Uluru on a bike and the lights

Hired bikes today and rode around the base of Uluru.  It's about 11 kilometres around the base, plus another 4 kilometres to and from the bike hire place so we managed 15 kilometres in just over 2 and a half hours.  The time flew, there was so much to see and so many photo stops.  The question obviously is - how many photos can you take of a rock?  The answer is of course - 482.  You'll be pleased to know a few of the photos are not up to standard so there's only 450 for you to see.

Only one little mishap when Pam fell off the bike at very low speed, no injuries or damage.  It was my fault because I was talking and we all know there is no way anyone can ride a bike and listen at the same time!

Had the Field of Lights dinner tonight, we were a bit sceptical but there were so many good reports of the exprience that we thought we should make the effort.  Mind you I had to sell Pam to the white slave trade to be able to afford the dinner but it was worth every penny.  Dinner on a sand dune with a view of the rock, the changing colours of the rock, the intense darkness, brilliant starlit sky, a camp fire going, a didgeroodoo to serenade us, an explanation of the night skies by an Aboriginal spokesperson, all you can eat, all you can drink and great company at the table, set the night up as a winner.  The finale of a walk through the field of lights was a real highlight which eventually saw us back on the bus to return to the hotel with regret it had to end.  Sorry about all the Field of Lights photos, I didn't have time to sort them out.

The map; the rules

The athletes

On our way

Rock art at the Mutitjulu Waterhole

Shadows at the Mutitjulu Waterhole

Wave rock at the base

This is the halfway point at Kuniya Piti

The south east aspect of the rock

Entrance to Kantju Gorge, we're going to walk the gorge tomorrow

Rock art at the entrance to Kantju Gorge

The closed entrance of the climb from Mala Carpark, you can see the faint white line up the rock where the climbers walked along the chains

View from the west

Desert oaks adapted for the hot dry conditions

Ready for an enjoyable night

The sunset over the dune

Dinner is ready!

Sooo many stars in the sky....as you can see

The Field of Lights - stunning walking through

The road home

Kings Canyon

Not much today, slipped up to Kings Canyon and had a stroll around the rim.  Easy you may say? Not so says one certain wife!  Just to get to the top it's about 530 steps up some pretty serious stones, then it's cliff faces, muscle wrenching walls and scary heights.  Pam had a ball, we were a little unfit for the over 3 hour walk, but all's well that ends well and we came out at the end of the day still friends for life! We have a million photos, not to worry I didn't post them all.

I will have a little rant. Some people will wring their hands following the closure of the Uluru and Mt Warning walks.  After doing this walk we can fully understand the sentiment in making these decisions.

The walls of the canyon are a spectacular red/orange colour, the stone is actually settled white sand over millions of years, the red colour is formed over hundreds of years due to the weather effects on the minerals in the sand.  If you can see white sections in the sand cliffs, they were from about 100 years ago when there was some significant movement and falls from the cliff face.  There are plenty of rocks along the walk, there are signs asking not to break these beautiful red stones because it makes the landscape look unnatural.  Of course some idiots break the red stones to expose the white sand beneath, leaving shattered white stone along the walk.  There was litter and cigarette butts along the walk; there should be a law against people!!! 

Not much further, promise

Urgent repairs

Start and finish of the walk

Back to the hotel, relax time