Thoughts on the road from Laverton to Uluru

13 August 2009 here follows a random list of our experiences and education as we have proceeded along 1094 kms of variable road;
most important - safe, comfortable feet; that red dirt is awful for getting in any cracks and creases. Also the dust doesn't just swirl behind the van, it swirls inside too, and our first job when we set up camp is the damp dust! I haveen't done so much dusting since nursing training.
-we are still adjusting to one of the great joys of camping - moving 3 things to find what you want, like when we lived in our unit for 10 months! As the journey proceeded, it was a case of dusting dirt off 3 things...
-our usual trick of commencing the "what we forgot" list - we didn't forget anything, and actually have too much.
-the fire grill we found on a trip last year, discarded at a camp site, has done daily service; it is the back of an old fridge, bent over at the ends to give it legs; it is fully adjustable, in the you can turn over and have no legs, if required. A classy bit of equipment!
-My Tai Chi tour progresses, with Grasp birds tail at lasseters Cave, stork cools wings at the old camel corral, dan yus and tor yus wherever I can fit them in, and so on, all captured on film for the Tai Chi newsletter.
-people who travel too fast shower us with gravel chips and our windscreen bears the scars.
-we have had to learn to balance the needs of individuals against the needs of the group or majority. We are the weak links, we are slow with everything, but hey, we are on holiday and its not a race!
-the trick of having cold white wine when the fridge is small and must carry much - decant 600 mls into a cool drink bottle each morning; a most important task! Also, if you take a drink out, you must replace it immediately, too keep the precious stocks up.
-the weather has warmed as we have headed north and east, and now in Uluru it is 34C, but the campground pool is very very cold.
-the feature of wrecked cars along the way is to be seen to be believed.
-our speed range has been between 10 and 70 kph, very glad of new shockies
-you just have to get used to sweaty heat jammed under a hat, until the next shower opportuniy, usually every 4 days.
-John likes to refer to sphincter-clenching moments, usually related to corrugations!
-we spent $104 on a fly proof tent for dining; light attract moths and flies into your dinner, but there have been no flies, mozzies or moths!!!!!
-who would believe that a mouse lives in the safe confines of a spiky spinifex bush?
-we have a new respect for mulga scrub - an ugly name but a plant vital to Aboriginals, it has so many many uses.
-there have been no cattle grids to break the monotony of the sandy desert highway. Usually the become quite a talking point and we have missed them!
-techno chaos - what with leads for 2 way radio, GPS, camera battery, mobile phone, electric toothbrush, John's razor, and so on, it is a daily challenge to keep things up to speed, especially as the road conditions slowed us down.
-when we clean up, the used water is the colour and consistency of tomato soup.
-as much as possible, equipment must have more than one use, ie, the tool box is also a step into the van and also a coffee table when we have visitors, even a spare seat.
-we have just done some walks at the Olgas and Uluru; I have no intention of climbing Uluru - the Aboriginals ask us very nicely not to do so, and I am happy with that. Its also very steep!!!
-wildlife - lots of birds, main treat was 2 major mitchell cockatoos at our last bush camp; several rabbits, 2 roos, 1 emu, 4 lots of wild camels and that's it. Rather disappointing!
-the recent big decision is to miss the next section of dirt outback highway; the road condition is so bad that cars are disintegrating. We will go via tar from Alice. Bye for now!