Friday 20 July – Woke this morning at about 7.30 after hearing a bird attempting to commit hari-kari during the night by crashing into our van.  There was quite a pile of feathers outside our door when we looked, but that’s all.

After brekkie we made our way to Uluru which is just spectacular.  It is massive!  We arrived at about 9.30, and while we were waiting for the 10am guided 2km Mala walk, which started where people do the climb of the Rock, there was a sign up that the Rock was closed for the climb as the winds were too strong.  However before we headed off on the walk it was opened, and a heap of people – most of them Japanese, and some young children, took off on the climb.  It looks terrifying.  The tour we did was where we learned of the significance of Uluru to the Mala people.  It was most interesting, and well worth doing.  When the walk was completed we decided that we would continue on and do the base walk, right around the Rock.  We had to back track a bit to get to the main walk, as the tour had gone off on a bit of a detour, and we  left on the main track at midday.

Though we are both really tired tonight (and stiff and sore), we completed it in 2hrs 37 minutes, and because of the detour for the guided walk we finished up walking a total of a bit over 11 km.  It is very different when you see it up so close, as you become aware of all the caves, waterholes and other features around the base which you can’t see from photos.  It was fabulous.  But of course now we are wondering how we will pull up tomorrow when we go to Kata Tjuta and attempt some of the walks there.

Back at the car at the conclusion of the walk we sat and enjoyed a cuppa and soaked up the whole experience before visiting the Cultural Centre there, then returned to the Caravan Park.  Had another cuppa, then I went and did some washing and had a lovely hot shower (but it would have been even better to soak the aches away in a bath).  We were too tired to go back for tonight’s sunset, and will probably see sunset tomorrow night over Kata Tjuta, as I believe that is also really something to see.

Today’s highlight was obviously seeing Uluru at close quarters, and on a personal basis, being able to walk the distance we did.