When we woke up in the morning, most other campers where gone already. As the temperature where still pleasant and the last part was not that far anymore, we made a nice big breakfast with bacon and eggs.
I took a shower and washed my linen shorts, which turned out to be my favorite during this trip. I did not bring a towel and by the time I was back at the car, my skin was mostly dry, a nice breeze and temperatures around 30 degrees sure did their thing.
We filled up the tank again as the fuel here was relative cheap compared the the upcoming fuel stations and hit the road.
At first we passed the border with Northern Territory, it seemed we lost another our, and where on Darwin time (1:30 earlier then Sydney). After a few hours driving we finally saw the sign to turn left, after over 1000 km going straight. And another hour and a half later a mountain showed up on the left of the road. We read about this, it is Mount Connor, also known as Fooluru. We stopped at the few point with also had a drop toilet to answer the calls of nature.
And then finally around 1600 km from when we made the decision to visit Uluru we where there, almost. Through a dune landscape we had seen a few glimpses of the rock, and then we where at the resort accommodating all visitors. We figured we take the camp site, but the reception was closed. A call to the security number learned we could checkin at the nearby hotel. Meanwhile a German and and Aussie couple arrived as well, so we drove together to the hotel where at some point we occupied 3 of the 4 checking desk and everybody what checking with their coworkers how to do a camping checking.
At some point I had a spot, but I did not get to pay yet, as the system did not work. “You can go to the camping reception tomorrow to sort that out”. Since all this had taken most of the spare time we had before the sunset, we drove to the park, payed our fee and where welcomed by a very friendly and talkative guy who also gave us plenty of tips on what to do and where to go. And then, around the corner, there was a first glimpse of the rock that made us make this journey.
It was amazing! But a few minutes later when we got to the parking lot with dozens of other cars, some of the magic disappeared. Together with the resort town this holy place for the Aboriginals was commercialized to the bone by white men.
Nevertheless the sunset was breathtaking and the pictures do not do it justice.
When the sunset was over we drove around the rock and we realized this was the first time we drove at night. We went to the camp site, found our spot after a bit of driving around in the dark, had a drink and a sandwich and turned it. We had a alarm at 4:30
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