-- From Alice Springs to Uluru

The road tracklog, +900km 
From Alice Springs to Uluru
from 2010/08/09 to 2010/08/15 

However thus I had an appointment at 9 a.m. at Western Diesel to have my truck serviced, change of the oil engine, filters and various checks. Alas I took all the filters on my spare parts which I should replace before leaving Australia. The effectiveness was not either with go. I left the workshop at 4 p.m. to remain again at a caravan park in Alice Springs.

August 10, day of my 70th birthday, I returned to Western Diesel because I had omitted to make the maintenance booklet of my truck stamped. On the way in West MacDonnell Ranges I stopped initially at the monument built to the memory of John Flynn, the founder of Royal Flying Doctor Service. Back to the carpark I noted a leakeage under my truck, I returned again to Western Diesel. Apparently it was only some washing water of the lower parts. I took again the road, reassured but not convinced. On the move to Glen Helen I made jumps from one geological curiosity to another. Simpsons Gap was dug during more than 60 million years by the river. Standley Chasm is a narrow corridor burnt under the noon sun. Ellery Creek Big Hole permanent pound where it is possible to swim with a combination of plunger so much water is cold. Finally Serpentine Throat is at that time without water. A few kilometres further on I bivouacked on a height at Neil Hargrave, without neighbour, then I checked if there were no leakage under my truck, to follow. At that time the temperature is of approximately 7°C in the night and 20°C under the noon sun.

The first day of my 71th year of birth I continued the exploration of Red Centre Way by stopping at Ocher Pits where Aboriginals took rock to make the colour used for their paintings on the rocks. I discovered white frost on a balustrade of the lookout! Further on I walked in Ormiston Gorge where footpaths were arranged with didactic panels. My meal of birthday was taken in Glen Helen Resort, the menu out traditional burgers offered a steak/chips and salad which will not remain in gastronomical annals, even Australian. Then it was Redbank Gorge and finally Tnorala, ancien meteorite crater of 5km diameter. I bivouacked at the junction between Namatjita Dr. and Larapinta Dr.

The following day after around 200km of bad gravel road I arrived about 9a.m. at Kings Canyon to walk the sumptuous trekking trail at the edge of the canyon –Kings Canyon Rim Walk– of approximately 6,5km. The track is not easy, it is rather breakable for articulations but with how much landscape are splendid and animations are enlargement. I left this popular spot to approach the icon of Australia, Uluru. I bivouacked on the move.

Friday 13 was a happy day, I arrived at Kata Tjuta before sunrise and moreover I was alone on the site. I walked 7,4km in an enchantment of colours changing according to the orientation of the sun. The song of the birds accompanied me during my progression on a path sometimes very sloping and stony. Back to the carpark I met the crowd of tourists. The site of Kata Tjuta means many heads, it located at approximately 32 km from Uluru. I went then to the Cultural Centre close to Uluru to inform me on the culture of the Aboriginals of this area. On the move I saw for the first time the monolith of Uluru. In Ayers Rock Resort I booked a place to fly over Uluru at sunset by helicopter . Finally I settled with the camp-site for three nights, it is the least expensive since I am in Australia, A$19 for a site with an power connection and Internet in wireless with a payment by Visa card.

A car picked me up at 5h30pm to go to the airport. Alas the sky was covered with black clouds thus the bird's-eye view of Kata Tjuta and of Uluru was a disappointment.

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