Return drive from Uluru to Alice Springs

After a terrifc breakfast buffet at the Bough House, we checked out and headed back to Alice Springs. We stopped at the roadhouses we had missed on the way down. To be honest, they are all a bit of a blur at this point. All fully serviceable but none that stands out for a recommendation. There is one place with a sort of bird santuary or zoo, that we checked out for birds we might not see otherwise. We stopped again at the Mt. Connor lookout, beautiful as before, but more to see if any of the great salt lake was visible from that place. It is not. At the Finke River crossing we pulled in and wallked down to the river bed, delighted to find some water still there at the end of the dry season. It was not flowing, but enough to have a few fish traps still set up. We had the place to ourselves until a busload of tourists arrived just as we were leaving. To refresh our understanding of the country we were driving through, we replayed the CD of the trip From Alice Springs to Uluru, running the tracks 9, 8, 7... Especially the bits we had missed on the way down. Hearing that the meteor craters were accessible by regular vehicle, we turned off to see them. However, a "4WD vehicle recommended" sign stopped us in our tracks and we turned back. The Camry rental agreement said sealed roads only. Besides, we did not want to get mired somewhere out in the middle of the back of beyond! We arrived in Alice Springs tired and happy, ready to have dinner and turn in. We parked at Todd Mall (a street mall) and ate at Sporties that night, I believe. We followed three great big guys down the mall, listening to them talking sports all the way. We expected a dark bar filled with TV Sports screens everywhere. Surprise! Sporties is a bright blue, white, and silver diner, with a full bar, large menu, and friendly service. A perfect way to end the day!