*The map should show now the entire trip so far, but doesn't seem to save much location information as we thought while out of Telstra reception. As a result there are gaps missing from our route, but hopefully you'll get most of the key points.
Also, not many photos until I can get a better internet connection*
This morning started similarly to a lot of mornings so far. Showers, etc. breakfast from cereal and milk we have in the trucks, then head off, leaving Erldunda Roadhouse.
First stop was Mt Ebenezer Roadhouse for coffee, and very similarly to Mt Dare, it wasn't on or next to a mountain. There was a rocky outcrop on the horizon, and according to Frog, the roadhouse used to be over there, but they thought they should move it to be next to a road so they'd get more customers.
#Squadgoals. A quick stop for coffee on the way to Uluru.
Our next destination was the Ayers Rock resort for fuel and to suss out passes/permits for Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park (Kata Tjuta is what is also known as The Olgas). Passes are payed for at the gate to the National Park, and when we got there one of the staff noticed my camera. Something I should have known going in was that any photos or video footage that is going to be used for anything other than personal use is not allowed without a media pass. I didn't have one, but later in the day someone from the media office found us and let us know where we were allowed to take photos from and where we were not allowed to take photos from (due to it being a sacred site with cultural significance for the indigenous people of Australia).
After we got into the park we went to the cultural centre to find out about climbing the rock which is something that Frog was keen to do. We found out where to climb from, and since the weather was perfect for it, we headed over to the Mala Walk car park, had a quick bite of lunch, then Frog and I set off up Uluru. Anyone who has done it can tell you it is really tough going, with a chain section for the longest steep section at the start so you have a better chance of making it half way at least. On the way up Frog got far ahead of me, but we both took rest breaks on the way up, I was taking a rest any time anyone came the other way, using chatting to them as an excuse to rest.
One of the people I chatted to was a motorcyclist who we saw yesterday, the one riding a BMW and who I mistakenly thought was riding with the others that we met at Kulgera Roadhouse. Nice bloke, I hope we see him again on the trip.
The views from the top were amazing, worth the climb for sure. The aboriginals prefer people don't climb Uluru, as I mentioned before it is a sacred site, whether the views make it worth climbing when the native people prefer you don't, that's different for everyone I guess.
Coming back down Uluru, we made sure to keep within reach of the chain. Some sections were too steep for Frog's shoes and he had to sit and slide down slowly so he wouldn't "knock you down like a bowling pin."
Next we did a quick circuit around Uluru to get some photos with the bike in front.
A little after we made it to the bottom we backtracked to go towards Alice Springs for a health check for Rod. We decided to use what daylight we had left to get back to Erldunda Roadhouse to stay there the night. Myself and Tony went ahead to book rooms for the 4 of us, but when we got there they were all booked out except for campsites. We had the option to go back to Kulgera Roadhouse for rooms, forward to Stuarts Well Roadhouse for rooms, or stay and camp.
By the time Rod and Frog get here there was not enough light to get anywhere with the bike since Frog can't ride while it's dark (as part of the record attempt's conditions), so if we went anywhere we would have to leave the bike here at Erldunda, then drive back for it in the morning, which we briefly considered, but in the end decided to stay here at Erldunda for another night.
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