Day 22 Sunday 13th July
Palm Cove to Cape Tribulation via the Daintree River Ferry (120km)

Needless to say, the movie was not to our taste and so after our evening stroll, which was not that pleasant this evening....too windy, we spent a couple of evening hours making more plans and reading. We decided against going out to eat.....since we had enjoyed such a delicious lunch.
This morning we were packed up and on our way before 8am. We took the same route as yesterday for our visit to PD, but by-passed the T/O and headed further north, through the town of Mossman and on to the Daintree River crossing. On the way we saw Osprey nests on top of telegraph poles....some with chicks in....and lots of sugar cane, (some already harvested and waiting to be transported),and banana plantations.
The only way to get across the Daintree River and up to Cape Tribulation is via a ferry. This pontoon-like ferry just goes back and forth all day across the approximately 100m stretch of croc-infested water. If you are there early in the day, (as we were), there is usually no waiting......and there wasn't. The road up to Cape Tribulation, (approx 60km), is sealed, but very winding, so it takes a little while to get there, especially if, like us, you happen to be following a sick car! We stopped at a L/O and spoke to the four young people, (overseas tourists), in the car.....they couldn't really tell us what was wrong with it, only that it used to go OK when there were just two of them in it, but now, with four it struggled! They have it booked in to a mechanic in Townsville on Wednesday!!! We hope they make it!!!
There are a few little hamlets, cafés and lots of accommodation options on the way to Cape Trib, and the opportunity, if you are lucky, to see the Cassowary bird, which is prevalent in this region.
We arrived at our chosen campground just after 10am and we have found a nice secluded spot to set up. It is reasonably busy, but doesn't feel so. There is rainforest between us and the beach and there are lots of brush turkeys and at least one pair of orange-footed scrub fowl. There is a walkway to the beach, which is called Coconut Beach, for obvious reasons. At one spot in the campground there is a 'coconut husker', and judging by the mound of husks, it is well-used.
It was very low tide around 2pm and we went for a walk across a, now-exposed, reef of mostly very dead coral. The day was cloudy and threatening rain, but the clouds blew past and it was a pleasant evening.
There is a little bar and cafe here, serving wood-fired pizza. We cooked our own meal tonight, but will definitely try the pizza tomorrow.