It just so happened that Cooktown was having a country fair.  These tractors were about to go on a rally up the top of Cape York.

The kids animal / vegetable section.  The one with the celery arms won first prize.

The fair was held at the race course.

Love it

Some of the spectators

Nomad camp

The Endeavour River from the town lookout – much clearer today.  Named after Cooks ship which was sailed here, after hitting a reef, for repairs.  Not sure how they managed to do that without sinking but they obviously did.  You can see the sand banks in the entrance.  It gets really busy here later and earlier in the year, so we think we will bypass it on our way up Cape York.

Part of Cooktown high street.  Although its Friday, Cooktown has a public holiday – country fair!

Cooktown has made an effort to interest the tourists.  Not surprising as it’s the end of the tarmac road.  From here its mud into Cape York.  The off-roaders are covered in dirt.  Paul having fun on the musical ship – open 8am to 8pm!

The spot where Captain Cook landed.  You would have thought that the rock would have got in the way.

Me and the Cap.

This is the foxtail palm, named because the fronds look like a foxes tail.  Fabulous plant.  Only naturally grows in a small area around Cape Melville (on Cape York Peninsula).  An aboriginal showed the plant to a botanist in 1978.  When it became known to the world, the seeds were so highly priced that a black market trade formed that nearly decimated the natural populations.  Now really widespread.