28 June - Kulgera to Ayer's Rock/Uluru

This was our first day alone in the outback!  Judy & Charlie had left for Alice Springs since they'd already been to the area we were about to visit.  We left our campsite at 9.30am & proceeded to fill up with diesel before setting out on our journey.  Bob had to provide identification before he was allowed to put fuel in the car (I guess people had left without paying, in the past).

We saw several big eagles feeding off dead animals (possibly dingoes).

About 140km from Uluru, we saw a huge, red monolith in the distance, which turned out to be Mt Connor (apparently, frequently mistaken for Uluru).  The vegetation changed & we began to see desert oaks, with feathery foliage & black trunks, as well as juveniles of the same species, which were thin & rocket-like.

The caravan site at Yulara (near to Uluru) was very busy & we could only get an unpowered space, which we had to accept.

We went to watch sunset over the Rock, which was a very special experience.  Uluru changed colour dramatically as the sun sank lower in the sky.  Quite a large crowd had gathered to watch & cameras clicked busily.  We befriended two young families & a lady from the Blue Mountains.