Sugarloaf Bay

Sugarloaf bay






After sailing under the Spit Bridge we made our way to Sugarloaf Bay. We had read in Alan Lucas’s book ‘Cruising The NSW Coast’ that there was a very secluded anchorage in here and he wasn’t wrong. This picturesque tree covered hilly bushland circled by a fringe of public reserve was such a surprise. It was hard to believe we were just a few kilometres from the heart of Sydney.

Early morning

The first evening we sat in the cockpit with the radio off and sipping our G&T’s, just listening to the birds and watching the moon rising. We could have been in the middle of nowhere …and in some respect we were.

We sat on the boat all the next day doing nothing but listening to the radio reading and watching the fish swimming around us. The following day we decided to explore our surroundings, so we took the dinghy ashore, which soon proved to be an exercise rather more difficult than anticipated. The entire shoreline was carpeted in oysters which were extremely sharp. Our dinghy is an inflatable so as you can imagine we were quite reluctant to bring the two together.

We eventually managed to get ashore with ourselves and the dinghy intact. Our initial intention was to follow our map and the walking track indicated on it, and find civilization (preferably somewhere that had a café which served decent coffee). However, it was after 16.00hrs and it starts to get dark here about 17.00hrs. We quickly realized that it was a very long and rugged track, and that if it got dark before we returned, we would have no torch. So, being sensible (for once) we abandoned the reconnaissance mission and decided to try again the next day.

Jo

Meander from the walking track

Next morning, after having our usual coffee in bed and listening to the radio for an hour or two we made an attempt at going ashore once again. This was achieved without scratches on ourselves or holes in the dinghy. So we commenced what turned out to be a two-and-a-half hour walk to a very small shopping centre embedded deep in the nearby suburbs. Great bread shop, great veggie shop – and great coffee! And seeing as it was Mothers Day, I decided to shout Jo a slap up meal in the café… The salad looked and tasted great! She didn’t seem to mind that it was me rather than one of her kids shouting the meal…(they would have taken me somewhere much 'posher' [Jo])

The irony is that we didn’t need to go ashore for a coffee – later in the afternoon a cappuccino boat arrived and asked if we wanted one – or an ice cream! Isn’t private enterprise wonderful! (we declined the offer, actually – all coffeed out by then!).

Cappuccino anyhone?

Monday we headed back to Balls Head Bay, so that today (Tuesday) we would be within easy striking distance of shops and supermarkets.

So today, we SHOP!

Mike