clothing boxes trying to update their wardrobe I suspect. Warren was eyeing up a second hand push bike suitable to stick on the back of the caravan and ok for both of us to ride, the older guy selling it said it was his sons and had been sitting in the shed for two years gathering dust, he had $80 on so Warren offered $30 and got it for $50 so he rode it back to camp where he freed up the brakes, gears then adjusted the seat and it works good. Ideal for a cheap bike that is going to get covered in red dust and crap.
Monday 27th
Went into town decided to have a look around. Our new found friends Ken & Marguerite rang they just arrived in Alice Springs,so we met up with them and had lunch together.
Well at long last I got my hair cut. I don't think she was having a good day would hardy talk and only took about 20min. Lucky I am wearing hats. After the bad mood hair dresser,went over to Ken and Marguerite for a cuppa as Ken wanted a hand.
Tuesday got up early packed up and got van ready to take off. We went back into town waiting for the post office to open while waiting pick up some meat,bread and milk then onto a coffee club which we could not find. Ended up at a small cafe nice coffee but no 2 for 1. Finally got our mail after 3 weeks. Back to van park hitch up van and now heading south.