Sunday, July 24, 2011

Riding around the rock.

I think one day, a loooooong time in the future, when I am old and wrinkly and grey sitting in my rocker thinking about my life gone by, today is a day that will stand out. Today is a life highlight I think.

Today, after the biggest three year old tantrum ever, Indi made us a packed lunch, we hopped in the car and drove to Uluru. Once there we took the bikes off the roof of the car and rode off around the base of the great rock.

We had been looking forward to this moment for so long. We were buzzing with excitement. Even having to stop to repair two punctures didn't spoil the mood.

We were at Uluru. On our caravan adventure. And that rock is MASSIVE!! Bigger than any of us had imagined.

It is a beautiful track around the rock, dotted with bits of information and stories. Many places are fenced off because they are sacred Aboriginal sites. In fact the whole area feels sacred. There is a kind of sense of calm and awe.

It was difficult to explain to the girls though why it was that despite the fact that it was made so clear that the traditional land owners do not want people to climb the rock, people still do. To get to the climbing path, one must walk right past this sign explaining that fact in several languages. Hmmmm...

Despite the fact that the car parks were full, we passed so few people on our ride and felt like we had the park to ourselves so much of the time.

An amazing day.

Today I rode around Uluru with my family. The five of us. Pepper on the Trail-Gator behind me and Jazzy mostly riding alone and sometimes with Bren.

We laughed, sang, picnicked and adored the scenery. The rock was cold to touch but we had the most beautiful, warm, brilliantly blue skied day.

I still feel a little self conscious about using Foxslane as a travel blog, but I do want to record this time and blogging is a comfortable way for me to do so, so for now I will. Maybe there'll even be a bit of craft thrown in the mix from time to time. Hope so.

I hope you are making some memories for you as a granny to look back on and smile one day too.

Before you go, I almost forgot I have one more little story that I must to share:

We had just arrived in the Uluru Cultural Centre this morning when this gorgeous girl came over and asked if I was Kate. Obviously I replied that I was. She said she had just gotten off the phone from her sister Aimee who reads my blog and told her to look out for a black haired girl in boots with three girls. As her sister was saying the words, apparently I walked past and fitted the description. Foxslane is here she told her sister. We chatted, I met her friends and heard about their trip and we headed off in our own directions.

I love how blogging sometimes makes the big wide world seem like a smaller, friendlier place.

Hi Aimee!

See yas all later eh! xx

48 comments:

  1. Wow Kate, recognised from your blog from someone's sister, how great is that. I am actually enjoying your travels on your blog. My sister visited Uluru a long time ago and loved it too, and I think it would be amazing to visit one day. I loved the idea that when your a granny you will look back on that day!

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  2. Lovin following your travels....looking forward to the next 'stop'. Eleesa xx

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  3. Oi Loverly Kate stop second guessing yourself and no need to apologise ... Foxslane is you, no matter what you're doing it's your story, about your life and your beloveds that so many of us love and adore.
    The Uluru story proves you're famous Australia wide ... keep writing whatever you please I love hearing what you're up to.
    Yes I'm making memories every day as a very blessed Great Grand MaMa.
    Thank YOU for doing what you do so beautifully Darling ♥♥♥♥♥

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  4. Kate, your ability to tell a story and make life seem special is what makes your blog so wonderful. Doesn't matter if it is farm life, craftiness or your travels. We read because we love your spirit and how you record your life.

    That story is just so wonderful. You must have felt warm and fuzzy.

    The perfect day. Glad that your nomadic life is treating you all well. Now that I am home, I must catch up on the start of your adventures.

    xx

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  5. Love the fact that bloggers are saying hi thru family to you thats awesome.
    Back in 1990 we went around Aus and went to Uluru Climbing it wasnt such a taboo thing then so we did and signed the book at the top.Its truly an amzing place to see and it really cant be described how big it is till you see it yourself.
    Loving traveling with you all xx

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  6. Wow what a great day you had. This is such an amazing adventure you are on with your family. Thank you for sharing it with us Kate and taking us along for a ride.

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  7. Hey Honey, just a quickie to say how happy I am to see you & your gorgeous gang having such amazing adventures. Missing you here in cold old D'ford, take care beautiful girl xo

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  8. I love that you're sharing your travels with us. Reading your posts is like taking a virtual vacation. And if you manage to craft something on the way, well, of course we want to see that too, but please keep blogging about your adventures!

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  9. What a great day! It is a small world, you will probably bump into that girl somewhere else along the road too! Hope there is not too many more punctures :)
    Jacqueline.

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  10. Another day, another very good reason to drop in at Foxslane :D I'd have to travel around the globe to visit that amazing rock ... but it would clearly be worth it!

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  11. What a fab day you have had...I climbed the rock as a 14 year old in the days when it was Ok to do so ( in the early 80's). It was amazing but I am sure cycling around the base was just as awesome. Love the Travel Blog adventures.

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  12. ha! I thought I would look up your travels and it seems we are of similar mind! We rode around the rock not long ago - we are in Darwin now. It is amazing isn't it. Calm is a good way to describe it.
    x
    happy travels

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  13. Forget the craft for us - this is so good to be able to follow you around. I still secretly hope you might come to my town and I check out the stripes on every van I see. Have fun! Cherrie

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  14. greetings from far-far-away (Greece). I follow you to your adventures and today I introduce you as a really worth seen blog.
    thank you for the sharing and wish you happy traveling!

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  15. Don't feel bad about feeling your blog is becoming a travel blog at all Kate. I love hearing your stories and getting to live vicariously through you, as I'm sure everyone else does!!

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  16. I am in the UK at the moment an dlove reading about your adventures - makes me homesick. I traveled to Uluru last year at about this time. Had such an amazing trip. I think traveling around the base (I walked) makes you realise the size of it in a way that climbing it simply couldn't. Also allows you to see all those fenced off places and realise (again) how very important it is. hope you are going to Kata Tjuta as well- the canyonws walk is so so perfect.

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  17. Love reading about your travels here on Foxslane. How wonderful someone recognised you from the blog description

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  18. I absolutely adore hearing about your tale of travelling around Australia. My sister visited Australia on a year off after uni (about 23 years ago!) and she too visited Coober Pedy and Uluru so it's just like old times, hearing of somebody's jaunts at the other side of the world. Seeing as we only have a weekend away planned this year, visiting this blog is definitely the next best thing! Keep on having magical moments. xx

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  19. Travel blogs are good - it'll come in handy for when I visit Australia (one day!!)

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  20. I'm so glad that you decided to write about your travels, because I find your trip very inspirational. Looking forward to more stories from the road.

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  21. Please, please, please keep writing about your travels. I am loving following along.

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  22. Loving this blog.
    Your writing takes me on a little escape to another world, for just a few minutes.
    And I look at those beautiful photos and read your descriptive words.
    And I am on a bike, alongside you for a second.
    Xx

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  23. Crochet with RaymondJuly 25, 2011 at 6:47 AM

    Hello Kate!
    Si jealous that you have been to Uluru, it is on my list of paces to visit this lifetime for sure, but looooooverley to see your pics!
    Your blog is about your life as much as your craft, post about your travels, it;s all good! You'll regret it if you dont!
    Have an awesome day XXX

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  24. lovely pics! Those photos of your girls in the last post were devine - so cute!
    Am also enjoying your travel tales like everyone else.It looks all so peaceful and tranquil.

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  25. sounds amazing! last november we were debating whether to go to uluru or litchfield/kakadu and the latter won out, but this post reminds me that i really need to make it to uluru sometime soon! xx

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  26. What a thrilling adventure for you guys. I think I want to go there now! And what a small world it is. Keep updating us and don't feel self conscious - I always thought of Fox's Lane as being a window to not only your craft, but your life.

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  27. Hey Kate,
    Craft, caravanning.... it is all so good. It is a great record of your trip and wonderful times together. We are doing the same soon so am enjoying following your vanning adventures.

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  28. beautiful, beautiful pictures.
    when i was 11 years old my family took 4 months camping around australia. i'm 18 now, and still those 4 months were the best and most memorable in my whole life. it's really good to see other families doing the same.
    i kept a full journal, but one day when we were up in northern territory, i left it at a picnic table and when we went back it wasn't there... so keep those journals safe!
    so far your trip looks very similar to how ours started out, coober pedy, then uluru. can't wait to see where you next stop!
    good luck! live lightly and think deeply
    caitlin

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  29. Thank you for sharing whatever you want to share. I love your blog, no matter what you write about. And I really love your travelling stories! I hope you have a lot more memorable days on your journey!

    Fine

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  30. another brilliant post kate.. no need for craft sometimes.

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  31. incredible that you've traveled so far already!

    am loving the desk chair travels ~ have never been to uluru. it sure looks gorgeous :)

    you are famous!! how sweet is that.
    xx

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  32. What an amazing adventure Kate...through self conscious out the door and keep the stories coming :)

    x

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  33. Hi Kate, as a crafty mum of two little girls (3 yrs and 6mths) I have really enjoyed reading your blog especially the parenting stuff (imagining my girls being older) and am now loving the traveling adventures. Keep it up!

    Claire

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  34. Love following your travels! Looks like you are getting into your swing and making some wonderful memories x

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  35. Love it all Kate! Let me know if you run into team from Conservation Volunteers on your travels

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  36. what a beautiful record you are making, Kate, and I'm so grateful wou are sharing it with us.

    Thank you, and happy travels! xo

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  37. What a special day, i'm sure you will never forget it. And wonderful too, that it lived up your expectations .
    And Kate, please don't feel self conscious about the whole travel blog thing. I read this blog because it's about you, my wonderful friend who I care about and adore, So whatever's happening with you I want to know whether it's travelling or craft or farming or whatever.
    And you're a damn good writer too.
    big love
    xoxo

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  38. Oh how gorgeous! I love this post - what a wonderful day you had :) Love the blogger-love too. Thanks for the smile Kate :) Kx

    p.s. I didn't climb either, and I remember it amazed me too that others did!

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  39. Hi Kate,
    I hope you keep sharing your travels on Foxs Lane. My family are planning a very small 6 week camping trip next year so I am very interested in reading about your trip and one day we hope to do a mucher longer one. I would love to read about any organisational tips and I was also curious-read nosey-about whether you are taking a break from school or home schooling and if your girls will resume their grade etc on return. Take care and safe and happy travels!

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  40. This blog is about you!! If you're traveling, it's a travel blog. That's OK ... it's great!!
    What a fantastic granny remembering moment!!
    xx

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  41. ooh that last bit brought a tear to my i because it's so true - we are a lovely little community :)
    keep on travelling and blogging - i'm living vicariously through you
    l
    xx

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  42. I am new to visiting your blog. Love all the info about your travels. May your road rise up to meet you and may you never run out of puncture kit!

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  43. such a wonderful wonderful piece of Australia. I love that you loved Uluru, it truely is a magical place.
    I remember going to Uluru and being amazed by the changes in light & colours and just that beautiful magical place that it is.
    the kids are looking forward to going there hopefully in the next year or so.

    keep on writing about your beautiful adventures, we love reading them & experiencing the adventure through you ♥

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  44. I am loving your adventure tales, so please keep them up... i will love vicariously through you until one we plan ourown trip!
    have fun!

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  45. Tonight one of my "three great things" that happened today was reading about your ride around the red rock. So wonderful.

    Also, reading about Indi making the packed lunch, made me think of this film. Looks great, huh? xx

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  46. I don't mind if it is a travel blog and hey, you can always keep this as your journal and get it printed into a book with pictures when you get back! I l-o-v-e your adventures, thoughts, descriptions. How funny about 'blog-spotting' fame. Go you!!!

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  47. I'm so glad you're still blogging. Please keep it up!

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  48. Hi Kate.
    This is Amber. The one you met at the Uluru Cultural Centre. So nice reading about our little meeting.
    Im sitting here in Kyneton at my sisters and I can't believe you are back already. You won't believe that it took us 8 months to drive to Darwin from Victoria! And we have taken hiatus from our trip until mid way through this year when we will resume!
    I really enjoy your pictures and the food makes me salivate!
    Until next time! Amber. :)

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Thanks so much for stopping by...

I do read every single comment you leave and appreciate it very much, but I should let you know that I can be a wee bit on the useless side when replying to comments, that's just me, everyday life sometimes gets in the way....so I'll apologise now, just in case.

Kate XX

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