Outback explorer

We had to get up at 4:30 again today, but I was awake at 4 with a stuffy nose and sore thought. I seem to be alergic to the Outback. It was also getting quite loud, since everyone gets up early for the sunrise. On today's agenda was Kata Tjuta, a formation of 24 red rock domes, individually similar to Uluru. We were doing a 5km hike among the domes to a lookout point, with the option of going 3km more. The trail was rocky and difficult and uphill most of the time, but I was feeling pretty good after climbing Uluru, and everyone else was going so slow, so I ventured ahead on my own. I've been kind of anti-social on this tour anyway, and have been sticking to myself alot, since everybody seems to be traveling with a buddy. So I went and did the whole 8km and beat everyone else doing 5km. Then I walked out and met Jen, Breda, and Katie. It was a good morning of walking, but it doesn't compare to yesterday, which was the most amazing thing I've ever done.

Then we drove three hours to Kings Creek Station, a touristy resort with camel rides, quad bike rides, and helicopter rides. But the high prices, fatigue, and blistering heat combined to make nobody want to do anything but soak in the pool. That night we sat around the fire for a little, but most people went to bed at 9, even though we could sleep in until 6 tomorrow. So I wrote yesterday's massive entry until 11, then went off to my last night in a swag.