Day 174
6 hrs, 10 .5 kms

Today is the last day of the year. This means too things: First, I need to make an extra effort to make it memorable. Second, I might have a hard time finding public transportation today.

I start out with an stroll down to the beach from my Lagos hostel. I'd heard that the coastline here is beautiful, so I figure I'd better check it out. I pass through the hotel zone, and sure enough there's a beautiful sandy beach tucked under a jagged reddish cliff--with an inspiring sunrise in the background.

Definitely got to explore this coastline. And so begins one of my favorite coastal hikes ever. There's a sort of path near the top of the cliff which I follow, veering off every hundred meters or so to see what new surprises await and the coast just gets better and better--raw, rugged rock meeting the endless flat sea--with tiny little beach areas you can have all to yourself--if you can figure out how to get down there .

Finally I reach what looks like a way to get down to the beach... first a ladder, then a rope you use to scale down the side of the cliff. Yep I'm going to do it.

Then I notice an odd inscription on the ladder: "Nudist Beach"

What the________?! Wow they really make it rough for the naked folks! You've got to scale down a cliff to reach a nudist beach!

Fortunately (or unfortunately?) there aren't any nudist here now--it is December 31st after all... I have the place all to myself where I can explore sea caves where sunlight reaches through a single hole high above... there's a natural bridge you go under and discover yet another beach tucked away.

Unforgettable discovery.

Finally the raw untouched feel of the coast comes to an end and private property blocks the top of the cliff... time to head back towards town and find something else to explore.