As I start this post, I must mention that just after doing the previous post I had several visitors. As I was sitting quietly outside it was inevitable that a visitor would appear. The first was a feral rabbit. It just sat and looked at me. Then about 15 minutes later I heard a plastic bucket being knocked over at a caravan next to ours. I looked around to see a dingo looking at me and no more the 1 ½ metres away. They are real scroungers and will go after any scraps left unsecured. It was not too worried about me looking at it and it just quietly trotted away.

So this morning in the camp was quite uneventful. We were ready to go out for the day by about 0800. We said another goodbye to Russell and Julie as they packed up next to us. They are several days ahead of us on their schedule but with some luck we may have a night in Alice Springs with them again.

We drove out of the campground with our destination being the Olgas, or the politically correct name- Kata Tjuta. To get there we had to turn off the road to Ayers Rock, or Uluru. It is about 45 kilometres from the campground to the Olgas. About 35 kilometres away there is a viewing platform situated on top of a sand dune. We strolled up to it and noticed there were quite a number of descriptive boards. The boards explained the vegetation and wild life that lives in the area. Also, there is a short description about the red sand dunes.

As we drove on for the last 15 kilometres the Olgas became bigger and more overwhelming. They are so big and rugged looking. Our first stop was in the car park of the entrance to the Valley of the Winds walk and lookout. We again strolled up the undulating and very natural path. There are some parts that have been stabilised to prevent erosion of the pathway. Soon we were at the lookout. It is an amazing sight and one realises how insignificant we are compared to the age and size of this massive display.

As we were quite early, we were ahead of the coach tour groups of which there were many. As we strolled along or sat and watched, we wondered if we were really in Australia as there were not a lot of English speakers. There seem to be visitors from Spain, Italy, Germany, France and the USA that we either heard or spoke to. They are of all ages on their summer holidays and even one couple were on their honeymoon from Italy.

We then went to the afternoon viewing and picnic area which is about 2 kilometres from the Valley of the Winds walk. There we had our morning tea after I boiled the billy on the butane gas stove we carry in the back of the Bravo.

Then we went to walk through the Walpa Gorge walk. It is like walking between a massive rock split but they are actually sheer domes. This name Walpa means windy and you really have to ensure any head ware is well pulled on as the wind is very strong. It is a desert refuge for plants and animals. There are rare plants in there and as you walk along the almost natural stony path you soon come onto a damp area that ends in fresh water pools. There are numerous bridges to make the path a little flatter and also to avoid walking in the water. The path ends in a grove of spearwood. It is so green and fresh in there especially with the water.

We chatted to various people on the walk from all over as I mentioned earlier. Everyone is amazed at the scenery. It is so spectacular. Light is reflected from the southern rocks onto the northern side which gives the appearance of the northern rocks being different colours. Once in the gorge it is obvious that the rocks are all the same colours.

It was well and truly lunch time so we returned to the viewing and picnic area for shelter against the sun and wind. We had our lunch there along with a tour group and some other overseas visitors.

After lunch we drove back towards Ayers Rock and stopped again at the viewing area we visited earlier in the morning. The colours had changed again as they do all the time.

Finally, we called into the Cultural Centre to mainly try to get a cappuccino. It was only fair in quality but quite expensive at $6.00 for a mug in a paper cup. As we drank out coffees, we were able to take in the magnificent view of Ayers Rock. Tomorrow, we will have a good look at the Rock.

One thing that is very evident is that we do not see aborigines around except we saw about 6 in total at the cultural centre. They are the owners of this area but do not participate in any way.

We ended our day with BBQ steak and nice vegetables washed down with a nice red wine.