The Cape York Road

The customary morning rain had finally let up. Even the locals had remarked on this dry season’s uncharacteristic wet spell – normally by mid-July they’d have the sprinklers going to kill the dust and save the lawns. But 2010 was an aberration. Of course!

Now the sun turned every drop to sparkles in the Endeavour Falls Tourist Park, almost (but not quite!) dissipating our cabin fever. The only real antidote was to get out and about.

Isabella Falls marks the first of countless river crossings en route to Cape York via Rinyirru (Lakefield) National Park. This 1000+ km trek** up the Cape where extensive red mud coverage is a vehicle’s badge of honour is the ultimate Aussie 4WD adventure – and a pleasure that still awaits us.


 

Isabella Falls





 

Low Loader crossing above Isabella Falls







The post Random Adventure #1 – Isabella Falls, Cape York, Queensland appeared first on Australia by Red Nomad OZ.

While it’s not quite a replica of Captain Cook’s vessel when he explored the north coast and disembarked where Cooktown (geddit?!) now stands, the musical ship is completely landlocked in the linear park along the mouth of the Endeavour river. 

Perhaps the kindest way to describe the array of noise making apparatus (apparati??) lining the interior would be ‘found percussion instruments’, however the more unkind may prefer ‘instruments of torture’!!

But lets not forget how confronting it can be to embark and make ‘music’ (that’s how us no-talent wannabees describe it, anyway!) in a public area.  After all, who knows when ‘real’ musicians may happen along?

But there’s no rules aboard the good ship – maybe a cross between the ‘Endeavour’ and the ‘Lollipop’? – not even about taking turns!  So while no ear plugs are supplied, by all means stay and play as long as you please!!  That’s if your musical talents don’t embarrass you too much first …

Stay tuned up!!

PS  Our visit to the Musical Ship in mid-July 2010 was one of the rare days without rain when we travelled to Cooktown.  Read more about our adventures there by clicking HERE if you care dare!  But wait!  There’s more!!  Cooktown also has the dubious distinction of the most bizarre sign seen on our travels!!

The post Only in OZ #5 – The Musical Ship, Cooktown, Cape York, Queensland appeared first on Australia by Red Nomad OZ.

Other Australian signs may have more punchy graphics and wording, but this sign, found on a fence in Cooktown, definitely wins the ‘Huh???’ award.

The fence surrounds a plot of land with an unremarkable building next to a service station on the outskirts of town, from which the sign is clearly visible. 

At first glance, it looked like a pretty standard ‘keep out’ sign – until I got to the last line.  Hell, I was just thinking about getting out a gun and firing a few random shots into the air, too!  As one does while refuelling ones car!!   

Luckily the sign was there to stop me.  Crisis averted!

The block of land is strangely free of wild boar, rabbits, crocodiles, snakes and any other vermin that might tempt a gun-toter to fire off a few rounds – or at least it was when we saw it.  You’d think the proximity to the fuel station would be at least a bit of a deterrent for a responsible gun owner too.

While I get the ‘no trespassing’ bit, I’m still none the wiser as to why the Federal Government of a country with strict anti-gun laws has felt it necessary to prohibit shooting on or over the land  – but not the building?!?! 

Any suggestions??

The post Signs #2 – Huh??? appeared first on Australia by Red Nomad OZ.