Day 175
Wednesday
21 June 2017
Cooktown
We were both awake early again and happy to read for an hour
before getting into the day. With all the campers with kids gone the place was
nice and quiet. We had breakfast and showers before grabbing the camera and walking
in to town via the Boundary Road. It was cold and grey outside and we felt the
fine spit of rain every now and again though it didn’t last. It was a bit like our
sunglasses that were on one minute and sitting on our heads the next, it couldn’t
make up its mind.
We walked to the ANZAC memorial garden and admired the
beautifully painted toilet block and the leopard tank and APC, labelled “The
Bad”, before continuing along the road, that was now skirting the mangroves on
the edge of the Endeavour River. Signs warning of crocs were prominently
displayed and I recalled an article I had seen in the caravan park office of
one sitting on the park grass, so my eyes were peeled.
We came to an information board outlining the lamp of rocks
as a significant place in the Captain Cook story. It was the place he and the
local aboriginals came to a friendly understanding after there had been an
altercation of the taking of turtles.
We stopped near the boat ramp to see that the tide was out
considerably and the clouds were rolling in over the distant hills, covering
the tops in grey fairy floss. It was
still a stunning view.
We continued our walk to the wharf before making our way
back via Charlotte Street and then on to the James Cook Museum.. The museum is
housed in the old convent. The building became abandoned after the nuns were
forced to leave during WWII and did not return. It was left in a sorry state
and was slated to be bulldozed until the locals and National Trust stepped in
to save it and began restoration works.
When the canon and anchor of the Endeavour were finally
located they were housed in this building along with artefacts and extracts
from the journals of Cook and Banks, as well as the recounting of the encounter
of the local aboriginal group.
It was fascinating wandering around and reading the
information before moving through the other exhibitis that included a section
on the Chinese community that blossomed during the gold rush. I was particulary
taken with the shoes worn by those who went through the binding of feet, what a
torture it would have been.
There were also exhibits covering the local aboriginals, the
convent, school and various other memorabilia.
We made our way around the rooms of the building before
making our way out the exit and heading back home after a bakery stop.
Once back we rested the legs before making lunch and just
enjoying the stop. At 2pm we took off for town again, but this time in the car.
We drove up Grassy Hill Lookout to check out the view of the outgoing tide and
the grey rain clouds shrouding the mountain. We then parked down the hill at
the Cherry Tree Bay track, grabbed the camera and took off into the scrub.
The path was pretty poor, with lots of rocks and tree roots
to navigate over. I was weary of standing down on leaf litter and disturbing
some unseen snake. There was rustling around us and some times I spied a little
lizard but nothing more. It didn’t stop me from feeling nervous. Who knows what
we passed without seeing as we had to keep our eyes on the wonky path below our
feet.
We popped out onto a deserted beach 800m later, passing
through a palm frond gate to reach the sand and now I was scanning for crocs. With
none to be seen I relaxed a little and began wandering the sand to take in the
view. The surf was churning with the strong breeze.
The same sand patterns created by crabs were present and
this time I spied the tiniest of crabs being blown about by the breeze. I took
photos of the smooth, white driftwood on the beach and then we began the trek
back along the path that was now 1.1km in distance. How it gained 300m beat us,
but we thought this was a more accurate distance.
No sooner did I enter the path than a lithe, snake slithered
past that made me jump. Paul didn’t see it, as it took off under the leaves
quick smart. I thought it was an olive python as it was that colour but had
quite a light green to yellow belly.
About 100m up the path another one took off quick sticks.
This time Paul did see it and he thought it didn’t look like a python. It was
quite whippy like and this one kept popping its head up which gave an
aggressive appearance. I was in no mood to hang around and began stomping and
singing to warn all others to keep their distance.
Another 100m on and another snake, this one though was tiny
by comparison and did appear more python like. It took off for the protection
of the trees climbing in amongst the branches.
I was seriously getting sick of seeing the slithering
creatures but it wasn’t over with the sighting of yet another one similar to
the first two. I was skipping and jumping and jittery and wishing the trek was
over. It did end quicker than we expected as I motored along the track now
seriously spooked and was thankful when the car came in to view. Paul was
pleased too as he was so sweaty his shirt was ringing wet.
We proceeded back down the hill and stopped at the pub for a
well-earned drink and sit down. We chatted with some other patrons as we
relaxed and when we were done we returned home for the night.
Paul put the car on the trailer while I went through the
pics and loaded what I could. I could tell there were less kids here as the
internet was so much quicker that it had been. It makes life so much easier
when things are quick.
We enjoyed the last of our Gallo cheese with drinks inside
the van as the rain began to come down a little harder.
Night settled in and we started dinner. Paul had to change
the gas bottle part way through cooking as it was exhausted, bummer.
I did some searching on the net for the snakes we
encountered and think three of them may have been the coastal taipan, eek. The
other was mostly likely a common tree python. Glad we came away scot free in
the end.
I watched my DVD while Paul read and we eventually retired
ready for the next adventure.
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