Daintree, Cooktown, via the Bloomfield Track and back on the bitumen

I feel a bit tired tonight.  We have driven a distance of 442 Kms to Cooktown via the Bloomfield Track and returned via the bitumen road through Lakeland, Mt Carbine, Mt Molloy and Mossman, back to Wonga Beach North.  I tried a Google Map, but it didn't work, so you will just have to look it up on Google Maps (or Google Earth) or break out your favourite paper map.  The choice is yours.

It was great to drive through the forest again today, covering all of the ground that we covered yesterday, but at a faster pace, as we didn't stop to look today.  We hit the dirt road at about 1000 and we were driving through less travelled, but dusty Daintree Forest.  There were a number of creek crossings (barely got the tyres wet) that were exciting for Peter and Helen, as they had not done four wheel driving before, only on sand.  There had been a few showers overnight down at the caravan park, but nothing on the Bloomfield Track.  It was dusty.  The drive was unremarkable, in that it was a drive through the magnificant Daintree Forest.  We went up and over the range and I have to say it was a lot easier than the last time (2002?).  The rock staicases are gone, replaced by concrete road and the track is much wider and well maintained.  There is a lot of work still underway to repair damage from the last wet and still more to get started, but they are working flat out to get it done.  Needless to say, we encountered a few trucks along the way.

The Bloomfield Causeway has been replaced after the old one was destroyed in the wet.  The new one is a credit to the Cairns Regional Council.  It's a beauty!  We cruised through the neat little Indigenous community of Wujal Wujal and on past the Lions Den Pub (we didn't stop for a beer, it was too early in the day) and on to Black Mountain, then to Cooktown.  Cooktown is a great town, very neat and tidy, well maintained and is a credit to the people of Cooktown.  Their pride in their town shows everywhere you look.  We enjoyed lunch in the main park in town, went up to Grassy Hill for some lookout pics and then started back to home base.  What a drive.  Took a stone to the windscreen which caused a big star with a crack.  May have to get it replaced in Cairns - see how it goes.  Bugger!  Stopped for a break at a noice little creekside stop for a cuppa.  One of the girls (who shall remain nameless) had a loo stop as nature intended.  The other accused me of stopping in a place with no loos.  I pointed out the very obvious, brand new loo and there were smiles all round, even from the girl who had made the "au natural" loo stop.

On to home base.  Whew!  Rinse the dust off the car and have some dinner.  Then early to bed tonight, I think, as we will be resting tomorrow morning and then......................(ta da)....FISHING!  Wish me luck, cos I'll need it.

Enjoy the pics.

Creek crossing OTW to Cooktown on the Bloomfield Track

Two views of Black Mountain.  As you can see, it's very....................black

 

Monument to James Cook in the park and its plaque

Cooktown from Grassy Hill

Cooktown Harbour looking north(ish)

Cooktown Harbour looking south(ish)

Cooktown Harbour looking west(ish)

The following pics are for Deb.  She knows who she is.  She is a dedicated lighthouse affecionado (she's nuts about lighthouses), so I have included a few for her.  Just for you, Deb.  Sorry, no gnomes.

Until tomorrow.

Hoo roo