Fri 9th Apr. The taxi dropped me off at Mwembe Tayari so I was very quickly on my way to Taveta. Mike went to the Mombasa hospital to collect his PCR certificate and on to the airport in the afternoon. My trip to Tvt was good; more comfortable than last time. I saw some elephants for a change but they were at a distance. I stopped off to see some friends before going to my room.

It was nice to back in Taveta, bit I didn’t do much. No long cycle rides..nothing. The main thing of note was a molar tooth ache. I warned David I wouldn’t be eating any of his mahindi Choma. I went to the dentist at the market view htl and she said there was a cavity forming. It was nearly a week before I saw a more senior dentist who prescribed painkillers and antibiotics. There wasn’t much else that could be done because of my imminent departure to Addis. So, it came to Fri and I booked a matatu to Mombasa. I also bought a new shirt from Mary’s shop…I promised her would. But when I looked at it more closely, there was no front pocket and it was made in China. Oh well….but I like the pattern.

Sat 17th. Matatu Mombasa. Walked from Mwembe Tayari to the govt hospital to enquire about a Covid test because I knew it would be a lot cheaper. It turns out they are closed at weekends so I hopped into a tuk tuk and went to the MSA hospital. They were hesitant about giving me a test because I wasn’t flying until Wednesday. So I agreed I would go back on Monday.

I took my time getting to the matatu for Bamburi as I was a bit early anyway. Had a nice cup of tea in a little cafe. When I began trying for a matatu, none would come along…and it started drizzling. I gave up.aftet about 25 mins and got in a shared tuk tuk which reduced the cost from 300 to 200.

I checked into Drips hotel and messaged Bonny to say I had arrived safely. I had to pas the time from mid afternoon…. I got some samosas and had a soda at Drips ….I couldn’t drink alcohol as i had started my medication. In the end Bonny couldn’t make it, and after having my ears deafened by loud music in the Bar, I watched the first half of a game of football and went to my room.

Sun 18th. An early ride to the ferry and onto the Shimoni bus on the other side of the creek. An old friend Kagawa from Shimoni was the conductor. Was doing well for time so had breakfast at Rongai htl. Then into a tuk tuk to Diani Reef apartments to see how it compared to the write up on the internet. It was actually much, much better and not apartments in the sense of rooms on top of each other, but individual bungalow set up. Big bedroom with lots of cupboard space, dining area inside the entrance, a nice big lounge, a kitchen and a little outside area. I offered 3000ksh per day and this was accepted. I thought for 21quid it was excellent value.

The next few days were spent on and near the beach. Apart from a quick trip into MSA to the hospital to have my PCR test. They were very efficient…I should think so for a charge of 7500ksh..equiv to 50GBP. I spent most days with Fatima who Mike had first chatted up. She acted as my guide…well, not that I needed one… And in fact I introduced her to a very nice beach bar that she had never visited. I thanked her with a couple of nice meals at the Punjabi restaurant.

Of course I love Diani beach, it really is spectacular…..but it turned into special visit because…… On my last day, in the tuk tuk to the beach, I caught sight of a lovely aqua marine/turquoise kikoi blowing in the wind at a stall. I got out at my stop but walked back to the stall. What I liked about the young lady was that she only asked for 1000 when I asked the price. Most people would’ve said 1200 or 1500. I was very happy to settle on 800. So, 11 years on from Dad burning holes in my favourite kikoi, I finally got a replacement one at almost precisely the same spot where he lit his pipe to burn the holes. So a truly special moment for me.

A few days in Diani was rounded off by beach walking and swimming and a final tasty dinner. Fatima was very good company during those days, but on the 21st I had to head into Mombasa and get ready to fly to Ethiopia.