Cooktown

I have cruising friends who have been stuck in Cooktown for weeks, waiting for a break in the SE'ly wind.

Cooktown from our "deep water " anchorage.

The last time I was in Cooktown was probably 12 years ago. Between '94 and 2005, I estimate I visited Cooktown, by road,still with long dirt sections then, half a dozen times, generally for pleasure, but also once or twice for work. Then I could barely notice any change , other than the botanical gardens which had been total overgrown when I first visited as a child in 1975, had been uncovered and revived.

Now in 2017, I was surprised to see the amount of revitalisation of Cooktown that has taken place.It's great, really well done,thanks to the driving force behind it, whoever you are. Cook Shire Council perhaps?

I had been impressed with the botanic gardens , years ago, who would have thought somewhere so far from anywhere would have had such a thing.

Incredibly appropriate really  as Capt Cook spent many weeks on the bank of the Endeavour River repairing his 'slightly' damaged ship. Joseph Banks and Daniel Solander, who were also aboard and were  the botanists who took so many samples of the strange , not seen in Europe, flora and fauna, must have had a wonderful time here.As the Cooktown orchid is the  floral emblem of Queensland , what better place for there to be a Botanic Garden of such historic value.

I have  on several previous visits been to  the James Cook Museum, located in the old convent. The name may be slightly misleading,it's not just about Capt Cook, there is much of the history of the gold rush on the Palmer River found here as well as the history of Cooktown itself.
In its hey day during the goldrush in the 1870's ,it was a thriving port, bringing the hopeful diggers and much needed supplies.Pubs abounded.

Today there are major plans for the development of the foreshore and esplanade on display, something I look forward to seeing when next I visit Cooktown.

The Post Office

A wander up   Webber Esplanade and into Charlotte St, takes you from the wharf,  past the spot where the Endeavour was careened and repaired, a statue of Capt Cook, a monument to Capt Cook, the RSL,which is in a building that was originally the shire hall , the Post Office,
then a monument  to Mrs Watson , of beche de mer vat drifting fame, the other side of the street has a couple of the old banks, the courthouse (rebuilt) but on original site and although  I don't usually do advertising, the Sovereign Hotel is going to get a mention here. We had the best eye fillet steaks for tea. Tender,cooked perfectly to order and just the right size. I would go back to Cooktown again just for the steak!

Departing early in the morning