HOME RUN VIA AYERS ROCK
There was a solid cloud cover as I set off south heading for Ayers Rock (Uluru). I arrived at Yalara at around 3.00 pm and set up camp. Once I was organised I decided to drive out to the Rock for a look. Just after I had paid my $25 to get into the national park it started to rain. I had taken the side curtains off for better visibility, but luckily had thrown the roof onto the passengers seat. By the time I had it erected it was bucketing down. A full scale tropical storm. Thunder, lightning, strong winds and driving rain. I hadn't gone 100 metres and I was soaked through, the floor was an inch deep in water and visibility was about 10 metres As I was trying to find somewhere to face the back of the car into the storm I saw a $5 note float under my nose and disappear into the storm. There was no way I was ever going to see that note again! I consoled myself that it wasn't a $20. I had put the change from $50 and maps and brochures from the entrance building on the passengers seat. Silly me!! After finding a park where you normally watch the sun setting on the Rock and waiting for about 20 minutes until the storm passed I managed to get some good photos.
When I got back to the camping ground I cleaned up the car and waterproofed it for the night which was just as well as there was a storm right on top of us for a while during the night. Next day after packing up I headed out for another lap around the Rock and then out to the Olgas, another series of rock formations about 45 Km to the west. These were quite spectacular, but not as imposing as the Rock.
Once I was on the Stuart Highway heading south again I did a couple of V Max runs to take advantage of the last time I could legally do it on public roads in Australia. The Northern territory is imposing a limit of 130 Kmh on major highways and 110 Kmh everywhere else from 1 January 2007. Silly and unnecessary I think. I had the roof and side curtains on and managed 12 Kmh more than when I first tried a couple of years ago. Could have been due to less turbulence because of the roof and side curtains or maybe I just kept my foot in it a bit longer. The roof came through the ordeal with flying colours so I was happy about that.
I set up for the night at Marla. The place is looking a lot neater and tidier than when I was last here in 1994. Next day I headed off to try and make Woomera for the night. Early on I saw a Dingo chase a small Kangaroo across the road in front of me and when I drew level he had it in his mouth about 70 metres off the road. First time I've ever seen anything like it and I'd imagine pretty rare for anyone to see. When I stopped for a break at a rest stop there was a guy on a pushbike there. He was on his way from Darwin to attend a 50th birthday party at Murray Bridge just south east of Adelaide. There was a strong headwind so he was not a happy chappy. He said on a good day he would cover 200 Km, so he had plenty of time as the party was 13 days away.
Next stop was Coober Pedy, the opal mining capital of Australia. It's so hot here that many of the people live underground and there are underground Motels, Churches and other facilities in the town.
The conical tailings from the diggings are quite amazing.
I stayed the night at Woomera, the site of a lot of rocket activity in days gone by.
On the final run home I saw a few salt lakes that always look spectacular.
Once I had reached Port Augusta it was a fairly straightforward run to the outskirts of Adelaide. From there the traffic was painful! 800 metres from home the passengers side mudguard support did its thing again. The 5th breakage for the trip. A bit of reengineering is in order I think. (Although they have done 64,000 pretty hard Kms).
The Boyz (Trim and Not Trim) enjoyed the trip.