Cooktown Monday 30th August 2010

Went out for tea last night with another couple in the park - early closing 8 pm. Went back to our van and had a few drinkies and a couple of games of rumikin.  And then we had another few drinkies. They also have a weird wind here called the Cooktown Whistler - you can hear it coming through the trees, pretty strong, then it's gone! Weather has been overcast ever since we got here and it doesn't take long to see everything there is to see in Cooktown. Still, we are enjoying the quiet life.

Today, Monday, we decided to tackle the Bloomfield track from the 'opposite' end - most travellers start the Cairns end and drive to Cooktown. Seeing as we are already in Cooktown we decided to start from this end!!!

We took the young Cornish couple we have made friends with along for the ride as their $1500 vehicle is not really suitable.

We didn't really know what to expect from the track - but I (Terry) must admit I was a little bit worried as it started to rain (but very lightly) as we commenced. After a short while I was no longer worried, gravel road, sure, lots of potholes but nothing the Nissan baulked at. We stopped at the LION'S DEN HOTEL, a very old and famous hotel in this neck of the woods.

                                                                Terry,unknown lion,Lorna,Sam


Just before we started the track we passed this mountain - really spooky!

Black Mountain

People leave all sorts of stuff at the hotel for decorations.

Colourful decorations on wall.

I was getting more and more confident, especially as 4WDs towing vans passed us going the other way. The track is not all dirt either, lots of bitumen parts but must admit the dirt patches has potholes we had to tippy toe through. Some of the hills were very interesting as well - very happy the Nissan can go into 4WD on the fly. We would not have made it up the hills in 2WD.

Bloomfield River Causeway.

Bloomfield Track - NOT a road!!!!!

First crossing - while it was still crossable. Pouring Rain.

Watched this bloke wade through - up to his thighs - we had come too far to turn back!!!

He went first......

He's second - through OK.

Yep, it's fairly deep - nice bow wave!

Our turn, 1st gear, 4WD Low Range, f&ck it's really deep and very rocky!!!

Hafway across and the current is really strong!

Ho hum, just another crossing....

Yep, crossed this one as well - no turning back now - rain is heavier, track is going to be closed.

Crossing the Daintree by ferry this time.

By the time we made it over the very last crossing the rain was very heavy and there was a line up of cars waiting to cross - a lot of these were conventional vehicles - no way they would make it. A young couple in a "normal" little car would have been stuck between 2 of the crossings. The water rises incredibly quickly.