The big red rock

An unfortunately short but solid night and we were up at 4:20am. There is a small grocery store here so we had bought things to eat for breakfast. The drive to Uluru (Ayers Rock) sunrise (5:59am) site was about 30 minutes and we were there by 5:15am. Those rain clouds the night before rained all night and never left so again, an early morning for an anti-climactic moment of no noticeable sunrise. The rain stopped around 5am so at least we weren't soaking wet.

Off to a 4-hour cultural walk around the base of Uluru - yes, long days. We learned many of the aboriginal stories about how they believe the rock was formed and shaped, and some of the science and history. Seeing the 3rd largest monolith (it is one single rock!) up close was very fascinating. It is all sand stone, but not as smooth as it looks, and with much more topography than I ever thought. The increased rain fall has left more pools in the rock, and dark black lines where algae has dried on the rock after small water falls have dried up (the lines were already there, but before the last few years, there really wasn't much rain for the last 10 years). Can you imagine seeing a waterfall in the desert coming off Ayers Rock??

We did not climb the beast for a few reasons. Recent rain makes the rock slippery and too dangerous so it was closed and the forecast was for 43 degrees - anything over 36 they close it as well. It is also open only until 8am as the complete climb is 1.5 hrs (by 9am the temperature hits 31) it was 8am when we reached that point.  The clouds cleared around 10am so we only had the real heat for the last hour of our walk. A long way and considering how tired the boys were, they did amazing again.

Much of the wear on the rock is from an ancient, inland ocean that covered this desert and receded twice. You can see where waves have worn huge caves and why the lack of moisture now makes the erosion so slow. There is still an inland salt water lake (Lake Amedeus) between here and Kings Canyon. The farmers that dig wells here find water but it is saltier than the ocean so they all need desalination plants - in the desert!

We packed up our room and headed to the pool for an hour before jumping on a bus to Kings Canyon. It is 300km by road because you have to go around Lake Amadeus, only 100km directly across. The kids both slept and we enjoyed the air conditioning and view through the heat of the afternoon. We passed Mt. Connell that is almost 3 times bigger than Uluru, but no one goes there because there is no water, vegetation or natural shelter there. Thus the aboriginals did not live there or believe spiritual connection to it.

Arriving in Kings Canyon Resort we went straight to the pool! Now, when I say resort, I mean like a 2-star motel or motor inn with a great pool and restaurant. It is the only place out here for miles with a Shell gas station and store as well. The rooms are nice and clean with a shower, that's all that matters. 

eating breakfast in the bus at 4:50am - a chocolate croissant as well :) 

yogurt works, but he had lots of the croissants too!

the monolith is not as smooth like a block as you might think

and over time is eroding however slowly - this looks like a big mouth

a pool from recent rain and the bottom showing the wear of ocean waves

a few of the flies that tag along in the heat - constantly swatting them away from our faces took some getting used to and it was only a few, not swarms

ancient drawings from the aboriginals still on the rock in a cave

a swimming hole that a few years ago was almost dry

the beginning of the climb point - it is steeper than it looks!

this guy was resting on a wall outside a store and was about 3 inches long

cooling off in the pool - some things are better left for dads :)

sunset on the rim of Kings Canyon

After dinner we went to a look out for a view of sunset on the canyon. Really great colors of the red rock and pink clouds. Even with the bus naps today, the boys were melting down by 7:30 so back to the room and off to bed. Our third early morning in a row tomorrow, leaving here at 5:15am for sunrise in the Canyon!