Looking into the maps together in Nhulunbuy, I got the advise to better avoid Cadell Strait, too mangroovy and too many crocs…so I decided to rather go around the outside of Elcho Island, a tad bit longer only, I guessed…

The tides were playing up that much out on the way crossing all those funny straits like Nalwarung and Brown Strait that I wonder if the detour was really worth the slog. A good tidal timing for the Cadell Strait, a clean flush through, eyes closed for crocs…maybe next time.

Crossing Brown Strait was tough without loosing the direction. I eventually ended up 15 degrees off course, pushed south. No chance to hold into the tidal stream and wind, as I wouldn’t have made *any* progress then. The only option was to go for slow progress and a bit downstream. Thanks for a good GPS. But eventually I got across and luckily the first quiet beach on the North-Eastern side of Elcho Island after quite a big tidal race was good to land on in very last light.

Camp options were either higher up than I eventually put up my tent on quite a waterbuffalo-path with some fresh cow pads, or down on the beach close to the high tide line in croc reach…I preferred the latter. Haven’t seen any water buffalos yet and like to keep it that way! No croc slides on that beach.

Message from Freya via satellite phone:

11.47 135.56 Stretton Strait, 60km 7am to 6:30 pm. Ugly slog into quartering strong tides all day. Landed barely before very last light.