We sold up, packed up and decided to embark on the adventure of our lives. Follow us as we travel around Australia in a caravan.

Uluru is breathtaking! It is magnificent in its size, colours and overpowering presence.

We woke early and headed to the rock at 7:00 am ready for a climb.

There is a lot of information on display, in leaflets and at the cultural centre asking visitors not to climb the rock for Aboriginal spiritual reasons. There are also sections of the rock which you are asked not to photograph and no photos are allowed to be taken in or around the cultural building. Explanations are given, everyone decides themselves what they want to do. After paying $25 each for admission into the park to see the rock, we were hoping to at least touch it. I wanted to read the memorial plaques on the side of the rock, put there to acknowledge the 35 people who have died attempting to climb the rock. Some foolishly tried to rescue dropped cameras, others died of heart attacks and some were actually blown off! Unfortunately, the gusty winds meant that the climb was closed and I couldn’t get close enough to read the plaques. We decided to do the base walk which is 9.4 kms around the bottom instead. The sun was up but there was no warmth in it. The winds were quite cool and we instantly regretted our shorts and singlet tops. The walk was spectacular, showing the rock from all angles. Each viewing area offered something different and I took so many photos that I didn’t bother putting my camera away in the end, just kept it out and kept clicking.

The kids did so well walking all the way (Harry rolling along in his pram) and not one complaint was heard at all. Ray was so impressed that he rewarded them with the promise of an ice cream, which co-incidentally is only available where we enjoyed a coffee yesterday. Hmmm….

We returned back to the van for lunch and a Nanna nap, then off to the shops to stock up on a picnic dinner (and for another coffee and the promised ice cream). We planned to settle in the viewing area around the rock at 6:00pm and enjoy a picnic dinner while watching the sunset. Unfortunately the 60km per hour winds today created a haze in front of the rock that really disrupted the colours and the view. Nevertheless, we enjoyed our dinner and a beverage.

We will try again tomorrow to climb the rock, hopefully the winds will have calmed down.

We are having a slight problem with the car. It will run on gas but not on petrol. There is no unleaded fuel here. There is a fuel called “Opal Fuel” which we have been told has no vapors so it is no good for inhaling. It is used around these areas and throughout the Northern Territory where there is a problem with communities inhaling petrol products. Unfortunately, it’s also no good for some engines so tomorrow we also have to see a mechanic. We were advised not to fill with the opal fuel in future but to use premium unleaded instead. This is contrary to previous advice which told us it was fine to use. Might be a useful piece of information if you are ever heading this way.

Highlights today :

1. Vicki’s face when receiving groceries in an old fashioned brown paper bag.

2. Finally being able to wear my custom made (glamour) fly net head cover. I think there is a market for them! I got lots of looks which must have been envy. Even Vicki was so jealous she didn’t want to be photographed with me!