to Darwin and back: 12/07-14/07

Thu, 12/07/07
-> Uluru National Park 1687 km,
25$/person,
big lonely rock in the middle of nowhere,
walk around it,
very exhausting,
climbing impossible because of strong winds on the summit
-> The Olgas 1742 km,
bigger than Uluru,
more widespread,
talking the Walpa Gorge Walk, oh my god: there is water in the middle of the dessert!,
K. refuses to walk the Valley of the Winds Walk (too tired, wants to relax a little, pain in every area of the body ...),
M. a little too demanding
-> again Curtin Springs 1887 km,
mistake the mountain here for Uluru,
in fact it is called 'Mount Conner',
what an embarrassing mistake!
--> see Mt. Ebenezer, eat Nutella bread
-> Wild Camping 1959 km, between Curtin Springs and King's Canyon at the Luritja Road,
find fire place from predecessors with the same wild camping idea,
good diner,
freak out in the night because of 'animal' sound which in the end is caused by wind,
K. constantly fears to be eaten by dingos,
still no kangaroos (which are alive)

Fri, 13/07/07
--> wild horses, wild budgie swarm
--> Desert Oak Hill
--> fine assortment of animal noises by M.
-> King's Canyon 2113 km,
first kangaroo for K. (a Euro);
many stupid youngsters from SA (had Cooper's caps);
surprising pond in the middle with a duck!, called 'Garden of Eden';
K.'s stamina very bad, needs more training;
better than Uluru;
the earlier one does the walk, the better;
meet French teacher couple from Cooper Pedy again
-> King's Canyon Station 2154 km, 1.78$/l
--> Ernest Giles Road, unsealed dirt road which gets better in the middle, what a ride!
-> Henbury Meteorite Craters 2312 km, how unspectacular
-> Alice Springs 2461 km, 1.46$/l
-> Zoe's place 2476 km, former house mate of the illustrious Jervois house

Sat, 14/07/07
Zoe's house sitting a big, wonderful property with two obese dogs;
nice to have some civilised showers and the comfort of not setting up the tent;
spend the entire day in Alice
-> Reptile house
-> Anzac Hill
-> see 'The Order of the Phoenix' in the evening
-> spend another night at Zoe's place who was wonderful and extremely friendly
it was wonderful to stay at her place and so civilised compared with the desert!;
heading still towards Darwin