Day 17 - Noah's head to Archer Point

Well the morning was dry but the wind was still blowing.  Chris was up first to take pictures of the sunrise.  The beach is just like the photos, a wide flat beach meeting rainforest.  Although it was overcast and blowing something fierce it was still very beautiful.  Looking back at the mountains behind that towered over the beach, the weather looked a lot more foreboding. This was the direction we were looking to go.

After breaky we thought that we would take a short drive up to Cape Tribulation itself where there would be more information about track conditions, weather predictions etc.  Something that would help us make a more informed decision about weather to do the track or not.  As we arrived the heavens opened, a sure sign.  We spoke to a guy with a lovely South African accent about the conditions.  Well he sure sold it as an adventure, talking about steep steep hills, trucks that are fixing the road leaving deep ruts and to top it off showing us how to go down the hills when the new road is like driving on ice given the rain.  He said he would give it a go, but it would be a full on adventure!  Both Chris and I thought otherwise, I think this guy was the local adrenalin junkie! Katie didn't like what he was saying whilst still sitting the car just by his hand movements.

The down side to our decision was that in order to head north to Cooktown, it meant doing a 300 kilometre detour back to Mossman via the ferry and then via the Mulligan Highway up the coast. Not the most pleasing decision to make however there were some upsides!

On our way to back to ferry we stumbled across a cassowary walking across the road.  A rare site indeed and very special.  It is recommended even if you do sight one not stay around long as familiarity with humans and their cars is the number 1 killer at this stage.  A quick stop, some photos (which are coming) and then we were off again.

The drive took us through some amazing country, from the slopes behind Mount Molloy crossing the start of great dividing range into the less wet, more open savanna eucalypt forest that are quintisensual of the queenland outback.  The mountains in this area are simply amazing, and being back from the coast a bit the wind dropped and the rain disappeared.

(Insert pictures from bob's lookout and banana landscape)

The boys were really good in the car on the way up.  Griffy enjoying the new found excitement of a car seat free spot in the middle.  We stopped at Palmers River roadhouse for lunch.  There were clear signs from the trees in the river, being over 10 metes tall and bent over, that the river carried a bit of water in the wet season!  It would be quite a sight!

Heading up towards Cooktown, we also had stops at the little Annan river falls and Black Mountain. The falls were quite spectacular but if you blinked as you crossed the river you would miss them.  Not because they are small but you have to walk across the river bridge and then down the river bed to see them as it isn't sign posted! The same could not be said for Black Mountain.  A massive series of mountains consisting on granite boulders stacked on top of each other.  The lichen on them gives them a black colour.  An erey feeling about them, "picnic at hanging rock" style!

Pictures of palmer river roadhouse, little Annan falls and Black Mountain coming soon.

Finally we got to the turn off for Archer Point, a real dirt road with water crossing and everything.  When we got there it lived up to its reputation of being a little exposed, unless you can shelter away in a nook. The place also left a lot to be desired for cleanliness, how some people thinking leaving tin cans, garbage bags and even nappies is ok just blows me away.  It took some time but finally we settled on a spot that was little sheltered. The best thing was that we didn't need to disconnect and we could have a fire close to camp.  The boys were very excited, as it was the first night of cooking marshmelows and it really did feel like camping with a fire going.  Give that there is only a few other campers  and the place looks a bit rough, We thought it wouldn't be the best place to leave the camper unattended during our exploration of Cooktown tomorrow.  So only one night planned here.

We are falling asleep listening to the tent bellowing and flapping in the wind.  Hopefully a peaceful night sleep with no repeat experience with "visitors" to the pantry.  Locked up properly tonight, even with a pin through the latch.  If we get visitors tonight and they get in,  they will have to be smarter this time!

Night night ....