In the wake of James Cook-Airlie Beach to Cooktown

One of the beautiful bays on Magnetic Is.

Picnic ,Bay, Magnetic Is.

      Jen and Barry joined us at Airlie Beach in late July for a Whitsunday tour, then on to Magnetic Is. Trying out the plastic dinghy at CapeUpstart-.                                                                                                                                             and Townsville. Much fun was had, and we also caught up with cousin Geoff and Kathy,for a great tapas feast on Maggie.

So sad to leave

   It had been very wet and blowy at Airlie ,

Sugar loader at Mourilyan, near Innisfail

Croc warnings up the Bloomfield River

A walk in the rainforest at Cape Tribulation

but it improved as we progressed north to Cooktown and Lizard Is.

We are in Cooktown-stuck here for 3-4 days of strong winds which blew us
into harbour last Sunday, after a very exciting turbulent sail from
Bloomfield River. It's a very small town but interesting-we'll be experts on
Capt. Cook by the time we leave,having checked out all the historic sites
and the excellent James Cook Museum and climbed to the top of Grassy Hill to
check out the Reef as Cook did.

P.O. Cooktown

We've had a great time passing through new territory,seeing places we've
been to 30 years ago -hasn't Port Douglas grown up beautifully? except for
the crocs beside the creek where we had to anchor! 
      We were disappointed with Cairns-very poor boatie facilities ,draggy channel anchorages and a rough wet ride across from the Yacht Club and town facilities

Old yacht club,Cairns

Market square ,Cairns

       Mostly we've overnighted at remote places which are
beautiful-like the uninhabited end of Palm Is.,up a creek off the

Spot the croc !

Hinchinbrook Channel, and just inside the Bloomfield River-but we had to wait for an hour for enough tide to enter the sandbanked entrance,while some locals duckied out to advise us of the whereabouts of the 'channel' as there
were no nav aids.

    We'll be here a couple more days then head north again-Cape Flattery then Lizard Is.We're all well and Bodi is getting spoilt by people wanting to pat and talk
to him!

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