The Long Fence

We have had a day of very long driving. Mum and Dad say that there is not much to stop in between. We have crossed the boundary of the longest fence in the world, the dingo fence or dog fence. Since then, I haven't seen any more dingoes!
In Coober Pedy, we have to pay extra for showers. The owner of the camp ground tells us that the water in Coober Pedy is the most expensive water in Australia. It is pumped from underground, then filtered. It is all drinking water, but there is no free tap anywhere in town. But you can take your caravan to a "water refill" station where you pay 20 c for 40 litres.

The dog fence is over 5000 km long.

This feels like real desert - we can't do a "bush wee" any more: no more bushes!

Coober Pedy has lots of warning signs

Mum and us after a "bush walk" up the hill. You don't have to be here to feel thirsty: looking at a picture should be enough

I took this picture from the outback night sky from the hill above.

Up the rock

We went up the rock today. That is: Jonas, Mum and I. Grandma and grandpa feel too old for the climb, and Dad is respecting the wish of the Aboriginal people not to climb it. But Jonas, Mum and I are prepared with good grip shoes (school shoes are the best!), food and water. When we arrive at the base of Uluru we see many orange tractors on their 2015 reunion. The tractor drivers are also steady companions on our climb, and the photo of the three of us was taken by a tractor driver.

Tractors at Uluru

Up and up we climb

A rest stop, photo taken by a tractor driver

I am now a professional in long bush walks

A few days ago we walked Ormiston Pound, and I thought it was a serious bush walk. It took us 4.5 hours to finish the loop walk.

Today, we walked Kata Tjuta's Valley of the Winds, a walk that snakes through the domes and valleys of the giant red rock domes. Well, this one was an easy walk as it only took 3.5 hours to finish the loop walk! I think I am slowly transforming into a rock wallaby, hopping between the rocks of the Red Centre without ever getting tired :-)

Kata Tjuta up close

Our car with a camel warning sign

First night at Uluru

Yesterday we arrived at Uluru-Kata Tjuta caravan park where we are going to stay for 4 nights. Jonas and I played soccer while mum and dad set up our tent and an awning. While they were still working galahs came flying by, so I asked for the camera to take photos of the galahs.

This morning we started to climb up Uluru, but it turned out to be too windy, so the climb was closed soon after by the rangers. A while after that we did the ranger-led Mala walk instead where we learned about the aborigine story (“Tjukapa”) of Uluru. You wonder what a mala is? A mala is actually a rufus hare wallaby.

Hi-Way Inn

We are at a road house in Daly Waters. They have a filthy pool that I don't like. But the sign says: "OOL Rules - Remember, no P in Pool" -- this is a pretty cool sign :-)

Rock paintings and crocs

We went to Ubirr, our turn-around point for the trip. Ranger Ben gave  a great talk about Aboriginal culture, stories and the dreaming. We have learned about kinship, language and the law, and stories, lots of stories. One is about two girls who liked to play crocodile to scare people. One day, they transformed into crocodiles themselves. They have transformed into the lumps behind the crocs' eyes, to remind all people of their sad story.

The thylacine is extinct on the mainland for 4000 years. This painting must be older.

I bet this one is a girl croc: dressed up for the party with a nice hair-do!

Our cool camp site in Cooinda. Read the croc warning on the yellow sign in the background.

Lelyn (Edith) Falls

We have found Paradise! So that we can stay longer here, we will not go into Litchfield National Park. This waterfall is simply too gorgeous! Find me in the picture below!

Me in the big blue tube that I took out to the waterfall. At sunset.