Beach day. As there is no beach in Lamu Town, walked the forty minutes down to Shela, the neighboring village. The walk didn't exactly involve swimming - but I considered myself lucky to get there with my gear mostly dry. South of Shela the beach lays untouched as far as you can see. I walked an hour out and an hour back and only passed one group of people (three tourists asleep on the sand). It was fantastic - it seemed that you could walk forever without encountering a single person!
Spent the afternoon roasting on the beach. It was excellent, except that the steady wind and fine sand meant that I was encrusted minutes after swimming or applying sunscreen. On the way back I decided to take a dhow, except I wasn't willing to pay for the entire boat so I opted to wait (200 KSh vs. 50 KSh). After an hour of waiting I gave up and started walking. The tide was out so it was a much easier walk - though, of course, two people from the hotel passed on a dhow about ten minutes into the walk. Near Lamu I stopped for a fresh orange and pineapple juice - it was so good that I sat there and watched the world go by through a second. Even closer to town I had some fresh potato and curry samossas off the street (at five shillings each diner cost me less than $.25!)
Back in Lamu proper I picked up my laundry from the hotel manager (first time I've had clean close since the Serengeti!) Then took a well deserved shower and hung out reading the guide book on Uganda. I met an other American, Michael (ex Peace Corps Cameroon) and went to the Petler's Inn for beers. Several hours, many beers, and about ten people joining us later it was way past bed time for me.
