Passing a 62-wheeler (spares not included) road-train in the dark on a wet road is not as fearful as the stories I’ve been told. I was expecting to be brutally swerving off a single lane dirt road to avoid being crushed by a 15-trailer-truck as wide as a passenger liner. Concentration is necessary, as well as a firm grip on the steering while briefly switching the wipers to light-speed. Breathing is optional.
Coober Pedy, hey, the town’s a little gem!
A sign at the Northern Territory border advises the speed in NT is 110 kmh unless otherwise stated. Then, just behind the 110 sign is the 130 sign.
Kulgera: the first and last pub in NT, population 15. I was chuckling at the ‘nightlife in Kulgera’ postcard – a totally black card.
‘Yeah, that’s pretty much it. See stars sometimes,’ says the girl behind the roadhouse counter.
There’s plenty of room out here to run with your arms outstretched screaming ‘AAHHH’ for miles. Still no Optus reception.
Erldunda roadhouse, fuel stop, souvenir shop, tavern, resort cabins and campground is the turnoff to
Uluru. We score a backpacker/psych ward-style room, 3 single beds in a row, then take the Land Cruiser to the ‘Rock’ (2.5 hrs). We knew the famous Ayers Rock sunset would be denied to us because of the persistent old-school winter drizzle. It increases as we get closer – maybe we’ll have to walk right up to it to find it in the heavy rain, ‘Ah! Here it is!’
$25 each park entry. We thought the world’s oldest stone would’ve been paid for by now. Or maybe they need it for the upkeep – it might be a dull white colour and they have to constantly repaint with those beautiful reds and browns.
Even though the Rock had a hat of clouds it is beyond overwhelming. Down the side we got close to, Mala, dozens of waterfalls ran. The runoff created a sort of moat – but I do not want to belittle this behemoth and wonder of the world with castle comparisons. (Enough alliteration for everybody?) Case in point – Go there!
‘Rock on.’ I said to the un-phased lady at the Ayers Rock supermarket (a few kms away, not in the Rock itself) after we purchased our dinner.
Back at Erldunda we cooked up the sausages in our room right in front of the ‘please do not cook in rooms’ sign. I turned the snags while Manu and Ben kept numerous and bold mice from running at us through the open door. Later I saw a moth as big as my foot!
