Dementia Demons Go Exploring: Our Pilgrimage to The ROCK!!!

Muslims go to Mecca, Christians go to Jerusalem and Aussies make their pilgrimage to Uluru!! As it should be...

But to start from the beginning.... We left Coober Pedy on Sunday 4/6 to make our way to Uluru. First stop instead of being in the outback, SS has dragged me off to the wild wild west!! Another small opal field called Mintabie. This place is full of old cars, old deserted homes & shops, old people and an old pub way off the beaten track.

We stayed the night behind the pub, had a few coldies and watched the news for the first time in weeks. Yes the world is still kicking over...

This photo makes the pub look one hundred times better than it actually is.

Our beautiful campsite NOT!

Mintabie is very different from Coober Pedy instead of underground mines its all open cut as the land is nowhere near as stable.

Don't you just love this sign. Fills me with reassurance

There's broken down cars and machinery everywhere, it's like a big junkyard. If your ever out this way, unless you want to do some exploring I'd give it a big miss.

Back on the road again, more red dirt as far as the eye can see...

and we finally cross the NT border, and say good bye SA and hello Northern Territory

As we drive along we realise just how over grazed most of our paddocks are one side of the fence is lush spinifex the other barren red dirt with the occasional spinifex. Sustainable farming is defiintely what we need.

We finally catch our first site of Uluru in the distance I was so thrilled, We then found a great bush camp with views of the Rock, set up camp and decided to take the ute over the next sand dune to get a better look at Uluru. Naturally disaster hits.... Bogged and not even over the sand dune. Out comes the trusty shovel and we roll back down the sand dune. Oh well all's well that ends well!

That evening we decide its better to walk up the dune for sunset and a few beers. Below is The Olgas at sunset from our camp.

Next day we ride around this beautiful rock. We took our time about 2 .5 hours and loved every minute with views of the rock constantly changing I took heaps of photos, here are just a few.

Aboriginal rock paintings

The rock formations are amazing.

I had no idea just how lush the vegetation and trees are around the base. It's absolutely beautiful.

Steve says this part is for secret women's business. I have no idea why he said that!

Doesn't this look like the face of an Aboriginal .

We just had to touch the rock!!!

This was absolutely our favorite part of the rock. The waterhole was so tranquil with birds singing and we just sat and enjoyed.

Next day off to the Olgas for the Valley of the Winds walk and another gorge

Following my fearless leader. Step by step ever onwards & upwards!!!

That evening we had champagne and canapes as we watched the sunset over Uluru and the Field of Light show came on.
We enjoyed the evening but found the lights a bit under whelming, plus very hard to photograph.

Our last night was spent with some good friends, Tina & Steve around the camp fire, We met them on the track and they also are proud owners of a JB caravan. We were farewelled by a beautiful full moon rising. What a perfect end to a wonderful Uluru experience