20.03 148.27.  Gloucester Island.  80km, 7 am to 5 pm. I listened to my first coral beach. It sounds like glass in a gentle lapping sea…

Paddling out of Genesta Bay was a bit of an effort against the wind and tide, but eventually I made it around the rocky headland of Round Head.

I headed to the left, leaving Long Island to the right and passing through the narrows. The tide would be just turning when arriving at the entrance around 10 am, perfect!

Three tiny beach resorts were on Long Island’s shore with one sailboat anchoring, that was actually all I saw of the “touristic Whitsundays”…Hamilton Island was luckily in the far distance.

Shutehaven as the main ferry terminal and boat haven for the Whitsundays released some boats, but none of them were troubling me. I thought more those lovely frequent tidal rips were giving me something to think about…but they were just nice.

I reckon the Whitsunday Islands would be worth an extra trip, as I can’t do it all on this one…

Heading through some offshore islands towards George Point was always worth some puzzling on the map – which is which island? Eventually it all comes clear…it keeps you entertained reading the map!

George Point itself was a beautiful piece of rock, and I was heavily tempted to stay already on the eastern bay of Saddleback Island, offering a lovely beach…but it was too early to call it a day!

Paddling over the southern reef of Saddleback Island in quiet seas was lovely, but I was quite scared to damage my boat…so I soon followed better just the edge of the reef.

On the southern spit the reef turned into a white sandy beach with a steep shore. The water was lapping gently on the shore, and I couldn’t help but jump out to have a look.

It was my first step onto a coral beach, the gentle waves made a sound like glass! Amazing,,,

Soon I noticed better put on neoprene socks before cutting my feet getting coral sand in the Teva sandals. I had them handy on the deck anyway for the next landings on such mysterious beaches. Cuts would heal badly now, so better be careful!

I carry two pairs of neoprene socks – one “wet pair” for wet exits and entries of the boat on not only sandy beaches, one “dry pair” for after washing my feet in the sea, carefully walking ashore with no sand getting on the Teva’s inner sole. Then I’m drying my now sand free feet, and put on the dry pair of neoprene socks. This saves me the effort of getting sandy feet clean when entering the tent! I am putting them on again when I have to leave the tent again for a pee or if I forgot something in the boat…quite clever, I think! The sand is very easy to wipe off dry neoprene socks. And I hate nothing more than a sandy tent. But eventually there is sand everywhere anyway :-((

Still too early to stay, although this would be the perfect campsite! A shallow reef on one side of the spit, a steep sandy beach with crystal clear water (and obviously no crocs yet or stingers) on the other side! I had a quick swim, then I kept on paddling west.

The southern end of Gloucester Island, just around a small headland, offered a beach to camp on which was as good as the one I just left. And I had the beautiful sunset just over the sea! Again a spot to stay for longer…nothing attracted me to camp on the mainland with some houses on it…