Tuesday, September 2, 2025
Today was the day of poor planning, since I had the idea that one visited Uluṟu (temporarily named Ayer's Rock by white people) from Alice Springs. We had a 6:00 flight from Darwin to Alice Springs, Northern Territory, a 2-hour and 10-minute journey.
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| Alice Springs Airport, a regional airport |
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We rented a Suzuki, the tiniest car possible!
...note that Kent, who is driving, is on the right side of the car |
My mistake was that it was 468 km/300 miles or 5 hours from Alice Springs to Yulara, from where one actually goes to visit Uluṟu.
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We are properly driving on the left side of the road;
fortunately there are many signs along this road
reminding us to "Drive on Left in Australia" |
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| The area is full of sandstone outcroppings |
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We took a detour to hike to Standley Chasm
in the West MacDonnell Ranges/Mountains;
the trail was only 2.4 km/1.5 miles round trip |
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Trees were labeled: Erythrina vespertilio/
Inarnta Beantree |
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The Inarnta Beantree is also known as the
Bat-leaved Coral Tree (KSS) |
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Eucalyptus camaldulensis/River Red
Gum Tree provides nesting sites
for many types of parrots |
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| Dodonaea viscosa/Hopbush |
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| "Tessellated rock" |
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| Rocky but dry streambed |
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| Approaching Standley Chasm (KSS) |
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We were too early to see the sun
shining into the chasm |
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| Heading back toward the car |
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| Acacia paradoxa/Kangaroo Thorn |
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Had lunch of a Bacon and Egg Burger
at the Standley Chasm Café |
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Kent had coffee, but I tried an
iced mocha, which included ice cream |
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Hands-free sink where you leaned your thigh
on the right side of the sink to turn on the water |
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| Rumex vesicarius/Ruby Dock was seen all along our drive |
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| The road just skirting an outcropping |
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| The road just keeps going and going |
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A stop at Erldunda Roadhouse for an Australian Chiko Roll,
their version of a spring roll filled with cabbage, barley,
meat, and veggies in thick pastry |
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| We were in cattle ranch land, with these headless cattle |
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Um, are we already at Uluṟu? ...no, this is Mount Connor/
Artilla, a classic example of an inselberg created by
erosion of surrounding strata, and is the most easterly
of the three central Australian tors or monoliths that
include Uluṟu (1/3 size of Mt Connor) and Kata Tjuṯa |
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We made it in time to check in at The Lost Camel Hotel,
before reception closed at 16:30 |
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| The Lost Camel room |
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| The Lost Camel bed |
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| The Lost Camel room |
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| The Lost Camel shower |
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| The Lost Camel WC |
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The Circle of Sand on the Town Square Lawn where
one can join in indigenous cultural activities |
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| Dinner of pizza at Geckos Café |
Next: Uluṟu Field of Light and Uluṟu Camel Farm.
