Paddle 2:
This day had the best forecast so it was off to Hervey Bay to take advantage of the big 3m incoming tide and check out the western side of Big Woody.
North of Round Island we met up with another pair paddling in glass boats we hadn't seen before. One was Swedish design, 'Points North' the other a Prion 'Millenium'. They were on their way to Fraser as their Kepples trip had been blown out.
While it was close to the top the tide there did appear to be two places to camp on Big Woody. The more northern option was a sandy spit to scratch out a place amongst the cassurinas close to the shoreline or behind on fairly uneven ground with a bit of prickly pear surprise. The better option was further south next to National Parks sign. Behind this is a large flat grassy area shaded by cassurinas. Not much else on the western side as it is very rocky.
Plenty of fun to be had just around the SE corner with confused waters. I certainly wouldn't like to be there in rough conditions. After being chested by the sloppy chop we headed straight across to Little Woody and landed on the SW corner in a quiet sheltered bay covered with large smooth pebbles. We were told by a local paddler there is good snorkelling on the northern side of Little Woody and plenty of decent shade trees on the shoreline. We didn't circumnavigate Little Woody as the wind was starting to pick up and I was not keen to hang around.
As we sailed back to Urangan across the top of Big Woody you could just make out the lighthouse. Even though it was an outgoing tide, there was still enough water to cut across the reef. Taking the wheels proved a smart move as we landed just south of the Urangan Pier with a decent port. Port with a difference as part way there was a lagoon to cross. The water passed our waist and continued to rise. Soon we were going to look like a right pair of twits. Before having an unplanned swim the wheels got a grip and made an amphibious emergence for the last 300m to the car park.
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Heading across to Big Woody
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Beach at northern camp area
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Rough and prickly camping
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Pick of the west side camping
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Large grassy area with shade
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Little Woody SW corner
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Little Woody 'beach'
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Under sail
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Top Big Woody LT
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Time for wheels
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