Cooktown

Well, we had been told that Cooktown was delightful and so we found it. Having booked in for 3 nights, we quickly added 2 more. We arrived on 20 August, an auspicious date, being Karen"s birthday and the anniversary of our arrival in Australia "to stay". Celebration was required and we went to Cooktown's upmarket restaurant, the 1770, where we had a delicious meal of freshly caught prawns, and barramundi accompanied by a very nice chilled white wine. All this with a view of a stunning sunset, looking over the estuary of the Endeavour River.

Sunset over the Endeavour River (the only river Cook named)

Cooktown was of course where James Cook landed his ship, the Endeavour, for repairs after he had managed to put a hole in it on the Great Barrier Reef in 1770. The town has had an amazing history of growth, decline and survival over the years and all of it is documented in a couple of wonderful museums. We spent many hours in both.

James Cook Museum, originally the convent of the Sisters of Mercy

While "Endeavour " was being repaired, Cook was anxious to see how he was going to get back out through the reef and frequently went up "Grassy Hill" from where there is an amazing 360 degree view. He must have been fit, though! The climb up is steep in the extreme, and nowadays the road winds through sharp bends, forbidden to vehicles such as our Beast. We opted for the easy way, and took a taxi.

Looking towards the Reef, which at this point is very close. Any spaces to get through?

The Lighthouse on Grassy Hill, built in England and brought out to Cooktown

The estuary of the Endeavour River from Grassy Hill

A walk through the cemetery told its own story of the hardships of life here, with so many people dying at a very young age. Malaria was often the cause.

Today we went on a tour with an aboriginal. He took us to several sites sacred to his people and explained the rock art found there. The Aborigines were such gentle people, so close to nature, it is sad to see what many of them have become because of what the white fella has done to them, and supposedly "for" them.

Willie Gordon, our Aboriginal tour guide ..........

........ having just caught a lizard. He HEARD it!

A Golden Orb spider. Unfortunately it is difficult from this photo to realise the size of the thing.  They are huge.

We are disappointed that for us, Cape York ends here, barely at its beginning, but we can go no further with our Beast. At Cooktown Holiday Park we had met up with Allan and Lyn, two of our safari members, who were also thinking it was such a shame to stop there. They have bitten the bullet and are flying up from Cairns to the top and going over to Thursday Island. We thought about it but have decided to leave it for another trip. We will be interested to hear of their adventure.