Greg and Bob were up early to walk up Mt Cook. It was a relatively short (5.4km) walk but a fairly good climb all the way to the top of the 416m mountain. It only took them two hours, but they were a little sweaty when they got home. After mornos, we took the Cruiser for a drive to The Lions Dens Hotel (c1875) that is an historic watering hole located just 28km south of Cooktown, near the Black Mountain (Kalkajaka) National Park. It is on the Bloomfield Road between Cooktown and Cape Tribulation in the tropical far north Queensland Daintree region. It provides camping sites, safari tents, and onsite cabins. We decided to partake in the consumption of a beer as it was a bit warm. After the beers we wandered around the hotel, checked out the shop (Wendy bought an insulated tumbler she thinks will be fantastic for G&T on a hot afternoon), and the camping area before heading back. On the way back we stopped at Keatings Lagoon, which was picturesque.
Back home, we had lunch then a nana nap before heading out on the bikes to do the last of the items on the Historic Trails List. The wind was really bad, so bad we even had to pedal down the hills! We will all be glad to see the end or the back of this wind.
Before heading out to dinner at the RSL (again), Greg had a go at fixing the sliding door to the ensuite as it has dropped (or something) and we can't close it all the way. He did find one video on YouTube, however, needs a spanner with a bend in it to be able to reach the necessary adjusting bits.
The booze bus picked us up about 5:30pm for dinner at the RSL at 6pm. It allowed us to have a pre, pre-dinner drink whilst waiting for dinner. Dinner was just as good as it was three nights ago, even though we all had different meals. We did have to wait a little while for the return booze bus driver. We all made it back to the van park in one piece.
Mt Cook walk
The helipad at the top of the mt
At the top
The finish looking back to the peak
Mt Cook walk elevation profile
Black Mountain
Lions Den murals and signs
Us at Lions Den, Wendy was happy, just not ready for the photos
The side of the Lions Den hotel
Keatings Lagoon pics
View from the Bird Hide at the lagoon
Interesting pattern on this dead tree
A stick insect in the ladies loos; Wendy was very brave and relocated it into a tree outside
Built by the Seagren family for use as a furniture showroom to show the Seagren fine furniture renowned throughout the area. More recently, the building has been used as a restaurant and an accommodation facility.
The Cooktown Powder Magazine, a store for blasting powder used on the Palmer Goldfield. Built in 1874, it is possibly the oldest structure still standing in Cooktown. It has recently been restored by the National Trust (QLD)
Inside the Cooktown Powder Magazine
Jackey-Jackey's: named after an Indigenous Australian from Kennedy's expedition in 1848, the building has been used as a hardware shop called the London Emporium, and a gun shop
Cooktown's first hospital (built in 1879), now a Jehovah's Witnesses place of worship
Map My Ride highlights the route in rainbow colours but reverts to red when you stop and finish the ride
No comments:
Post a Comment