Day 4 - Outback Tour

Coober Pedy to Ayers' Rock Resort (Uluru)

Another early start - 5am - and I still didn't get any sleep last night. I woke up at 3:15am and couldn't fall back asleep. It also didn't help that there was another group staying next door that was still up drinking and being loud. They didn't even go to bed until we were leaving. It was pretty rude, but you couldn't talk to the tour guide because he was passed out next to the rest of the drunks...

On the way, our main stop was at the North Territory/South Territory Boarder crossing. It was uneventful, but we got to take pictures. There are tons of flies up here though, so not fun. I got a sunscreen with insect & fly repellent, but it doesn't really seem to work. Oh yeah, on the way there, we watched The Simpson's Movie - I watched to pass the time, but it was so dumb that I am glad I didn't wast my money on it.

After another 10 hours on the bus, we made it to the Ayers' Rock Resort and "checked in." We are staying in a private campground tonight - in sleeping bags. We have the option to sleep in a swag, but so many people are that I think I will get more sleep in the hut.

We dropped some stuff off and headed for the Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park to do a walk around Kata Tjuta (Mt. Olgas). We will do Uluru tomorrow. It is really beautiful and amazing how the rocks were created and that there aren't any others around like it. The clouds have come in though, so hopefully we will have a good sunset.

Sidenote: Some of the people on the trip are really starting to annoy me. Especially the "know-it-all" girl from Wales (who sits in front of me on the bus) and the German teacher behind me. They don't stop talking, complaining, etc. Maybe it is the heat, lack of sleep and exercise, but my patience is wearing thin...

When we got to Uluru, I was surprised at how many people were there to watch - and the funny part is that the sun sets opposite the rock, but everyone stares at the rock to get pictures of the color changing on the rock. Since it clouded over, the sunset ended up putting on a better show than the rock - at least I thought so. Scooter brought champagne and snacks so we joined in with all the other groups and toasted another sunset at Uluru. We had a "disco night" drive back to the campsite as Scooter played old songs and flashed the lights in the bus. It finally felt like we were having some real fun on the trip. The next few days are what it all builds up to and people are finally starting to get along, have fun and loosen up. Scooter is also a lot more interactive now and has a bunch more stories for us.

We didn't get back until 8:30pm, but I'm exhausted and just want to sleep. I hope too that I can run tomorrow before we leave - I need it! I can't wait to admire the outback sky again tonight. It is already putting on a great "show". It is just so hard to believe I am actually here - what a dream come true!