2004-2005 Australia Trip, part 13
After our nap we head for some lunch at the grill. They list burgers in many varieties. I see a kangaroo burger so decide on that. I am more than pleasantly surprised to find my burger is really several slices of grilled kangaroo fillet. It is delicious! Properly recharged, we head out for our next adventure to Kata Tjuta, or the Olgas as the Anglos would say. It is here where we learn how the two formations were formed and the differences in them. Although Ayer's Rock is more famous, the grouping at the Olgas is much larger and higher. Our first hike is to the "Valley of the Winds". This hike is much harder than the hike around Uluru. The trail here is on an incline and the trail is rougher underfoot. The trails around Uluru are very smooth, due to the fine particles that makeup Uluru. However, Kata Tjuta is made up of larger material (rocks) and this makes walking harder. We continue up the path to the first lookout point and must stop. The trail is closed beyond this point due to extreme temperatures. This cuts our hike in half and after a photo stop here, we climb back down the trail to the bus and move on.
The next stop is at the Walpa Gorge trail. This hike will be about the same length as the last one but by then my ankles were in pretty bad shape and the heat was getting to both of us. Barb and I sat at the base of the trail and waited for the group to return. Then we were all bussed to a place to view the sun setting on Kata Tjuta and sip sparkling wine before being transported off to supper. This tour group was a bit smaller and maybe closer knit. We sort of hooked up with an Italian couple who were great fun to talk to. Our tour guide and bus driver tried to make things real fun for us. For the second night we dined under the stars, but this time it was at picnic tables and the food was not quite like the previous evening. We had noticed by this time that except for salads, veggies were not very evident at many meals. After another star gazing opportunity, we were taken back to the hotel at 10:30, ending a very long day. On the way back to the hotel, the group decided to present Barb and me with the extra bottle of sparkling wine, since we had actually made this trip as our 35th Anniversary celebration. We were flattered and thankful.
Photo: Barb and Dave at Kata Tjuta
The next stop is at the Walpa Gorge trail. This hike will be about the same length as the last one but by then my ankles were in pretty bad shape and the heat was getting to both of us. Barb and I sat at the base of the trail and waited for the group to return. Then we were all bussed to a place to view the sun setting on Kata Tjuta and sip sparkling wine before being transported off to supper. This tour group was a bit smaller and maybe closer knit. We sort of hooked up with an Italian couple who were great fun to talk to. Our tour guide and bus driver tried to make things real fun for us. For the second night we dined under the stars, but this time it was at picnic tables and the food was not quite like the previous evening. We had noticed by this time that except for salads, veggies were not very evident at many meals. After another star gazing opportunity, we were taken back to the hotel at 10:30, ending a very long day. On the way back to the hotel, the group decided to present Barb and me with the extra bottle of sparkling wine, since we had actually made this trip as our 35th Anniversary celebration. We were flattered and thankful.
Photo: Barb and Dave at Kata Tjuta
Added on September 01, 2006 by bvdrangs
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