Sunday 13 March 2011

Sundays in Cooktown - Cape Bedford


Despite the terrifying weather warnings being splashed across the TV last weekend, and a deluge south of Cooktown, we were in the mood for a trip. Looking directly west from our verandah it looked promising so we thought we would risk it and head North of Cooktown to Cape Bedford.


We were blessed with the most glorious day as we drove over the white sand dunes to Elim Beach at Cape Bedford.  A beautiful beach, it sits at the southern end of the beach leading to Cape Flattery where silica is mined.  No-one else was around except for a tinny out in the bay doing a bit of fishing. After a sandwich and wander on the beach we too tried a bit of fishing off the shore while watching a hermit crab wander by.

Then we drove over more sand dunes to another one of the Cape Bedford beaches and again, apart from a few locals fishing, there was no-one around. In the distance we could see the elegant Mount Cook and the kids explored the beach for driftwood, sea shells and other things washed up by the sea.  It is still a magical thing to wander along a beautiful beach and find perfect Nautilus shells.

At the northern end of the beach was the site of the first Lutheran mission in the Cape Bedford area and we were shown the basic cave where the German Lutheran minister, known as Muni, lived for some years.  We met some friends and watched them bring in lots of trevally and perch.  The dog discovered the vagaries of swimming in the shallows when he came across a large mudcrab with very fast pincers!  Homeward bound sun kissed, tired and happy.