Thurs 1st July

Today we found 2 more examples of our bad timing.

1. We could have done a tour of Mossman sugar farms and mill but they are not on now because it is cane cutting time and the farms and mill are working flat out.

2. The White Cockatoo accommodation in Mossman says in its brochure "clothing optional Oct.-Feb"

We can't decide which we are most sorry to have missed.

We got what we thought was an early start at 8.30 and crossed the Daintree river by ferry at 9:00'clock on our way to Cape tribulation.We stopped at the rainforest tower and canopy walk which was interesting but we reckon it is our 5th tree top walk and it sounds awful to say this but they are basically the same. It is rainforest all the way with a couple of beautiful beaches before Cape tribulation itself which consists of a couple of eco retreats, a shop and an information centre.From this point the sealed road finishes and you need a four wheel drive to get to Cooktown by the coastal route. It is approx a 400m walk through a mangrove swamp to the beach and it isn't until you step on the beach that you feel the presence of James Cook and the Endeavour crippled out there of the beach.The beach is as it was in the 1770s except they didn't have a boardwalk to take them to fresh water but a stinking swamp to wade through. Another time history comes alive and makes you feel very humble and privileged .to be here in 2010.

We ran out of time and didn't get to Daintree village so we have rearranged our schedule and will go there tomorrow after a walk in Mossman Gorge. Weintended to go to Cooktown and back in one day but have now decided to go on Saturday and stay overnight.