Bit of a slow start this morning or maybe as I’m not running to a deadline I allowed myself a sleep in.   So by the time I was up and packed and made myself a cuppa it was about 8am.

My plan today was to run into Alice grab someone supplies and head to Uluru.  On the way back into Alice from Glen Helen I was struck by how much the ridge of the mountains could be seen as a dragon’s back … the photo really doesn’t do them justice.

There are many beautiful mountains around Alice. This isn’t the picture I had in my head of Alice Springs.

After a quick call home to check in I was informed that the Royals were going to be at Uluru the day after I would be.   I didn’t think this would impact me.

Here’s a photo for John – a Ghan loco advertising the transport museum out of Alice.  Hopefully next time I will have time to have a look.

I decide to do a splash and dash at Curtin Springs so I can ride straight out to the Olgas and then back to Uluru. I was chatting to a coach driver who informed me that a lot of the areas at Uluru are already restricted for when the Royals visit tomorrow.  This throws a spanner in my plans so I decide to back track and head for Kings Canyon for a couple of days and then go to Uluru once it has settled down.   Hopefully.

I was thinking that this was meant to be the red centre.  However after all the rain out here it’s very green.

One of the things I really like about riding is that other riders often come over for a chat.   Last night I had dinner with a ulyses member who only started riding when she was 49 and has since ridden bikes in many different countries.  Then this afternoon Nick wandered over after I had setup camp with a beer and I joined his family for a chat.

Then to finish the day I watched the sun setting over Kings Canyon.

My camp site at Kings Canyon resort.

Day 6 –  720km
Total – 4,953km

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Day 7

Given that I won’t be out here again for awhile I thought it’s worth having a look around.  So I decided to hang out in Kings Canyon for a couple of days.

This morning I did the rim walk which was classified as a moderate to hard walk of about 5.5km.  The thing about the rim wall is that you first have to climb up to the rim.

Which is as hard as it looks.!

However once up there there was still a heap of accents and decents but the views were very rewarding.

And then after about 3-4 hours you head back down to the car park.  And yet more steps!

The other walk I did was the canyon creek track which takes you down into the canyon a little ways.

In the photo above you can see one of the bridges for the rim walk.

This was a nice walk but a bit disappointing after the rim walk.

Early night tonight as I’m absolutely beat after all that climbing.