Cooktown to Cape Tribulation : 9/10

We left Cooktown and travelled down the Bloomfield track through the Daintree to Cape Tribulation.
Went on a couple of Boardwalks through the different areas: the Wet Tropics World Heritage Area,of which the Daintree is part. we saw the lowland rainforest, swamps and mangroves.
I've put in a lot of small photos of this area:

We continued on to our luxury stop for the night staying at the Ferntree Rainforest Lodge, which was an eco friendly resort in the heart of the coastal rainforest.

Fruit bats ensuring they are hanging around to wake you early

Christine cooling down

Our accomodation

View from upstairs

Rainforest around our lodge, complete with fauna and noises

The restaurant for dinner and breakfast was set between one of the pools and the rainforest. An experience worth trying if you get the chance.

Cooktown: 8/10

Main street of Cooktown ...peak hour!!!!!!!

Old convent which is now The James Cook Museum....of course the nuns had the coolest place in town

We set off to see the sights of Cooktown....on foot. So enjoyable to be able to walk everywhere. At least in Cooktown this was very easy. Cooktown has been very well preserved and there is history to see at every turn. There is even a Botanical gardens that was established in the 1800's. 
We saw where Cook repaired the Endeavour......and everything else about Cook.
There was even a market for John!!!!!
Then we spent the afternoon alternating between watching the rugby and swimming.

Bramwell Station to Cooktown: 7/10

We woke early along with all the animals and to the sound of mangoes falling. There are mango trees everywhere.

A little Joey breakfasting on a mango

The termite mounds are much easier to see where there have been burn offs

Some of the regrowth after burning off and rain

 We drove down the Development Road until a lunch stop at the Musgrove Roadhouse which is the old Telegraph Station.

A bull which wanders in and out of Musgrave Station Roadhouse and along the roads

Heading south, we turned off just before Laura and followed Battle Camp Road to Cooktown. On this section of road Christine completed three creek crossings....but no photos because she didn't want to stop and risk getting stuck.
Finally we arrived in Cooktown and found a Caravan Park in the centre of town. Although small and dated we could walk everywhere......which is a bit of a novelty so far.

Our campsite and John relaxing after setting up and before we went for a swim......in the pool of course......we don't want any crocodiles getting us.

  We had a pizza for tea in the restaurant at the front of the park.

Seisa to Bramwell Station : 6/10

We packed up and left our idylic surroundings, although we did have to give way to this group of roaming horses before we could get out of Seisa. Horses just roam the roads and through gardens eating everything in their path.

We proceeded through Bamaga and again hit the Development Road for Miles and Miles of Bloody Corrugations (MMBC).
As we'd missed doing the Northern section of the OTT we had to return and do most of the crossings.....we didn't do Nolan's Brook as to many people were getting stuck in there.
Some of our action shots....

After this we needed some lunch and a rest, so we headed for Fruit Bat Falls....a beautiful and safe spot to swim.

We then continued down the Bypass until we arrived at Bramwell Junction Roadhouse, where we intended spending the night. Alas their bore had broken and their electricity was off, so they sent us on to Bramwell Station ( a three hundred and eighty seven thousand hectares cattle station ). They cater for tourists and have basic camping facilities and an outdoor bar and meals area where they serve breakfast and dinner. We decided to have our dinner there and it was delicious.
Anyone planning to go up that way shouldn't miss stopping overnight here.
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Bramwell-Station-Tourist-Park/109251225833481

Relaxing after setting up camp

The outdoor Bar and Meals area.  In the very back you can see some of the Dongas, which are used for accomodation and also toilets and showers

Seisa: 5/10

We parted company so John could take the ute to the garage to make his repairs more permanent. I stayed behind to sort photos, do the housework!!!! and catch up on some reading.
Three hours later John returned!!!!!!!
The patchup job was now more permanent and as John had done most of the work and used his own tools, they only charged for one hours work.
After a quick lunch we decided to head to the Tip. We again left the smooth bitumen road and continued on dirt roads (although not as corrugated as on previous days). As we travelled the scenery changed to more tropical.

We arrived at ' The Croc Tent'         http://www.facebook.com/thecroctent?sk=wall
which is a good place for souvenirs and information about the Cape.
If you are interested in the situations people can get themselves into along the old Telegraph...click on this link.
You will notice we survived without mishap (due of course to John's 4WD driving skills)
We finally arrived at the top of the Cape, and after walking along the beach reached the tip.

 Now we can go back home!!!!! Oops not quite yet.....some unfinished business on the OTT.
We returned to Seisa and caught up with the families we'd shared a campfire meal with while awaiting rescue.

Sunset on our last night at Seisa

Eliot River and Twin Falls camping ground to Seisa: 4/10

John's bush mechanic fix

 The drinks and much discussion, followed by a good night’s sleep meant John solved the problem of making us mobile. After some makeshift tinkering we again set off.

About 1km before the Jardine Ferry we met the RACQ. We loaded up our vehicle and ourselves and had another bumpy ride into Bamaga. Turned out to be a lot cheaper trip than continuing driving ourselves.

The mechanic didn’t have the fuses and would have to get them flown in , but thought John’s repair job was so good he would just solder it in the morning.

So off we went to select another camping spot. After checking out the competition we selected Seisa……..very peaceful and beautiful views of the sea right from our doorway again. The park even had a restaurant.

The evening here seems much cooler than anywhere else we’ve been since leaving Victoria.

Our campsite and the view along the beach

Stuck at Eliot River and Twin Falls camping ground: 3/10

We packed up all ready to head up the northern section Of The Old Telegraph Track, when lo and behold the ute stopped. Despite John and fellow campers there was nothing to do but call for assistance.

While we waited we went back for another swim at The Saucepan, and another swim……..luckily we are at one of the few places you can swim safely, or we would be very hot.

We spent the rest of the day reading and swimming and still waiting. Eventually, deciding help wouldn’t arrive for another day, we accepted the invitation of another group of campers to share their campfire and campfire cooking.

We spent a very enjoyable evening discussing how we all got through the creek crossings and the approach to take to each the next day. Our meal consisted of Garlic and herb damper and stew and to top it off apple crumble……..and of course a few drinks.