Kings Canyon

We've taken an unscheduled day in Kings Canyon, north of Uluru, based on recommendation from a couple of other bikers whose route we are paralleling.

The road in was surreal - sinuous tarmac and wide bends through everchanging landscape. My preconceptions before doing the road trip were that central Australia was a sandy desert. Uluru and Kings Canyon were a sea of green and gold. We splurged yesterday and took a helicopter flight over the Canyon. Our Pilot said they had experienced four times the annual rainfall this Wet Season, and had a whole year's rain in one day after Christmas  - the spent centre of a tropical cyclone.

As the sun set on the Carmichael Ranges, the full Moon rose in perfect unison.

Today we walkdd the canyon rim - 6km in 3 hours. The top of the Carmichaels was seabed 400 million years ago and we were able to find fossilised worm trails and rippled lake bed in the petrified sandstone. This walk was a big workout for Bruce after his broken leg in December.

Tonight were are back at Erldunda Roadhouse after ride out of Kings Canyon. Tomorrow's target is to get north of Alice Springs. Steak, red wine and an early night to make some serious 'northing' over the next three days. Darwin is on cyclone watch and we'll have to assess the weather forecast at Tennant Creek before committing to riding north to Daly Waters. We are getting the benefit of Melbourne's winter blast with cool Southeasterly winds and 26C.

The Antipodean Mariners