Freezing cold, we are in the desert and it gets down to zero overnight, but worth the effort to get up and go. It is a popular event, with hundreds of people out there. The carpark was full and I counted a dozen tour buses as well. The only sounds were the clicking of cameras.
When the sun had risen, we drove down to the Culture Centre and walked around the exhibits which were quite informative, and looked into the Art Galleries, then we went into the little coffee shop and had a toasted sandwich and a cuppa.
Nourished and watered we set off to the Rock and began the climb.
No I did not get to the top, this was never my intention, I made it far enough up to be able to say to myself that I had once again conquered the Rock. Himself did a sterling job upholding the family honour by climbing higher than last time we tried it some twenty years ago. His knees decided for him how far he was going. It was entertaining watching how others went about climbing or realising they were not physically or mentally up to the challenge. One Japanese lass freaked out part way up and had to be helped by others to return to the bottom. At least she tried! It is a daunting climb and you need to be physically fit to take it on. Not being scared of heights is a big plus too!!
Back on terra firma, we followed up with a base walk for a couple of kms.
We ended up tagging onto the end of a ranger guided walk and by golly that lass knew her stuff, and it was obvious that she loves her job and more importantly she loves the Rock.
We completed the day with a drive around the base of the Rock, then back to camp for a late lunch and we went down to the Yalata village to the shops. Himself watched an older aboriginal lady doing some dot painting on the lawns outside the shops.
We both love the dot paintings. The colours are wonderful and sometimes we can understand the story they are telling.
When we were leaving the sunrise viewing area we spotted a herd of wild camels grazing near the Rock and then when we got back to the camp area we passed a group of camels that are used for tourist camel rides resting after their early morning sight seeing rides.
Tomorrow we are moving to Kings Canyon. I hope my aches and pains from today are better by then....
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