Day 1: 17th April, 2021

 CookTown To Black Mountain

Yesterday evening I went for a walk in Cooktown from the motel to find the National Trail Start/Finish Cairn.

Today's walk ended up being mostly on the bitumen highway. The spots where the trail dives down fencelines or under pole routes are only just slashed or overgrown with 3-4 metre high spear grass.

Some of the route notes left me a little confused but when I decided to just follow the highway there was no need to worry any more.

I started about 6.30 in the morning and Nial, I haven't worked out the hat tie down and lost it within the first 3-4 kilometres! Lucky I have backups.

I managed to wander onto someones property and the dog had a massive head that looked like could chew my leg off quite comfortably. After talking to the owner who knows about the trail, but is not happy with people rolling up early morning setting the dogs off. So I backtracked and headed back to the highway.

Right: Cook watching me get lost

Below: Annan Bridge

It was a hot day with the temperature reaching 30 degrees and 84% humidity. I ended up down a creek at about 10.20am too cool off and promptly fell asleep. It's strange I have had 3 nights sleeping in beds yet today I fell asleep quite quickly on the rocks.

Belinda got a little worried when she had noticed I hadn't moved for an hour. But I felt really refreshed and cooled down for another couple of hours. My next rest was at Trevathan creek for another wash down and cool off.

Left: The Bridge not to take

My final push was up to the Black Mountain look out where Belinda picked me up and we went out to the Lions Den hotel for Pizza.

I spend one more night with Belinda and Isabelle then they head back down to Townsville. I will see them again in July McGowan willing.

The morning trail:

Trevathan Creek Crossing: