Kata Tjuta...or, for those of you like me who still remember the school atlas when most of the world was still coloured a very Empire shade of red, The Olgas.
Amy and Connor, our tour guides, woke us all at 3.45am for breakfast and so that we could get out on the road in order to watch sunrise over Kata Tjuta. Similarly to the previous evening, we joined a large crowd on a special viewing area as the sun crept above the horizon just after 5am, lighting the rocks with hues of yellow/gold through to orange. It is, without doubt, one of Mother Nature's finest displays.
Once the sun was properly up, we drove right up to the rocks themselves and took one of the tracks between the giant domes, scrambling down, then climbing up so as to end up with a spectacular close up view of the rock formations and the countryside stretching for miles to the horizon from our vantage point. As the sun climbed higher into the sky, the mercury climbed even higher and we were glad of some refreshments and shade once we had made the return journey to where the bus was parked.
A long drive lay ahead for the afternoon, retracing our steps along the Lasseter Highway and then turning northward towards Kings Canyon Resort which was to be our campsite for the second of our two nights. Along the way we stopped at the side of the road for everyone to help collect some firewood ready for our camp fire later that night. Amy and Connor then dropped us off at the Resort's swimming pool and we were all able to have a refreshing swim before heading back to camp just as darkness was falling.
Dinner consisted of a typical Aussie barbie , including sausages, beef and even some marinated kangaroo. We tried a couple of generous portions of the latter and although a little "gamely", it really wasn't too bad at all. Potatoes were cooked on the campfire and no camp would be complete without a few toasted marshmallows. This one was no different!
We had wanted to sleep in the desert tonight, with a billion stars all around...yes it was that peaceful, easy feeling, so we helped ourselves to sleeping bags and swags and settled down in the open air just gazing up at the night sky. We were assured that it was safe and that there were no mosquitos around but as we were getting comfortable there was the sound of dingoes howling in the distance. Not to worry, we had to trust Amy's word.
Before the moon rose, the night sky was almost indescribable. I don't think I have ever seen quite so many stars filling the darkness and as the atmosphere is so incredibly clear, the air so still and warm, it was one of those nights that will live in the memory for a very long time. We both slept well although I could quite happily have stamped on whichever cicada it was that confused the bright moonlight for sunlight. I am also to happy to report that there were no bites, either from mozzies or dingoes, although one or two of our fellow outdoor campers said that one of the latter did come for a bit of a sniff around in the we small hours.
Although not a particularly interesting part of my narrative I am noting below the names of our fellow travellers, more for posterity than anything else!
John...60s...solo traveller from England
Dave...60s...solo traveller from England
Sue...20s...solo traveller from England (Navy Sue!)
Daniel...20s...solo traveller from the USA
Lionel and Sandy...50s from Pennsylvania
Marlene and friend...two 20s girls from Gothenburg, Sweden
Sue and friend...two 40s ladies from Toronto, Canada
Mum, Dad and two 30s sons from Holland
Two 20s girls from Munich, Germany...very quiet
A 20s couple from Germany who also kept very much to themselves
So with the two of us, 20 people..plus guides Amy and Conner from Oz, so quite an international group!
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