Sunday, June 9, 2013

Day 273 – Captain Cook has landed!


  • Wonga Beach – Cooktown
  • 282kms
  • 26°c

The caretaker had told Steve yesterday that there was a festival in Cooktown this long weekend for the anniversary of the landing of Captain Cook and they stage a re-enactment. We thought this would be a great experience, so we set off for Cooktown early, the alarm blasted me from slumber at 5.00am! we didn’t want to miss the re-enactment and weren’t sure how long the drive would be going inland. We opted to leave the van where we are and booked into a guest house for the night so we could take The Bloomfield track – Coast road on the way home. It took about 4 hours to get there and we went straight to the festival to ensure we didn’t miss anything. 



Ella & I panned for gold, it was great fun and we were all most excited when we saw those flecks glinting at us, I was convinced I was going to tip them out but the experts assured me I wouldn’t as the gold is heavier than the sand. They were right and I walked away with one fleck and Ella with two!



The re-enactment was great, it showed the landing of The Endeavour as it had been damaged on the reef and the interaction between the aboriginals and Captain Cook and his men. It was really awesome to see some of our history portrayed in the actual place where it took place so many years ago.






There was a small sideshow alley where Ella & Oscar found a giant slide that they chose as their ride, I was hoping Steve would have a go on the mechanical bull, but it wasn’t to be!



We checked into the Guesthouse, which was fabulous and Katrina our host was so lovely. Both Steve and I took a little afternoon nap and relaxed until it was time to head out for an early dinner so we could catch some evening entertainment.


Katrina recommended the Bowls club, the meals were really yummy and the chef went above and beyond for me. By the time we’d eaten we had missed the Corroboree, but were just in time for the fire dancers and belly dancers.


After that the sky was alight with fireworks, they were fantastic, like the stars falling from the sky. 




Ella & Occy really wanted a go on the dodgem cars, so we walked down and they were starting to pack up but the dodgems were still open. 





They had fun although Occy had the seatbelt digging into his neck and it left a whopping mark, poor babe.


Hillcrest Guest House, $120 a night, queen bed, 2 sets bunks, shared bathroom, breakfast included, pool, really friendly

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