Serenity in Kata Tjuta

After a very late night, we woke around 7:30 this morning to the sound of the latest group of campers packing up for an onward journey.  Most campers (we are in the tent section) only stay a couple of nights with very few tipping the three nights. Tonight will be our final night, number five.

Looking around we feel like we know this place, we are the traditional campers of this land, we have been here longer than all others and know how it works.

For example, in the men's and ladies shower block, take the first or last
stall as these have larger shower heads and aren't those wretched water-saving versions. Don't try to have a shower around 8am as it is packed. Crested Pigeons are very territorial with each other and only like crackers if they have been broken up finely. Try not to go into the camp kitchen when Asian tourists are cooking, the smell is overpowering, each and every night they cook on the bbq, and it is some fish dish. As there is no allocated pitches in our area just lawns, all newcomers drive around at least 3 times trying to sus out the best spot for them, and because we have been here for a while, we know that all spots are mostly the same.

There are lots of little things we have learnt in our short time here and there are of course many more.

We had planned to perform the Valley of the winds walk today but after a late night and getting up late, needed to be smart and change our morning walk schedule. If we had done the originally planned walk we would have completed it, probably wouldn't have got dehydrated, most likely would have enjoyed it.  However, just because we are in a resort does not take us away from being in the inhospitable desert.

The walk we selected through Kata Tjuta was the Walpa George Walk, at 2.6 km long, it was just enough.

Of course, there were people being idiots on this walk, this is a significant area for the traditional owners, but also very important for us who have travelled to this great place too. Doing a coo-wee once or twice, fine, the echo is amazing, but why keep going on and on?

The walk was a little of a scramble over some uneven ground and raised walkways. When we got to the end there was a seating area where we rested in the shade and enjoyed the sounds of finches zooming past. The walk in all took about 30 min and so was the return.

I find it interesting to see how some people react when they get to the destination when walking. Some sit down realising they have made an accomplishment and reflect on the environment, themselves, who knows. Others get out the virtual tick sheet and mark it off, then within minutes head back, without resting (normally into the baking sun) without understanding why they are travelling this planet. There was one couple who arrived at the end of the gorge, sat down shared a muesli bar and they were back down the track to the carpark.  It would have taken them 20 minutes each way to do the track, but when they reached the best part, at the end of the gorge in the shade, they stopped for less than five minutes.

We, of course, had a rest, spent some time looking at the rock formations and as always Katie started making her own Dreamtime stories in the details she was able to see.

The walk was a good one and just about any able person should be able to complete it.

The afternoon was fairly relaxed, we found ourselves in the area close to the town square where there is a lovely green grass and then went for a final drive around Uluru.

Using the bag as a pillow

Using shoes as a pillow