Valley of the Winds

In a recent post, written from the skies over the Northern Territory, I described a hike we took in the Kata Tjuta, also known by the name given to it by European explorers, "The Olgas."  This hike ended up almost compensating for our lack of sunshine in the Red Centre, and it is something we would not have been likely to complete had the daytime temperatures lived up to their typical highs for this time of year.  Since I was unable to access my pictures while writing the original blog post, I will include a few of them in this one.

Just before we began the hike, we came across the road to Western Australia.  We traveled down it for a few metres before becoming nervous about getting stuck.

Ross wanted a picture of the sign warning about the dangers of heat stress since we were so cold.

Likely we would not have spotted these kangaroos had not the hikers who had passed us some time before stopped to watch them with their binoculars.

In spite of the cloudy skies and cool temperatures, we became very thirsty, and were glad of this water station to refill our water bottles.  We figured that the water must be brought in by helicoptor.

This was our last look at Uluru as we had to leave very early the next morning.  Since a sunset did not seem too hopeful, we canceled our plans to return in the evening and instead went out to a decent restaurant for dinner..  The kids were impressed enough with their surroundings that they all ate quietly and continued to refrain from arguing, all in all not a bad ending to what was surely one of the more unique birthdays that I have ever enjoyed.

 

Comments

[Amy Smith]

Love this post Christie! However, I looked and looked, and I just can't see the kangaroos! :)

[Christie]

Thanks Amy! Time for new glasses maybe?

[Shanda]

I saw them! Great pictures of a very interesting place, my friend! The kids must love all the adventures outdoors!

[Suzanne]

Awesome pictures!! Love the red sand/rock! Actually - this is what I thought all of Australia was supposed to look like!!! Thanks for the priceless education and experiences you have shared with us over the last year Christie. Maybe you will get back here and see the rock in the sun. You never know :) Then you will be one of the few in the world that has seen it in both sun and rain.

[Christie]

Thanks, Suzanne! We frequently made the comment as we drove to and from Uluru that this was what we had imagined all of Australia to be like, except for Bondi Beach of course.