We are now anchored in the lee of Possession Island after a very fast passage from the Escape River through the Albany Passage and around Cape York. We covered the 38 miles in less than 4 hours thanks to a favourable tide and 20 knots of breeze. It really pays to get the tide right coming around the top end. This anchorage is comfortable even though it's blowing 15- 20 + kts.
We even have internet and radio stations!
The Escape River was also a wonderful place once you get through the bar into the river itself. We came in on the rising tide and had less than a metre under the keel at times. Inside, however, there is plenty of water but there is the need to dodge the numerous oyster nets, as in this area, there is a pearl farm. Once inside and down river it was like glass and we spent two comfortable nights there.
The whole place was alive with sea life including the infamous salt water crocodiles. We went ashore to visit the pearl farm owned by Rusty and Bronwyn and we spent a pleasant morning enjoying morning tea and talking about the area. The are no roads worth speaking of there and the only way to get supplies is by boat, 30 kms to Bamaga. One has to enjoy the remoteness but they obviously do.
One of their dogs was called CB (short for croc bait) and he could have been. We saw some quite large specimens sunning themselves on the beach.
Photos to follow, tomorrow looks OK for the 350 mile run across the Bay of Carpenteria to the town of Gove in the Northern Territories
Glad to hear that you have rounded to Cape...all the best across the Gulf to Gove.
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