Zeb and Eider Duck and the humans are still on the Indian Pacific Railroad. The train is slowing down.
We approaching the town of Cook
We stopped at Cook.
This is Cook
When we, ducks and our 2 humans, entered the town, we doubled the population of Cook, Australia Yes, there are only 4 permanent residents of Cook. Cook was established in 1917 to support the Trans Australian Railway. That was the fist name of our train Cook formerly had 200 residents. This was the school in Cook, Australia.
School
We like the painting on this tower at the school.
Painting
More Cook art to see.
More mural painting
There was a swimming pool near the school.
Swimming pool–not used now
Doesn’t look like we could swim here now. Here is the train station.
Train Station
These buildings are not outhouses; they are jail cells,or gaol cells.
Gaol Cells
One is for females and one is for males. The prisoners did not stay here long; they were sent out of town on the next train.
Our train in Cook, Australia
Being in jail in these metal cells was like being in prison in a cooking pot. The city of Cook was built on the Nullarbor Plain, which is known for the lack or absence of trees. This rock with the plaque, commemorates the effort of men trying to defy this idea. These were the Men of the Trees.
Plaque to Men of the Trees
In 2006, 100 trees were planted in Cook. The surviving trees are the tallest on the Nullarbor Plain. When the railroad was privatized, most people left town, and now with only 4 permanent residents, Cook, Australia is almost a ghost town.
Cook A ghost town
We, Zeb and Eider Duck, and our humans are glad we were able to visit Cook.
Residence in Cook
If you travel on the Indian Pacific Railway, you may visit Cook also. Back on the Indian Pacific Railway, we are still crossing the Nullarbor Plain. This is called the Southern Outback. Although at times we see water holding ponds,
Water storage ponds
and some spots of green landscape,
Approaching Perth
do not be fooled. We are still on the Nullarbor Plain, a huge limestone plateau and desert.
Desert outback terrain
Now we are nearing the end of our ride and we see these sheep and that pipe is for transporting water.
Sheep by pipe to transport valuable water
All this riding on the train makes humans hungry, so they snacked on Snickers. The candy bar tasted just like the Snickers at home, but the writing on the package was a little different.
Tastes the same, just described a little differently
SnickersWe are almost at Perth, so it is about the end of our train ride. This is a great train and we hope you will ride it soon.
