Day 4 to Day 8

Day 4 to Day 8

Tuesday - Up and at em for a brekky of Bacon and Eggs, before setting off to explore Coober Pedy a bit more. First up was Fayes House, Originally it was just a hole for the mail wagon when Faye came to town as a cook. She soon quit as a cook and began her own Opal mine and purchased the Mail Wagon hole. She began to turn it into an underground house as well as work her mine looking for Opals. Short version is she became very wealthy and opened up tourism in Coober  Pedy. The house itself was amazing and the whole house was built by pick and shovel by Faye herself without the help of modern machinery. It even has its own indoor Heated Pool!!!!. (The house has made it into the top 10 must see places in Australia by Trip Advisor)

Fayes House

Fayes House

Fayes House

Fayes House

 

Next up, Mitch Josie and Thomas did a tour of Fayes Mine while Tina John Ange and I went up to The Big Winch for a coffee and a look over the town from the hill. Once the mine tour was finished we went down and watched a demonstration of a mine Blower (a big dirt Vacuum cleaner).



Blower Demonstration

After Lunch we went for a drive out to Crocodile Harry’s, This is where a few movie scenes have been made including Mad Max 3 Beyond Thunderdome. Once there it turned out to be a weird selection of cave rooms with graffiti all over them as well as a lot of weird art.

I think Harry was a bit of a deviate as well, as there was a lot of naked women statues as well as a lot of women’s underwear including “G” Bangers and Bra’s hanging everywhere.  In the end it was worth the $5.00 entry Harry was a Crocodile Hunter up North until it was outlawed and he moved to Coober Pedy to try and get rich. Looking at the photo’s on the walls I think that he just got laid a lot!

Crocodile Harry's

 

 

Crocodile Harry's

Crocodile Harry's

 

Once back at camp I repaired Josie’s Tyre, fuelled up the cars sat around for 5’s (drinks and nibbles around 5. Oclock).

Wednesday – Packing up early-ish we hit the road again for the long drive up the highway towards Ayres Rock.  Planning on getting as far as just east of Erldunda we stopped at Marla for a toilet stop and driver change before again hitting the bitumen to the border where we took the obligatory border crossing photo’s and moving on to Kulgera.  Here we filled the cars, had some lunch and again hit the road. As it was only 2.30 and the planned stop was only about an hour away we decided to push through to Curtain Springs where there was a free camp.

NT Border
 

 

Pulling in to Curtain Springs as dusk was about to arrive we set up camp, had a drink while cooking tea then walked over to the bar for a beer with Mitch. Mitch ordered his beer then realised (conveniently) that he had no money!!! So dad shouted of course, but only one when he found out that it was $8.10 a stubby! So off to bed for an early start.

Thursday – Up, packed and on the road to Yulara, calling in to the campground we asked for 3 unpowered sites only to be told that they didn’t have 3 together. That didn’t worry us but she then said if you wait for 2 hours I will put you in the overflow for $10 a night. A bargain we couldn’t resist, so we left and went to the tourism centre and watched a local production about a tale of the Eagle, the Crow and the Cockatoo. It was a great show with both film and live acting by a couple of local indigenous youth.  A coffee at the Cafe’ and a quick shop at the supermarket before heading back to set up camp.

Once camp was set we decided to go for a drive out to see “The Rock” The real one, not that pretend actor. Driving out I knew what to expect but for Tina, John and Josie that first time that you round the bend and see it in all its glory close up is something that can’t be described properly. Yes you see it from afar but there is one bend that you go around and the view is just amazing. Stopping at the start of the Mala walk we got out and had a look from the base, then as it was late in the arvo we decided not to climb today so we did the drive around the base and stopped at the waterfall on the eastern side, next up was the cultural centre where we browsed at the information there as well as the local art that was for sale.  Returning to camp we had 5’s, then Tea and off to bed.

The Mighty Uluru

Friday – Out of bed after a little lay in and brekky we set off to do the Mala walk with a local ranger and then to  climb the rock. Arriving just in time for the walk we noticed that the rock was closed for climbing due to a rescue in progress????. I happened to mention that maybe it was just the default closed sign! Oooops maybe not, it turns out that late the afternoon before (when we decided not to climb) that a Taiwanese tourist had decided that he would find a short cut down.  Ummmm, wrong move buddy. He managed to fall about half way down the side of the rock suffering quite horrific injuries apparently. Broken Pelvis, other broken bones, Head injuries and hypothermia as he spent all night up there alone. (down below it was very cold that night, can’t imagine what it would have been like up there like that). I think they managed to winch him out by about 5.00pm today, so that would have been about 25 or 26 hours up there with those injuries.  It took 10 hours to winch him from where he was to the top.

 

Back to the Mala walk,it was a 2 hour walking tour close to the base of the rock.  The Mala is a small rufous hare Wallaby that is extinct in the wild but they have a breeding program that has increased the numbers to around 250 now. The walk also included information about the Rock itself, the Anungu, the local indigenous people and the stories that they tell and their culture. The Ranger was a great story teller who was full of information and was passionate about the ways of the Anungu.

Once the walk was finished and the rock was still closed to climbing we decided to head out to Kata Tjuta (The Olgas) here we did the Walpa Gorge walk, a 2 Klm trek up between a couple of the giant boulders. The sights we are seeing are the same as we saw on our last trip, but you forget how amazing this place is. Heading back towards camp we stopped off at the  Uluru sunset viewing area we got there a fraction too late and missed the best of it, Oh well we can come back tomorrow night for that one. Back to camp, tea, dishes, shower and bed.

The Olgas

 Saturday – Up and keen to climb Uluru, Brekky had, lunch packed and off we head only to find that the climb was still closed. Bugger!!!! Oh well back out to the Olgas we go. This time we decide to tackle the 7.4 klm trek up through the valley of the winds. It was a very rocky hilly climb but it was amazing. I mentioned to one couple when we were on the way back that it was worth every step and I wasn’t lying. Half way round I said to myself that so many people say “I’m livin the dream”. Some say it in Jest, some say it quite lightly or without purpose. Today I could say it as fact!  I am “Livin the dream” “this is livin Daniel”. I just wish someone would fund me, to do this for the rest of my life (the travelling that is) and we are only 1 week down.

The Olgas

The Olgas

At the completion of the 7.4klms we met Tina, John and Josie at the start of the walk and headed back to the picnic area for lunch, Pre packed Tuna and salad was consumed with vigour, washed down with copious amounts of water. Time to head back and with fingers crossed the climb might just be open. Nearing the base it appeared that it was closed as there wasn’t the “Ant trail” of people clinging onto the chains so disappointment was starting to set in when I spied some people trekking up the steep climb. Ok, action stations people, get the camera, grab your phones, grab the camel pack and lets go.  Now, it all looks easy at the start but reality sets in within the first 50 metres, now I remember (2011 is coming back to me very quickly) Bloody Hell it is steep, I am sure Ange is cursing me under her breath as I push her to keep going.   I set Run keeper, (my GPS App on my phone) before I began and when I check the first time (as my legs are screaming at me), I find that we are only a 3^rd of the way up. Shit, still a bit to climb yet but I don’t want to give up.  After about an hour and 20 minutes of punishment we reach the top, What a relief, what an achievement. Taking in the scenery, I can’t take the smile off my face.  A couple of Photos, a couple of quick phone calls to family and friends (Just to say that we were on top of Uluru) and the realisation that we have to get down yet!!!! Off we set and half an hour later with aching knees we reached the bottom.

Top of Uluru

Looking Down from half way up Uluru

Top of Uluru

 

In the mean time  Tina , John and Josie had prepared our 5’s and were heading to the Sunset viewing area  so we could sit and take in the glorious views as the sun set on the huge rock we had just conquered whilst enjoying a well earned beer and nibbles. Once the sun had set we packed up and headed back to camp to cook tea and complete some of this blog. One week down and many more adventures yet to come.   Stay tuned people.

Uluru at Sunset