N.B. I should have noted this the other day. Ken booked us into the Cooktown Caravan Park originally. Plans changed as they do. We were out of phone range and couldn’t contact them. When he came into range to cancel, he was told if anyone cancels within 48 hours, there is a one night charge and they had his card details, so they just took it. I would have thought, in view of the fact all the parks seem to be choc-a-block at the moment, this was not so much compensation for loss of income but a more basic revenue collecting exercise. It happened to me in Darwin at Discovery Parks. I wanted to book for four weeks but because they were bursting at the seams they could only do one week. I took it out of desperation. Then I found somewhere else, good old Malak Caravan Park, so went back to cancel. Even though they had a waiting list and they were not inconvenienced or out of pocket, they still pulled $60.30 off my card. Blatant opportunistic leaches.
I am ignoring the simple concept of ‘Good PR and BAD PR.’ I heard a saying once and it’s still so true. ‘If you are happy (with a process or outcome) you tell eight people. If you are unhappy, you tell twenty”
So, Do not leave your card number with either Cooktown Caravan Park or Discovery Parks Darwin. You may be stung.
Mean time, STILL bloody windy. Anne wants to wash the bed linen … again.
Ken has the only tool box with an exhaust pipe and muffler.
Up to the green grass lookout. It is windy. Oh so bloody windy.
Cant wear any sort of hat up here.
To the Museum. This is an anchor off the Endeavour from 250 years ago.
Real interesting info/history.
The coral shelf past Cape Tribulation that put a hole in the ship.
Good venue. Old convent was going to be demolished but was saved for The Captain Cook Museum..
Yes. They had dentists before, but no anaesthetic. Painful just to look at the ‘instruments.’
Another gratuitous adoration shot. Off the balcony of the Museum with ocean in background.
Wind swept and interesting.
1897? Convent left edge and half way up.
Convent to museum.
Here he is. The young Cook.
… and here is exactly where he beached the ship to fix the hole. Over there, middle slight right.
… here. Cleverly concealed, down near the water line.
Back to camp and a quick beer before off to our new club, the RSL. We continue Liz’s birthday by over indulging.
Now … I have been taking selfies before they were even called selfies.!
I was challenged by a lady employee at the club who saw me taking the one below. She said, You’re taking it upside down!’
So here is mine. Most who see the photo will guess I am holding the camera because my head is bigger. i.e. I am closer to the camera. However, it’s not screamingly obvious. i.e. You don’t really notice my arm holding the camera. I shoot holding the camera upside down. I do this so I have control with just ONE hand. i.e. The button is at my thumb and closest to me. I don’t have to ‘reach the other side of the camera.’ Further more, because I only have it by one hand, I can turn my body to extend the camera further from the group and hence have a wider shot. Yes. I’m taking it upside down. She obviously doesn’t know downloaded photos can be easily revolved at the time. Hence,, they will be RIGHT WAY UP!
Now here is the employee standing in for me. She holds the camera right way up. (!!?) Notice how subtly she disguises she is holding the camera? (snigger) (classic head tilted back and both arms stretched.) Also, notice how everyone is crammed in the corner.?
So she gets credit because she held the camera the right way up. What a silly sausage I am.
Home time. Shower. Movie (The Battle of Britain. Just plain bloody amazing film)
But it’s a SPECIAL windy day today. It’s Liz’s windy BIRTHDAY!
Just two candles. One symbolic and the second in case the first one goes out and if you look at the video below, you will see the problem.
Time for a drive around town.. Down to the foreshore. Fish and chips for lunch sitting in the car looking at the seagulls looking at us and our food. Woolly weather but not cold. In the photo below, it is looking north towards Cape York. We won’t get that far.
N.B. While ordering the F & C, I suddenly realised I had left my wallet in the van. Then like Zorro I quickly whipped out my emergency $50 note which had been living in my camera pouch on my belt for the last years, un-used and almost forgotten. $15 leaving $35.
Looks like the wharf was upgraded in 1997, the year after we were last here.
Info boards relating to Captain Cooks problems up the coast.
Proof of location.
The tree of knowledge … with a bit of a snigger.
This is very good for confirmation. I spell it all these ways.
More info.
Generally facing north to Cape York.
Gratuitous self adoration shot.
The powder magazine. Floor has wood plugs rather than metal nails. Not good to make sparks in a powder storage place. Not unless you wanted to use all the powder at the same time.
The main road is a long sloping road. When we were here last, there were three pubs in town. This is the Top Pub pictured below. There was a middle pub now deceased and the bottom one which was the Sovereign Hotel which is now a sort of resort. In 1996 we asked the caravan park lady which was the best for a ‘quiet’ couple. She said ‘The Middle Pub.’ We got there, looked inside, I told Anne to order beer only and went in. Three minutes later she saw her first bar fight.
Time to go home but let’s fill up first. I am taking down the details. Get to the amount. Fill in $90.72 and then froze and looked at Anne. She paused for 3 seconds then her eyes lit up! No Wallet!
So if you are wondering what your spouse is worth, I left Anne at the service station as security on the $90.72 . I said to her, ‘If I never see you again darling, it has been a wonderful 35 years,’ much to the amusement of the lady attendant. When I returned with the wallet, I asked, ‘Was she a good girl while I was away?’ Yes. And also, ‘Did she cry when I left her here?’ No.
Back to the park (again) and a few beers with young Ken. Then a scrub up and we board the RSL courtesy bus again (we = Ken, Liz, Anne, Leith, Ian, Marie.)
We collect our new social membership cards and delight in seeing our names flash up on the screen when we scan ourselves in. See below.
We drink and be merry, pausing only for the nightly Ode and Remembrance Ceremony at 6pm. At 7pm (after several drinks x 6) we steal away across the road and down a bit to the Thai Restaurant for Liz’s birthday meal. BYO and $5 corkage. The only complaint. TOO much food. Anne and I have two doggie boxes. Back to the RSL for several more drinks, the purpose of this obviously is to qualify for the free courtesy bus home. Just for the record, even with the cheaper reduced drink prices for us members, if you times say $5 for a drink by 6 people by 2 rounds, we spent around $60 for the ride there and $60 for the ride home. Each way, about 5 minutes. Nope. We have clear consciences.
N.B. How the hell did these Thai people come up with the restaurant name Jackey Jackey?
Lots of food.
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A happy dinner L to R, Ken, Leith, Ian, Marie, Anne and Birthday girl Liz.
Back in the RSL, we notice a Roman or is it Spartan helmet in a display box. Errr …? Apparently it is the symbol for an armed forces group who were here and gave the RSL this symbolic and significant token. I would like one but there are only limited places I could wear it. Not BBQ’s. Too limited for eating. Church on Sunday maybe. Romans and the Crucifixion? Related? The minister may even appreciate my input. Definitely when you are riding your motor bike. And imagine if you dress accordingly to compliment the helmet.
By the way, before we cover today, this is the truck with cattle in back we were stuck behind yesterday. Found the photo on Anne’s camera.
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A bit of a look at Lions Den before we pull out.
Bit of humour. It says, ‘Be Alert! Australia needs Lerts.’
Now I found this but I am pretty sure it is not the original sign I saw 25 years ago. This one says ‘Keep your DOGS OUTA THE BAR and I’ll keep my bullets outa your dog. Signed God.’ I reckon the original one was close. I think it said, ‘You keep your dog out of my pub and I’l keep my bullets out of your dog.’
Hanna from Wisconsin.
Here’s another one. What are they?
Anne showing how tall she appears due to the slope of the land.
Anne’s fab shot of this guy in the tree.
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Road work. tight squeeze.
The big trip to Cooktown.
We get to the park but it is very windy.
There is a FREE courtesy bus that took us from the caravan park to the RSL. ‘Us’ includes we four and Marie and Ian also staying at the park. We joined as social members, which allowed us cheap drinks and we shall return.
$17 specials?
A good night but back to the park for our own meals. Windy, windy windy.
It has been a wonderful stop here at Jack and Lorraine’s. Great company and many laughs. A few little jobs to help Jack with and a few more laughs, then we pull out of their tropical driveway to Helenvale and the famous Lions Den Hotel.
Always something unique to see, we are crossing the Great Dividing Range according to my navigator. Lots of steep hills and tight corners. Second gear stuff. Then right on one of those corners is a group of bikers, one taking their photo. Well, there aren’t that many places to stop, so …
On, on … more army trucks. Seen a lot of them this trip.
Then we come to a new sign. Watch out for wheel chairs? What? Lot’s cross the road here? Herds of unfenced wheel chairs straying onto the roads? Didn’t see any wheel chair grids or electric fences. Closer look, I think it’s another angle at putting the wind up you for bad driving.
Then an all too familiar sign we haven’t seen for weeks. Beware the massive car eating cattle. Apparently a big problem in Queensland. I’ve heard countless stories of lost fenders and one whole engine. A diesel and still running! Drop Bears used to be THE big problem but these big buggers have well and truly surpassed the not so cute, furry, fanged … what would you call them…?
One classic sigh I missed (no photo) in the really steep and hair pin turns was something like, ‘In Australia, drive on the left side of the road.’ I’d like to think foreign visitors would have their acts together by the time they got this far up. However, the mere fact that they have it on display must have come from necessity. Imagine you come around a bend and the last thing you see in your shortened life is an old German couple heading straight for you on the wrong side of the road, dressed in lederhozen , shaking their fists at you and shouting ‘schweinhund !Das ist meine seite das auotbahn!
Auf Wiedersehen.
Yet another abandoned car. They are all over the place.
We followed a small truck with about three cattle in the back. He was doing about 80kph and we are convoying at about 90kph give or take, so Ken overtakes him, as you would. The bull puller must have taken it personal because he became a dog follower, as I call them. That is he followed so close it was like a dog sniffing you ‘tail pipe.’ He didn’t let go and we didn’t catch up till he dropped back to about 10kph to go down a small slope. I am over cautious and I would have done it at about 30kph. Then again I didn’t have three bovines in the back. Anyway, that was the turn off to our destination so we blew the cows a kiss and parted company.
We pull in. It ain’t the old pub I remember. They have tried to hold onto the rustic charm with signs and scribblings but this is now ‘up there’. Deckings, stairs, lawns, ‘Hanna’ from Wisconsin and another chap from Argentina amongst others serving. House specials and a wine list. A lawned van park.
Here’s how I remember it. We thought we were the only ones there. Dirt area out the front to park your car. NO van park. A sign out the front that said quite blatantly and with intent, ‘You keep your dog out of my pub and I’ll keep my bullets out of your dog!’ One room with a servery bar and only hamburgers on the menu. That is to say, they would have been on the menu if they had one. Regularly, that is about every ten minutes, a local would come in and buy a slab of beer and a bottle of spirits. To me it was the ultimate in ‘Old bush rough pub.’ Now it’s a … Pub.
Anyway, pulled the awning open to dry it from Daintree when we had to put it away wet. Beer O’clocks carried out as tradition dictates.
Bush Turkey.
Anyway. we met neighbours and had pub meals. Goulash with pasta ($18 special) and Anne had a salad ($16 off the menu). Bottle of wine $25.
Our table wasn’t as good as the reserved one next to us. So, with a bit of swift reorganising and we were much more comfortable. More comfortable than the late comers who were expecting a bigger table. (!)
What are these damn things?
Here is the first table we sat at. It is a ‘special’ one. Signage says, The old ‘Fossils Bar’ To explain the word fossils, take the first letters of the statement, Full Of Shit, Sipping Illicit Liquor Slowly.
Then some explanations for the pub name.
BTW … I googled ‘Lions Den Pub England’ and got no response, except it bounced back to Helenvale.
Good evening. Back for showers. Sat dish up. Just TV so down and a movie. A Walk in the Woods yet again. Bed.
Yep. Off we go, past that wrecked car. This time I zoom in to see the sticker.
Ah ha! As I thought, the police know about it.
Lovely old stone church.
Port Douglas Market. Having a photo of a Ulysses butterfly is better than nothing at all. They were $69.
This lovely old girl needs a bit of help from mum and dad…..
… and mum and dad have brought her all the way from Adelaide.
More shoes worn at the Pt Douglas market than the Mossman market but there were still a few hoping for leprosy or one of those nasty worms than burrow into the feet from the dirt. Hope she gets what she obviously wants.
Anne expressing her displeasure at sling shots. I have never had one. Been on the receiving end in Dili though. Less than pleasant and bloody dangerous.
OK. I like Port but … PICKLED?
This lovely old wooden church has history.
To the Tim Shed for lunch. Ken is a member.
Seafood basket to share.
Great spot over the water.
Designer beers. We had a couple of Captain Sensible’s.
A drive around town by tourist guide Ken.
Up to the Look Out.
Irish pub in the main street. And so there should be. Every main street in every town should have an Irish pub. It should be declared in all town planning files.
Heading home. Here is the 4 cents cheaper self serve servo tucked away in the side streets.
We are passing the Mossman Gorge information centre so we park and go in. In the car park, what is this thing?
It is a Brown Gardenia. Inedible. So more or less, totally bloody useless.
Paddy O’Melon. The Irish Kangaroo. (!!??)
Home. We feed the neighbours pigs. Well Anne did.
Apparently, the neighbour had 15 chooks and now they are down to one. They have blamed a python. A very greedy python.
Enjoy yourselves fella’s but do remember Christmas is coming .
Showers. Food time. Lorraine does a nachos entre with a great Spag-Bol main and fruit salad and ice cream for dessert. Good meal. It was a table of eight with visitors from Newell beach down the road. Well that is where their holiday home is. They are from Adelaide as well.
I don’t know if this car has broken down or the owner works very hard, but it is always here.
Now this one isn’t going anywhere.
Also it has a yellow official looking note on it. The ‘authorities’ know about this one.
Here is where I got my second jab the other day.
Bit far away but worth squinting.
This is ‘squint’ view. Worth it.
Now … to the market. It appears Mossman has it’s own ‘Nimbin’ up in the hills not far. Many people who do not like to wear shoes. They would rather damage their feet, tread on sharp objects and get filthy. (I was told leprosy can be caught by being in dirt. It is a germ) Maybe they just forgot to put them on, or they might just be stupid. There is a strong theme here. ‘Feral’ comes to mind.
Tilt left to see Italian flag and baked things if you think it could be worth it.
Now here’s an interesting shot. Two girls who both forgot to put their shoes on, one of which has decided to leave plenty of meat hanging out and the one in the white shirt who forgot here pants. I missed the ‘flash’ but am told she only has a G string on underneath. ‘The Drip Sisters.’
Little cute flowers.
Where are your shoes honey?
Here she is again. Perhaps the male friend is saying, ‘ Where are your pants?’ ‘Oh, I forgot to put them on.’ I see . Anyway, you remembered your sox and shoes.’ No. It’s just dirt. I’ll wash it off tomorrow.’
No shoes. More meat.
Russell is a pretty switched on guy flogging ‘au natural’ Vanilla’ and essence.
Anne displaying here purchase. Russell chose to not display the money he got.
No shoes and lots of meat hanging out.
Shoes?
Now something real. An Aboriginal man busking out the front of Woolworths and not half bad. At least he’s having a go. Good on him. Gave him a few bucks and some encouragement.
Shopping done and filled up with 4 cents off diesel, we head home.
The Cane Train I inadvertently called the Grain Train in the video below. (Leith ‘klutz’)
Cane Train.
Wonga Beach. We had been here 4 days and still not seen the beach. So we drop in on the way back.home.
Wonga Beach in motion.
We are back. Jack and Lorraine return and we feast to celebrate. Ken and Liz have created a superb lamb roast and veggies. We all feast.
Left to right, Ken, Jack, Liz, Lorraine and Anne’s hands . Not a terrible shot for just holding the camera above my head and one shot only.
Showers etc. Good food, bad jokes and a variation of wines.
Mostly cloudy, a bit windy and the windows are wet. Oh yes. Last night and the whee hours it did come down a bit.
7.20am and my lovely still dozes. Hang on. A bit more of the wet stuff.
Lazy day.. When I got the tyres done I asked for 40lbs in the front and 44lbs in the back. They got the back right but then the wheels fell off (poor pun). Left was 42lb and right was 45lbs. Too much to comprehend. 4 wheels. Far too difficult to do. Anyway found it. fixed it and put the sender units on.
Latter and cleaned the top of the van a bit.\
Helped Ken wrestle his TV Ariel to where it should be.
Paid bills via transfer.
Few other things.. Ken and Liz friend Moya for evening meal. Still can’t beat a BBQ. Nice night.
Book recommended by Moya. No idea why. Was not paying attention.
Cool, overcast, a little windy. Not ‘outing’ weather.
We ‘boys’ are off to Mossman late morning. Several jobs mainly for myself. The town is bustling. We drop some odds and ends off for Jack and Lorraine. Next tyres. The back ones are getting down a fair way. I had wanted them to make it to Adelaide where there are alternatives a plenty. So I need a patch job to get us to Adelaide. I find a place with a couple of second hand tyres. They will get balanced and put on the front. The ones on the front will go on the back and the ones on the back will go to the bin. ‘Come back at Chinese Dentist. (2.30)
The chemist. Do you do AstraZeneka shots? Yes. What is the recommended second shot period from 1st? 8 to 12 weeks. I am at 10 weeks and 1 day. That will be fine. Come back at 2pm.
Lunch while waiting for 2pm. Black Angus burger and chips. Evidence for wife. I LEFT chips. OK. Two chips went after the photo. Only two though.
Ken. Salt and pepper squid and HE LEFT chips.
Waiting for jab. Out the front. This guy is way over cautious of scrubbing tyres on gutter. Mind you looking at the posts,. A few weren’t that worried at all.
Action shot of jab. ‘This won’t hurt a bit.’ … ‘So, what does that mean? It’s gonna hurt a lot!?’ … ‘No. not a lot.’ … ‘So it is going to hurt then. Just not a real lot?’ ‘Hold still Mr Carroll.’ … Are you a doctor?’ … ‘No.’ … ‘Then how come you are doing it? Shouldn’t it be someone qualified?’ I am qualified!’… As a what?’ …’ There you go.’ … ‘What?’ … ‘It’s done. The jab.’ … ‘Oh. Ok. Thanks. ‘
Close up. Think it’s weird to photograph it? I am told that yesterday someone video’d theirs. Waited the 15 minutes after. Well 5 there, 5 in the car and 5 in the tyre place.
Dropped the car at the tyre place and this chap drove up with an ex-army Unimog. How cool is that? Reckons it had only done about 15000km and cost about $36,000 at the auctions. Have a look at the winch. Serious. ‘Only driven by the base commander to gunnery practice on Saturdays, honest.’
Imagine trying to load something. The tray is ‘snout’ height on me and I’m 5ft 8ins. Well I used to be. I am probably in shrink mode now.
Sweet. Look at the climb up.
Waiting for tyres to be done. Cane Train.
… still.
Shopping for potatoes and banana cake then home. Stuff to pack away.
Hey! This is about as exciting as it gets when house sitting and dog watching. Couple more days to go then off to Cooktown.
Showers, Guinness, Salmon and veg. Delish! With red by the way. Early night.
FYI, only 2 weeks to go of my 12 week wait for my second Jab of AstraZeneca, on 14th Sept.
A brief word about the SHAM that initially created uncertainty and hence turmoil in the AstraZeneca distribution. I would love to know what specific group beefed up the ANTI AstraZeneca campaign and why. As I see it, a NOISY MINORITY group rattled their chains for their own purposes even to the detriment of the majority of Australians. There was nothing wrong with AZ. Blind Freddy could have seen that but unfortunately, the average ‘Joe Blow’ is rattled easily.
My money is on a political reason. The Labour Health Minister in Queensland directly contradicted advice and instruction from the Government saying it was dangerous for younger people. This threw administering AZ in to turmoil and made the Government look like it had created a problem. Hence discredited. To understand the facts and see the turmoil was frustrating.
So what are the facts? I think in the over 60’s it was supposed to be 2 people in 100,000 would get blood clots. In the under 60’s it was 3.1 in 100,000 would get clots. So in the 3.6 MILLION doses administered at that time, that is 72 people for the over 60’s or 111.6 people for the under 60’s. So how come only 4 people in 3.6 million died? Because blood clots happen all the time and are treatable. All doctors know that and the LABOUR Queensland Health Minister knew that.
Not 72 died. Not 111.6 died. Just 4. My guess is those 4 who died had other more severe conditions. If you thought AstraZeneca was bad, you were conned.
Anyway, off the soap box and on to today. Overcast and cool but not raining … yet. Jack and Lorraine will be off for a few days. They leave lunchtime-ish much to the concern of the two ‘hounds’ Billy and Coco. They will settle down.
I spot this and make a mental note to look into it. We have just started buying the prepared chips from the supermarket. This ‘non stick’ might be OK but apparently all that glitters is not gold. Follow the link. https://www.amazon.com/Gotham-Steel-Nonstick-Copper-Crisper/product-reviews/B01NAFY0W9?reviewerType=all_reviews
The hounds settle. Note cuteness levels. Here is Billy….
…and here is Coco …..
…who looks more like a cat from the rear.
We have a very lazy day and have another BBQ evening meal. Master Chef Ken steps up and starts with the onions and potatoes. Steaks follow.
A relatively early night. Sure. A little red. Showers and bed.
zzzzzzzzz zzzzzzzzzzzz zzzzzzzz
N.B. Wonga name origin: Named after the beautiful Torres Strait pigeon, Wonga Beach is a quiet refuge north of Mossman. Off shore there are views to Snapper Island and it is within easy access to the Daintree River and its rainforest habitat.
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