Cairns to Cooktown

An interesting name you have given yourself Mr T. Is there a history here??

Patrick,
Wife reckons I'm like "Tim the Toolman Taylor" from the TV show in that I seem to collect a lot of them.

Toolman

Must be nice to have a wife that appreciates a good set of tools.

I'm sure that it won't be the last time someone askes you about your on-line name.

Cheers, Patrick

My ps should have read I have no links to them.

All the best
Eric

I can't say that I'm impressed. I know it will be a great thing for Cooktown, but I'm a fan of sleepy picturesque towns of great historical significance, not another Noosa.
There used to be a sign on that road, "Cooktown, another bl**dy 10 miles to go." They were right !

Could not agree more footloose , will just be another Noosa & port Douglas all over again ,, what a waste !!
Neil & Margie ..

It will be a shame but the local business will be very happy.

All the best
Eric

I was up that way late late last year & the job was nearly completed then so good to hear it has been done. I'd hate to see Cooktown with it's rich history become another Noosa but I suspect that As Dick Smith was there in his blue chopper at the same time as me & rumoured to be buying everything at bargain basement prices I suspect that the "new" world may catch up. There was lots of real estate for sale too...The locals are very "local" though, went to the shop on the wharf for a sanger for lunch at 12:40 & told I could not be served until after the "bus" had been in at 13:00... Told that the tables needed fixing or something... Just one of the amusing things that happened. Went to the only decent eatery in town, the Chinese at the pub, was a great feed but the staff kept asking us if the meal was ok & people from outside kept ducking in & asking if the food was any good...In the end there was a crowd eating based on our reference...
Found that the best place to camp was actually at Endeavour Falls about 33 km north, spacious, well laid out, friendly staff & no one else there....
Oh and heaven forbid that I should forget there is a "clothes off" beach there too, the Museum is excellent & the botanical gardens & cafe are worth a visit...
I think even Jimmy Cook would have enjoyed himself there...

I have fond memories of Cooktown. Been there a few times and always see something new, always meet a character or five :)
However I didn't know about the "free beach". Endeavour Falls is nice unless there's no water in the creek. In that case its just a wasteland. Sounds like they have new owners.
Caught great fish under the pier while everyone else caught nothing but sunburn further out.
I used to have a mate with a winter home in Cooktown. He used to drive between Wollongong and Cooktown in his seventies. The first time I went there I instantly knew why :))

Mr Fawlty a lot of the real estae has been for sale for many years with no takers but this will all change I feel.

All the best
Eric

Eric, where's the pix on your sig ? Looks quite familiar but can't place it.

Footlose not far from here


All the best
Eric

Thanks Eric, no wonder it looked familiar :))

eric, please feel free to call me Basil....

Don't forget the Lions Den - out the back - brilliant camping area and a bit of water as well..

check it out here

Eric,
Thanks for the info and will definitely be making a call as advised.

I hope the hernia is coming along fine.

toolman

Toolman the hernia is comming along fine thanks.

All the best
Eric

It is not just cape York either. Anyone who has travelled the Plenty, The Tanami, Gibb River Road, Strzelecki, Oodnadatta, Birdsville regularly will see the trend.

It hasn't accelerated much beyond formed gravel and better creek crossing in most places, but the roads are improving. Formed gravel roads first then improved fording and bridges, then patches of bitumen in critical places and so on.

Why..because more of us a are travelling, and mister average two income and 2.2 kids likes his bitumen roads, or the government believes he does.

Of course for the locals it is a great thing but unfortunately it does tend to detroy what many wish to experience.