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.

Another delightful 27 degrees at Uluru today. Unfortunately the Rock climb was closed again due to the high winds. Not as gusty today but still enough to blow prospective climbers off the rock. Imagine the Occupational Health and Safety regulations that cover that!

Ray had to drop off the car at the mechanics at 8:00am so they could take a look at it. After a quick check it was determined that the fuel pump was gone and needed to be replaced. $200 fuel pump, $35 freight to fly it in from Alice Springs, and 3 hours labour at $154 per hour! (I think we are what is referred to as a captured market) We had no choice but to leave it there and we’re essentially stranded for the day without a car. We urged Chris and Vicki to continue exploring without us but they insisted on having a “lazy day” with us. Too kind! We all decided that we would stay another night and explore a bit more on Friday. You can do that when your life is one big perpetual holiday it seems….Apparently The Olgas are a must to visit.

We spent a lazy morning in discussion over whether Vicki and I should do the washing. The machines don’t wash too well but that’s not the biggest concern. Once semi-clean, the clothes get dirtier hanging on the line than before they were washed. The red dirt billows around in the wind. We have been amazed when we wipe our faces at night. The red dust makes the cloths putrid. We decided to wait until Alice Springs to do the next load.

We decided to go for a walk to the resort shops. Yes, another store purchased coffee! It was a beautiful day and the blue sky could almost be described as iridescent. Against the red soil, it is quite a picture. There are many sights to see in this beautiful country that don’t actually cost a penny.

We spent the afternoon reading, tidying the van and thinking about cleaning the van shower. Not much thinking though. Vicki and I mopped the floors on our hands and knees and them compared the buckets of filthy water. It was a draw, black water all around.

We decided to try the sunset at the rock again as the haze that ruined it last night wasn’t around today.

Chris and Ray picked up the car, parted with some hard earned, and we went to watch the sunset. Magical! We got a better viewing spot and although the kids didn’t appreciate being back there for another night of waiting until the rock got dark, it was worth the second visit.

Highlights of today:

1. Seeing Hannah reading while waiting for sunset. She said she was ” up to that really good part of the book that you can’t put down”. That warmed the cockles of my teacher heart!

2. Getting the car back!