Kurramine to Cooktown (June 2 - June 10 2012)

Saturday 2 June 2012 - Kurramine Beach

You wouldn’t believe it – but guess who won a meat tray – yep you guessed it - lucky Roy, he hasn’t lost it!  We both enjoyed our meals – steak and salad, very very yummy.

There are 3 Lotus vans in this park and another one in the park down the road – very rare, its usually the Jaycos that are in numbers.  And of course, the owners have to have the Lotus Talk, comparing their vans and trading tips. Ha ha ha and they say women are the talkers!!  One of the vans is heading up to the festival in Cooktown too.

Sunday 3 June 2012 – Paronella Park at Mena Creek

We woke to a beautiful sunny morning at last, but only had time for a quick walk on the beach before packing up and heading off for Paronella Park.  Paronella Park is the ruins of a castle which was built early in the century by a Spanish guy for his wife, but I won’t go into that – too long, you’ll just have to go there yourself and find out all about it!!!

We arrived at lunch time just in time for a tour of the park.  You wouldn’t believe it – but while we were waiting for the Guide, someone called, “Roy Store”.  It was Darryl Jenner who Roy knows from Wynnum (and is Jason’s cousin).  How many times can you say “It’s a small world” but it really is...  The tour took about an hour and we learned the history of the castle, then had a quiet arvo and recouped ready for the night tour, where the castle is lit up.  Darryl and his wife Joanne were there again so we caught up after the tour for a few social drinks. We were lucky the rain held off.

The Castle

Monday 4 June 2012 – Newell Beach

Off again, now we’re heading for Newell Beach just north of Mossman.  We didn’t stop at Cairns because we want to spend a week or so there after we do the Cape. We stopped at Innisfail for coffee-to-go and Edmonton for a few supplies and then straight up to Newell. 

Mossman Gorge

When we arrived, Roy took Jeddy for a walk along the beach while I did the housekeeping ho ho – and once again you wouldn’t believe it, he came back saying that he just saw a car that he’s sure is Lenny’s, parked outside the park.  Sure enough, he rang Lenny and asked him where he was – say no more.  Within 2 minutes Lenny was standing in front of us.  So “Lenny and the Crows” were staying at the same park as us.  Bloody hell (that world really is small)!!!  We had drinks that night but had an early one.


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Cane bins - Mossman

Mossman Gorge

View from Port Douglas

Tuesday 5 June 2012 – Newell Beach

Newell Beach

The days have been lovely and sunny and warm and the minimum has been around 17 degrees which is a nice sleeping temp and the max is rising – its 29 degrees now.  We went for a morning walk on the beach before heading off to do the tourist thing up the southern end of the Bloomfield Track to Daintree and Bloomfield.  Bloomfield has a population of 6 with 1 structure which is home/fuel/food etc. 

Bring your own everything or you’ll pay through the nose, but the hospitality was good.  We spent a couple of hours at the Daintree Discovery Centre and that was the day gone.

Wednesday 6 June 2012 – Newell Beach

“Lenny and the Crows” left to meet up with the others in Lakeland and we headed up to Mossman Gorge.  How beautiful, but so many tourists there.  It’s a good thing they have boardwalks now.  Then we went to take a look at Port Douglas.  My God, its just like Noosa.  It is definitely a beautiful town but far too yuppy for me.

We had lunch in a park on the foreshore, but poor Jeddy wasn’t allowed in the park there, so had to stay in the car.

Now for the highlight of the day – we went to a place called Hook A Barra.  It’s barra farm. “Lenny and the Crows” had been the day before and Geoff told us all about his catch, so we HAD to have a go.  Yahooooooo what a buzz!!  Even though it’s a farm (MP and Bob H) - a catch is a catch!! So now I’m hooked.  Before going home, we went straight back into Mossman and bought a barra rod so we will be prepared when we get up to the top.

Mary and Bob - a catch is a catch if you don't miind!!!

Thursday 7 June 2012 - Cooktown

Newell Beach

Endeavour River

Head em up, move em out!!!! (As Flint would say!! Or Ward Bond?)  Our last morning walk on lovely Newell Beach – I love this place.  After saying goodbye to Jenny the Manager, we headed north again to Cooktown.  We stopped for lunch at Palmer River Roadhouse, which was full of memorabilia of the gold days. Nice spot.  Arrived in Cooktown at about 3pm and was busy setting up so missed out on Happy Hour.  Nevermind, we made up for it after tea!!

Beautiful Cooktown

Friday 8 June 2012 – Cooktown - Elim Beach

The Others and Roy & Jed at Elim Beach

We woke quite early, put a load of washing on and headed off into town to find a Dump Spot.  We got waylaid along the way looking at all the sites, lookouts etc and heaps of pics later, we found the Dump Spot.  When we arrived back at the park, we had just enough time to get ready for our days outing with the others. There are 13 of us in all:  Roy and me, Maureen and John Bristow, Lenny and the Crows (Geoff and Diane), Dave and Merle Walton, Freddy and Wyn Stevenson and Graham and Hanne Dodd. (I’ll refer to the group as The Others, so I don’t have to name them all each time).

Jeddy - Elim Beach

The days outing was up to Hope Vale and Elim Beach and the coloured sands.  We had a wonderful day with JB doing a top job as our Tour Guide (because he has been there before).  Our Guide took us to Hope Vale first, which is an aboriginal community and a place you’d just want to keep going through – and we did.  Then to Elim Beach which is breathtaking!!  We had a bit of a wander here before heading off to find Eddy and get a permit to go to the coloured sands.  $10/vehicle – easy money hey!

Eddys camp at Elim Beach

The Ute at the coloured sands

There’s always something, with us!!! This time it’s the CB!!!!  We hadn’t used it up until now and were disappointed to find it didn’t work. After Freddy enlightened us that we were pressing the wrong button to talk, it actually wasn’t broken at all.  derrrrr!!!  Thanks Freddy.   Then, just when Roy was getting into the swing of things with The Others in the convoy – it went blank.  And as you all know, Roy isn’t in his element when he can’t talk.  He’ll have a look at it when we get back to the van.

The Gorge - stunning!

This is that funny man - Lenny of "Lenny and the Crows"

Off again, this time onto the beach and the beautiful coloured sands.  They are much the same as the ones on Fraser, and just as lovely.  We took heaps of photos then headed back off the beach (tide coming in) and back to Elim Beach where we had a picnic lunch in paradise.  How much better than this can it get!!!

The convoy

Coloured Sands

Roy and I stopped off at Isabella and Endeavour Falls on the way back and The Others went on ahead.  The falls were lovely – what waterfall isn’t?

Endeavour Falls

Roy bought a hand-held CB on the way home…

We met at the RSL for tea, but didn’t stay late, instead came back to the van and had drinks there.

Isabella Falls

Saturday 9 June 2012 – Cooktown - Archer Point

Another early start.  We were supposed to catch the Bush Poets Breakfast at the Gardens but sort of got there a bit late and it was far too crowded so had brekky at a café in town instead.  We booked our NP stop at Elliot/Twin Falls in advance as that’s supposed to be the way its done now.

Bush Poets Brekky - Too Late!!

Then under the instruction of our Guide once again, headed off to a place south of Cooktown called Archer Point.  This time it was just the Guide and Maureen, Lenny and the Crows and Roy and me that went.  Jeddy stayed home (with a bone as a bribe).  We have the full annex set up because we’re staying a few days – so its quite homey for him….  Pampered pooch.

Archer Point

Guess who forgot to bring the new hand-held CB - Oh my…

Archer Point

Archer Point

Howz this for a Free Camp - Archer Point

Another perfect spot…. How lovely is it up here!!!  Well done John.  Roy and I stopped at the Chinese Shrine before going back to the van. 

Its marvellous what can be achieved by group consultation. (having a few drinks with the others). Fiddling with a few wires and things, and somehow the CB is up and working again.  (No explanation!  but the problem is solved).

We ended the day with a wonderful BBQ with The Others. 

I found a tick on Jeddy’s paw this arvo – so put tea tree oil and then insect repellent on it but it didn’t drop out like it’s meant to.  I know you’re not supposed to use twizers but that’s what I did.  (Does anyone know what you should do). Roy was holding Jeddy’s head so he wouldn’t bite me – but he ended up getting bitten himself.  It was probably a good thing that he’d had a bit to drink, his reaction wasn’t as bad as it could have been….  They’re both alive which is the main thing.

An early night at last!!!

Sunday 10 June 2012 – Cooktown - The Captain Cook Landing

Another lovely day.  It started with an early morning walk and we saw 4 wallabys and a dead snake along the way.  Then down to the festival to see the Landing Re-enactment of Captain Cook.  (I was quite bored, so wandered off to take some pics).  We watched a Go-kart Derby for a bit and did the Museum.  That’s enough festival for me – I’m festivalled out!!!

Cooks Landing Festival

Roy’s having a grand-dad nap at the moment.  He’s really given his knees a working out the last few days (they are really going well) – and he’s not the spring chicken he used to be (quietly)…. And I’m taking the opportunity to catch up on this thing!!!!!!!

Oh yeah – the CB is NOT working again – it must be a loose wire.. Roy will look at it –when!!!!  Ever!!!

Well that’s it until next time – maybe from Weipa.  Tomorrow we’re doing the top section of the Bloomfield Track (we might even go right down) depending on how long we stay at the Lions Den ha ha……..

Then we head out of Cooktown on Tuesday to drop the vans off at Lakeland and then on to Archer River where we’ll be watching the State Of Origin on Wednesday…

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To be continued....