Aus Day 10 - Rock? - What Rock?

Wednesday 29th September Aus Day 10


Up late AGAIN this morning, this has got to stop. It was 07.40 this morning, the day is half gone. However, soon caught up and was on the road heading North by 09.15 and within 45 minutes reached the turn off for Uluru at Erldunda more commonly known as the Lesseter Highway or the “Red Centre Way”. I think it is known as this because more often than not, there is nothing to see but stunted vegetation and the red clay surface. However, just at the moment, there is hardly any red to be seen as everywhere is bursting with new growth, thanks to the unusual rainfall they have been having.

Now progressing in a westerly direction, I have my right arm liberally plastered with sun screen since without putting a long sleeve sweater on, I have no way of screening it from the intense rays of the sun. (sounds terrible doesn’t it). However, got to the Mt Ebenezer Roadhouse at 10.50 and had a quick wander about. Apparently the area got its name after a chap called Ebenezer Flint who helped pioneer the telegraph in the 19th century.

Entrance to Mt Ebenezer Roadhouse

At the turn off for Kings Canyon I stopped for a quick photo opportunity and obliged a family travelling with 3 children, by taking a photo of them all together with their camera. We naturally got talking and it turned out that she was brought up at Aldinga which is on the Fleurieu Peninsula, not far from Willunga where my sister Valerie lives. It’s a small world ain’t it?

Uluru Is Thataway ---->

Another 15 minutes or so to the West and I caught the first glimpse of what (apparently) many travellers think is Uluru. However, this is actually Mt Connor and apart from its different shape is a whole 4 metres smaller than Uluru. Whilst here, I also took a couple of snaps of some strange vegetation. Maybe someone can enlighten me as to what they are.

Mt Connor

Anybody Know What This Is?

Or These?

The next stop on the road was Curtin Springs Roadhouse which was very pleasantly set up and the bar had a myriad jokes adorning the walls. Outside there was an aviary with a selection of the local bird life but most impressive was the patch of grass and real trees.

Curtin Springs Roadhouse

Grass and Proper Trees at Curtin Springs

The Ayers Rock Resort is obviously a multi-million dollar enterprise which caters for millions of tourists each year. It is an enormous complex with 4 hotels, a shopping centre and an extensive camping ground with 176 sites. Having booked in, along with lots of others I located my site and then set off to visit “The Rock”. This involved purchasing a permit to the “Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park” for £25.00 it is however, valid for 3 days. (Not that I will be needing it that long) Took the obligatory photographs although in many areas you are not allowed to stop and in some areas photography is also discouraged. It is certainly an impressive rock but, it is a long way to travel just to see it. In any case the climb was closed due to high winds at the summit.

No Prizes for Guessing What This Is

JB at Uluru

The Climb Point - Unfortunately Closed Today

Having circumnavigated the rock and briefly visited the cultural centre, I beetled back to the Resort to try and establish Internet access for a Skype session. Unfortunately, I couldn’t originally establish access at all and so had to resort to text messages. After having a spot of tea, I tried again and was able to establish slow access which enabled me to update the Blog for Aus Day 8, but not to establish any meaningful Skype contact. By the time it got to 10.30, I was feeling extremely frustrated and quite ready for Zebedee’s call of “and so to bed”.”