And on to Alice.

Tuesday: Rolling by 8.00am for the 740 k leg to Uluru. Refuelled at Marla just south of the border, petrol price climbing. Still not many stock or animals near the road although another rider saw 2 dingos. The rain has kept them away with plenty of feed everywhere. Crossed the border into NT and refuelled at Erldunda.  I left to go straight to Alice while the other 2 headed west to see the rock. I had been to Uluru and the Olgas several times previously, so was not keen to ride another 600km to see those. More bikes wherever we go and most of them are the more expensive ones.

The next section is lifted from David's own diary -

Made the rock before sunset chalking up more than 2000ks in 4 days from home. Harley has been magnificent. Did lap of Uluru just before dark.

Sunset at Uluru, 4days and 2000kms from home

 Interestingly although more than twice the engine capacity of Ian’s older model  750 BMW am using less fuel than him. (Premium at Yulara 2.25/ltre!). I think this demonstrates the effectiveness of a full cruise control. Staying at Desert Springs which is rather more upmarket.

Wednesday: Decent Continental breakfast to start day, packed up and rode back to Rock- $25 ticket to enter is for 3 days. Visited Cultural Centre which has very interesting range of Aboriginal art and artefacts.

Did another lap of Rock and colours and contrast quite different from evening.  Rode 44ks trip to Kata Tjuta (Olgas) which is well worth the visit, but the flies!  Then headed for Erldunda again for lunch and fuel. Wonderful colours in flowers along the way, purple, red, yellow and deep pink. Interesting trees along the way called desert oak which look a bit like a buloke but with a long trunk and then branches out at the top. Starting to wind bikes up a bit- on Highway set cruise at 3000rpm (130k/hr, legal) and needle didn’t deviate up or down hills. Covered the 200ks in 1hr 40 min.

Now back to Malcolm’s story -

Meanwhile, on Tuesday, I had arrived in Alice Springs after a long day – about 660km from Coober Pedy – to find our hostess Linx MacPherson expecting my arrival. She lives in an old part of Alice, with a beautiful garden – informal but relaxing. Good to do some washing here; Linx a most interesting host. She has a business involving Aboriginal Art, and also works as a mediator with the Community Justice Centre. Much of her work is in the aboriginal communities which are based both in Alice Springs (in the “town camps”) and in the surrounding desert country. The birds below are in LInx’s garden.