Uluru

Unfortunately we arrived at Uluru just days before climbing the rock was prohibited. Unfortunate, not because we wanted to climb the rock, but because of the frenzy of people who had also arrived trying to climb before the ban. It was terrible to see the crowds queuing up to join the continuous line of climbers hauling themselves up the rock and then hauling themselves down again, despite the requests from the indigenous custodians of the land not to desecrate their sacred place.

We arrived in good time to set ourselves up at the designated viewing area to photograph the setting sun. I climbed on the roof of the Patrol to setup my camera and tripod to await the momentous event, while Jules set up a camp chair behind. As we were patiently waiting, a couple of young guys in a beaten up Holden Commodore parked next to us, got out each holding a beer and proceeded to setup a small gas barbeque and load it up with a dozen eggs and a whole packet of bacon for their dinner. One of the guys said hello to me and then spotted Jules and started to regale her with stories of their adventures and how much fun they were having. Eventually they popped the question – “So are you here on your own?” “Have you left your husband and kids at home?” She responded that she didn’t have any kids and her husband was up there, pointing to the roof of the Patrol. They saw the funny side, I wasn’t impressed and Jules was disappointed that they then seemed to lose interest and focused on their dinner, which apparently was the same as breakfast and lunch that day, and would be for the following three days of their trip. With cuisine like that on offer, it would have been hard to persuade Jules to join them. The setting sun on the rock was spectacular and well worth the wait, despite the ignominy!

The next day we got up in time to see the sun rise over the rock and then we cycled round the base, some 10.5 km. Some of the formations are quite fascinating up close.