Cairns, Cooktown, Lakefield to Lakeland

Hello all
After a couple of days in Cairns I headed further North. 
First stop was the lovely Ellis Beach

Ellis Beach

 After here things went a little downhill.........Port Douglas.....a Beer destination on a Champagne budget. A pretty average place, surrounded by mangroves, a pretty average beach and prices that well exceed it's value. I was quoted $42 per night for a unpowered site and $52 for a powered site in a fairly average caravan park in town. A Motel room in Cairns can be had for $55 per night!!
 Congratulations Port Douglas you have been added to my "never to return list" alongside Bowen and Batemans Bay. These places with their "rip you off attitude" will never receive a cent of my dollar. Bypass Bypass Bypass.............

Ellis Beach

 Once past Port Douglas the rain started.............AHHH Queensland beautiful one day rain for the next three!

 there were showers nearly all the way to Cape Tribulation.

 It was a horrible night at Cape Tribulation with the overnight temperature only dropping to 25c accompanied by wind and rain, making for an uncomfortable nights sleep.

crossing on the Daintree Ferry

Cape Tribulation

The trek over The Bloomfield Track was made a lot easier since my first trip 2 years ago. Several new bridges and quite a few kilometres of tar saw to this.

Next stop was Cooktown, wher Captain James Cook beached his ship Endeavour for repairs in 1770 after damaging it on the reef.

Cooktown from Grassy Hill Lookout

 Strong wind and heavy showers followed me to Cooktown and another rough night.

Endeavour River Cooktown

 As I headed along Battlecamp Road towards Old Laura Homestead I witnessed this Months Stupidity Award attempt.
4 Backpackers in a two wheel drive Apollo Hiace Camper (3 seater) 100km along a rough road, having already done 2 river crossings on the Laura River and were approaching the Normanby River Crossing. this crossing 50 metres wide and 45cm deep and no place for a petrol two wheel drive Hiace........I have hired one of these in the past and the Contract states you are not to travel more than 500 metres along a gravel road to access a camp or caravan park...............500 metres.............100 kilometres close enough.
I flagged them down to warn them of the upcoming river crossing but they just shrugged their shoulders and continued......

Old Laura Homestead

From Lakeland I plan on heading to the Atherton Tablelands away from the humidity of the coast and possibly across the Savannah Way to Darwin.

My dirty Ute and Camper at Old Laura

Bye for now