Exciting trip ahead we all knew and were ready for a long drive. Listening to the Chronicles of Narina on audio book for this particular road trip. We all travel so well, there's something quite special about these long isolated drives, with the ever changing scrub on the sides of the long straight road that seems to disappear like a mirage in the distance. We saw magnificent giant falcons feeding of road kill, waiting until the very last minute to take flight. It was great to see so many emu again. We drove for 9 hours and pulled into the very bizare Cobber Pedy at 7.30pm. We camped at oasis caravan park,after a quick set up we cooled off in the pool inside a brightly decorated shed! Then enjoyed our first desert sunset and extremely barmy hot, windy nights sleep.
I'd always wanted to come see Cobber Pedy after watching it on Rove many years ago! We spent the whole day sight seeing, exploring and learning so much about the worlds opal capital. The underground churches, houses, mines and gallery's.We gave noodling a go ourselves with a little success too! Kevlars favourite underground spot was the " Underground Bar". The words Cobber pedy mean " white mans hole" given by the aboriginals after observing the white fellas digging for opals.
That night after a visit to the kangaroo adoption centre for feeding time,we drove to the breakaways and the moon plain for sunset. Mad max was filmed out here. The dog fence which is also here, is twice the length of the Great Wall of china and was in fact build to keep the rabbits out! Haha. Later that night we must have order the worlds biggest pizza, for tea! If you ever get chance to visit this strange mars like desert please do. Another exciting drive to the heart of Australia. We drove 8 hours this day stopping off only at the roadhouses for petrol and cups of tea. One road house we pulled into had a emu pen these big birds gave us a little entertainment and the girls enjoyed feeding them.
We first came across Mt Connor and wondered if that was Uluru it looked enormous. As we continued to drive we soon learnt that wasn't the case. Uluru came in the distance not far from there. Something incredibly moving about seeing it. Even more powerful and magical being up close and personal, the connection felt amazing. We spent a few hours up close with a local guide. This tour taught us so much about the respect and relationship the aboriginals had with each other, the land and animals. (What the girls have learnt here they would never have been taught at school, such a education for them) Simple and peaceful right up until 1930's. It's great to see so many tourist being respectful and not climbing the rock anymore. I'm also pleased it has been returned to it's rightful owners. The care and management of Uluru is shared carefully following the advice and culture of the aboriginal people. Finally. There's many conflicting issues here. I did feel extremely sorry and ashamed of the awful treatment of the aboriginals, the complete lack of respect for both people and land was evident. I could natter on about it for so long, but won't. I'm just glad and delighted to see people working together in a mutual respect now.
As you can imagine both sunrise and sunset are glorious with a 360 degree uninterrupted view of the horizon. With both the sun and moon either greeting in the morning or farewells of a evening.
We started our days here nice and early well before sunrise and the blistering heat. We Spent many hours walking Uluru and Kata Tjuta, Walpa Gorge and valley of the winds. We escaped the heat in the afternoons under the canopy of gumtrees by the resort pool with our noses in books! Quite ironically we were here for Australia day, a day that I spent time reflecting on the history of this amazing country. A country I truly love.
And have been blessed to travel with my wonderful family whom I love more than words can describe.