Monday, 5 July 2010
It was raining this morning so I was unable to get a photo of our really nice camp. It was so lush and green but wet and a bit muddy.
We were on the road again just before 8. We had a fuel stop in Cairns to fill up the tanks and the jerrys with diesel for the patrol and petrol for the boat. We got food from the Woolworths and local fruit and veg just north of Cairns. The butcher there cry vac our meat for 50 cents each, which is how much Nathan and I paid in Gympie 2 years ago. We needed one of our two gas bottles refilled, but all we could find were swap and go or kwik gas. Finally in Mossman we found a service station that would do it for $35.50 for a 9kg bottle. I felt a bit car sick driving on the whindy coast road north of Cairns, while typing this. I had to stop and put my head out the window. Not a pleasant feeling!
We crossed the Daintree River by ferry costing $16 for us and $12 for Guy and Rhonda. Driving through the Daintree Rainforest on the Bloomfield Track was beautiful. It was raining and the muddy road slippery, but awesome on top of the range as we were in misty clouds. We saw a mini bus in a ditch on the wrong side and its trailer covering half of the road. A couple of people were game enough to drive their commodores part of the way, but after one creek crossing finally turned back. I thought they were nuts! By then we were in 4wd. Going over Donovan Range we were in first gear low range it was that steep. I walked my first creek crossing for photos at Kalken-Damel in the Cowie Range. We came out of the lush green rainforest to a very dry, brown landscape.
Tonight we have camped on the bank of the Annan River next to the boat ramp, just south of Cooktown. We arrived here just after 6pm, it has been a very long day. It is now quite windy.
Expenses to date:
Diesel 582.7 L $783.77 2658.2kms
Petrol boat 20.02 $27.61
Gas $35.50
Take Away $32.45
Groceries $145.87
Ferries & Permits $16.00
Until next time…. Happy and Safe Travels.