Day 13 - Alice Springs - Uluru -Alice Springs by Caro.

Today was a bit of a gamble.  After watching the weather for the last couple of days, we decided that today was our best chance of climbing the rock. So we all loaded into my car and drove 450ks back to Uluru and paid another $65 to get in (our pass expired yesterday). When we arrived the weather was perfect and the climb was open.

We hurried through the fence, because we were worried that they would close the climb at any minute, and we started the climb.

Danny carried Paddy all the way up in the pouch, and received a variety of reactions from “Wow, you’re a superstar” to “ that is so dangerous and irresponsible”.  We both knew that both reactions were valid.

When we were nearly at the top, we heard our names being called, and saw the Lieschke’s a bit further ahead on their way down. It was a nice break from looking at your feet.

The climb was much harder than I remember, and it seems I’m not as fit as I might like to think.

The kids coped very well.  A couple of them are part mountain goat, like their father, and a couple of them are cautious climbers like their mother. 

Anyway, we made it to the top and took several photos, and I gave Paddy some boob ( feeling like a true hippy) while the others had a look around.

We were all a bit nervous about the climb down, but it was much easier than going up.

After we had finished with the rock, we went and had a bit of time back at Kim and Karla’s camp while the kids had a play.

It is now nearly 6 pm and we are on our way back to Alice for the night, ready for the camel cup tomorrow. You know you have a long drive ahead when the green distance sign on the side of the road tells you had far to the nearest highway, rather than a town!