19.45 147.50 Coconut Bay. 70km. Lovely small, hidden bay set in a rocky shore

Leaving Gloucester Island, I had to pass Middle Island pretty close. It looked like a lovely spot with a nice reef to camp…but I can’t camp everywhere!!!

So I kept on heading towards Abbot Point, with following winds against tide starting, as usual the last days.

Abbot Point had a long jetty sticking out into the sea, it said “International Coal Terminal”.

But compared to the other loading jetties I was passing the other days this one wasn’t really busy…only one single coal freighter was serviced and headed off already before I reached the Point.

I turned around once and was scared to death as a big pilot boat was approaching from behind, pretty close already, and I haven’t heard it…they used the horn and waved! Nice to see some boats eventually, but this one was heading to work to the coal terminal. A second one followed close up, and a smaller one in the distance, probably the “officials”. I figured they came extra from Bowen just to service that one freighter…probably all quite surprised to see me offshore paddling.

They came back already, job done, before I passed the Point!

Approaching the rocky peninsula of Cape Upstart against the evening sun, I couldn’t figure out any bay besides a bit of a ridge in the mountains. Good to trust the GPS and to know Sandy Robson stayed in Coconut Bay, so it must be ok…only 2 km before the shore the sun went down behind the mountains, and I could make out a beach in the distance. It didn’t look to inviting, I guessed! This must be rocky with a reef around! And it was…but the surprise was to the left paddling into the bay – there was a small lovely sandy beach! Maybe 50 m wide, just made for me that night!

The sand ledge was just wide enough to stay dry that low tide night, and I pitched the tent in front of a beautiful rock formation. Just a pity to arrive at 6 pm only, it is fully dark here 6.40 pm…so no time to hunt a nice coconut and try to open it… there were quite a bit lying around! Besides lots of rubbish, actually…