Kata Tjuta

A loud bang startles us from our sleep. Lightning illuminates the night almost as bright as day. Yesterday afternoon's storm was nothing compared to this. Carsten suggests that it might be better to unplug the power cable. It probably is, but unfortunately no one can be bothered to do it - it's pouring rain. It won't strike here anyway. Eventually, the thunder becomes inaudible through the earplugs and we go back to sleep.

The storm leaves behind a cloudless morning sky. It was a beautiful sunrise. The light makes Uluru look majestic.

And we overslept. Today's plan: Leg-Butt Workout at Kata Tjuta.

6.5 km up and down the mountain, over and over again. A rocky, rocky trail.

You couldn't even enjoy the view because you had to constantly look at the ground so you wouldn't trip. And then a 20-year-old hops past you lightly. For a tiny moment, you can feel old. Once again, I've noticed that going uphill is exhausting for the fitness, but going downhill is tough on the joints and tendons. I prefer going uphill, the mass doesn't accelerate as quickly as when falling downhill.

There are two things we've purchased that have paid off. The mosquito net and the hiking poles. Both are worth their weight in gold.

6.5 km in 2.5 hours and a calorie burn of 4 beers. If we now cut out the alcohol and chocolate, we'll come home completely fit and slim.

A dream come true.

The view was amazing (as the English-speaking population would say, breathtaking). Kata Tjuta means 'round heads' for the Aboriginal people. Its discoverer Gilbers (1873 - in an attempt to cross Australia from east to west) named 36 domes the Olgas, after Queen Olga of Württemberg.

I'm sure I'll walk to the toilet tomorrow morning like an old grandma because everything hurts - I'm feeling like that today too.

We continue our journey to Kings Canyon, the deepest and oldest canyon in Australia. Also discovered by Giles and named after his friend Fieldes King. The Aboriginal people call the canyon Watarrka.

Do you know how it feels when you're driving through the vast, untouched, uninhabited, and less traveled expanses of Australia and you're running low on fuel? And you don't know when the next gas station will come? I can tell you - it sucks.

And lost in my thoughts, I also ran over Australia's only lizard - I feel so bad.

Do you remember the Aral song "I'm walking"? I've already seen Carsten running. Luckily, a tour bus then overtook me. Drafting actually works. It was super exhausting to maintain a constant distance of 10 m and to hope that he wouldn't brake suddenly, but with fuel for another 15 km, we reached a gas station. One might ask us why we didn't refuel earlier? Because we forgot. But everything turned out fine - thanks to the bus.

At the campsite, we ran into the young couple again that Carsten had chatted with in Alice Springs. The world is sometimes a small village.