Coober Pedy to Uluru

We farwelled Coober Pedy to head closer to the rock - so exciting!!!!  We got a bit further than we thought and made it to Erldunda, which is at the turn off to Uluru, so only 230km to travel to get to Uluru.  The kids are certainly getting much better at been in the car.  Not much at Erldunda, just a park, and a lot of cold wind :-)  But we pulled up to camp for the night.

It got down to -3degrees overnight, so made for a cold morning packing up, and the kids were so cold they couldn't feel their feet by the time they got in the car.  We got to Ayres Rock Resort by lunchtime, and it was spectacular weather, we all had to strip down to our summer gear.  After we set up we thought we would just head out to the rock to have a quick look, as we knew we would go back tomorrow after we pick Wendy up from the airport.  Well it was such an amazing feeling to see it, and watch it getting closer in the car, the kids were so excited as well, which just made it all the more fun to see it.  Charlotte was desperate to climb it when we got there, I tried to convince her otherwise - "look how steep it is, its such a long way, they don't really like you climbing it" - but nope she was determined.  Truth be told Andy and I did want to do it so we didn't really need any convincing.  We hadn't come prepared, because we had just come to have a look, so Andy zipped back to the caravan park to get different shoes, water and Will's piggy back rider.  Whilst I was waiting I got a little more nervous it really was steep and it was really high up, what if Charlotte slipped, or Andy with Will on his back?  But I was out voted and off we headed.  Charlotte was amazing, she climbed and climbed without stopping or complaining!!!  She certainly was not slowing us up in anyway!!  I should make mention of Andy's enormous effort climbing that mountain with the likes of Will on your back was a huge effort - most people couldn't believe we were doing it.  I know, we are just a family of athletes :-)  We got about 80% of the way, and it was getting a bit too much with Will so we headed back, it was a touch climb back down too.

The next day we picked Wendy up from the airport, wow the kids were so excited to see her.  After we let her settle in and we had some lunch, it was back to the Rock to show it to Wendy.  Again an unplanned climbing of the rock occurred, Andy and I had thought we might climb it separately so we could get all the way to the top, but after Wendy decided it was a little too steep, we had the opportunity to do it together - PLUS 1!!!  There was no way Charlotte was not going to come and get all the way to the top.  As soon as we started to climb or legs remembered the strain of the previous day, but Charlotte still wanted to keep going, and keep going she did - ALL the way.  It took us 2 hours up and back, she blew Andy and I away we were exhausted, so I can only imagine how a 5yo would feel.  Meanwhile Wendy and Will had done an explore around the rock, and seen some fascinating little caves and some beautiful sights. 

We had planned to watch the sunset on this day, so we headed to the viewing point where we had some beverages and cheese and biscuits, while we watched it set - very civil, and surreal.  I think we all devoured the beverages and nibbles, as we were so hungry after our climb :-)  Tomorrow will be another day and another adventure - The Olgas....