St Louis

After a decent sleep Chris finally surfaces at 11am and heads down tot find breakfast. After tucking into an omelette and drinking numerous cups of coffee he decides to find out where everyone is and what’s going on. Well after climbing to the top of the lookout area and taking some pictures. The view is fantastic and so peaceful, looking down at the cars they look like they have been through the wars. After finding the rest of the group Chris has to get his backside in gear and change as we taking a boat from the bar up to St Louis so we can explore as well as get local currency. The teams we met last night have already moved off and are apparently heading down to a hotel that has been recommended around Dakar.

We wait on the beach as some of the locals try to sell us stuff. The kids are trying to sell us crabs that they have just picked up from the beach. Rather like trying to sell us fresh air! The day is starting to warm up and life is good.

We get in the boat after getting our feet wet and have to balance it so that it will travel. Rather amusing as some of us aren’t exactly the lightest, and to think the boat is supposed to take upto 14 people. If we had 14 in there we would have required a periscope. The trip is really refreshing and there is a certain amount of scorn given to Simon when he says he thinks the trip is an hour and a half, but he turns out to be right!!

We land by aiming for the shore and getting as much speed up as possible and then beaching. Right amongst the rotting fish and debris, D rescues her camera case as it gets thrown into the puddle of water at the bottom of the boat. Colin reliably informs us that the boat had been slowly sinking all the way up. So where now?

Ahkim goes off to see the fish market that we saw from the boat on the way in and the rest of us go for an amble looking to see the sites as well as find a bank. We find several atms and banks but have problems with the cash cards and withdrawing money. Eventually we find one that is able to do it and we change the various currencies we have into local. Simon has problems with his card and has to end up calling his bank to get it unlocked, as the sun is high most of us head to a café for a refreshing drink and possibly food. We all peruse the menu and it looks good till we find out that they only have ham or cheese sarnies on and that leaves D with nothing she can eat. Also a local that has had rather too many beers is deciding that we are his new best friends, so we decide to look elsewhere….

We find the main square, outside the old French officer mess, decide to push on as nowhere looks too open. After going in round in circles for a bit we cross to the other side of the river and take loads of great pictures. The good thing is that the pictures can’t capture the smell. The place honks and there are loads of dead fish in the water. Perhaps there is some disease going round? After a group discussion it is decided to head back the way we came as it looks like we are heading towards more residential areas rather than places to eat.

We end up back at the square and Chris is sent into the old officers’ mess to see if it is open for food. He is promptly shown the entire restaurant and finally told that it doesn’t open till the evening. With someone else leading the way we follow the flow of traffic and find another open area by another bridge off the central island and decide to stop here. As we order food the locals wave to try to get our attention to buy some of their wares. Paul is the first to circum and gets a pair of brightly colour trousers. Adrian and Chris think this is a good idea and head out to the same seller to get more. Adrian shows several pairs back to D and she lets him know what she thinks. Eventually she says that one pair isn’t too bad and Adrian haggles the deal for them and a pair Chris has found. Adrian haggles a price for 2 pairs that is only marginally over the price Paul paid for one and is very impressed. After a rapid change in the toilets and telephone kiosk they all pose for pics. The trousers fit surprisingly well and we are in high spirits when half the food turns up. We should have spotted something there and then but end up having to wait for another 40 minutes for the rest of the sandwiches. Apparently making cheese and ham sarnies is a time heavy process. The rest finally turn up after D’s intervention.

Due to the tides we weren’t able to get the boat back as if we had we would have only had an hour at St Louis so we get taxis back. A great experience as we see how to avoid pot holes at speed!! We arrive back at the Zebra bar with Dean and Brian having said yes to us all having dinner, so its all looking up. Settling in a shooting the breeze we discuss our plans for how long we will stay here and where we will go next. Brian and Dean are trying to work out if they are going to push on tomorrow or stay another day as their wives are already at Banjul. After discussions and conversations with higher authorities they decide to stay with the rest of us.

We are looking at staying tomorrow here and then having a day push right through to Banjul. Team Griffin managed it and they didn’t leave here till 11.30am but they did say they weren’t hanging around. This approach makes sense as the possible overnight locations are only 2 – 3 hours away and don’t seam worth it.

As we start sinking cold beers Paul’s and Adrian’s funky pants develop rips. They have been especially designed to fail within the day so you have to buy more ;). Chris is keeping quiet as his are alright and he doesn’t want to temp fate. Too late the pocket goes on his but not too badly as he is still able to wear them in public. Paul’s have a hole in the crotch. Another great meal and all to soon we retire for a good nights sleep.

As Chris and Colin have managed to end up the best chalet of the lot and with the most space Simon and Paul move in and use the floor space as it makes more sense than them putting up tents.