Postcards Travel Album
Uluru-Kata Tjuta
Australian Druid Assembly

Episode 10, Friday 22 June, 2001

I watch the sunrise, the end of the longest night and the first of the increasing days. No-one else does from our group. There is a thin band of cloud in the east, low. It blocks the sun so that at sunrise we get first one spark, then a couple, then a few further up. The sparks grow, and merge, and new sparks appear until finally the cloud is one glorious blaze, from one little spark. The sun appears in the middle of this glory. A fitting end to the longest night.

Several people leave the lookout at this point. One family arrives and starts to leave, saying "We've missed it". I call them back. The cloud is still blocking the Rock, and as we watch, Sunrise on the Rock happens, five minutes late. A lady leaves the lookout, after waiting there 20 minutes, and says as she leaves "Oh look, you can see the Olgas too!".

I rejoin the others and see Vivienne and the other three off. Now Heather and I are left, and Vivienne's hat. Heather and I make an attempt to get it to her waiting at the airport, but no go so we post it. Heather and I agree we want space and silence. I leave her to her writing, and I head off to photograph and draw flowers. I buy postcards, and wander happily through the main reserve , enjoying the sun and quiet. Eventually I realise it must be lunchtime, and head back to Heather's cabin. We cook leftover potatoes from last night with cheese sauce.