Forestry Trek 2014

The annual hike by the Forestry Department was well organised as usual, except that they ran out of water for the return hike.

About twelve large JUTC buses pulled out of the Constant Spring Road spot on schedule at 7am for the hour ride to Schwallenberg in St. Ann ( near Faith's Pen) from where we would hike to Holly Mount Great House in St. Catherine via Mount Diablo. 

When we got to Schwallenberg there was a briefing before we set off in groups of 25 with a forestry representative. 

Fun and Thrills was well represented although we had to register with Chuck's Rotary of St. Andrew to get the group rate. Sheriff, Sparkles, Charles, Johann, Tricia, Charlene, Karen (Chuck) and  Thomas were there, but they stayed with the groups they were registered with.

Braheem centre

Our leader (from the forestry Department) was Braheem who was born in Senegal, grew up in Barbados and now lives and works in Jamaica about which he is very knowledgeable.

The terrain was a bit rough but the lush, varied vegetation including some of the most beautiful ferns and fern trees you will see anywhere, fresh air and camaraderie made up for every discomfort.

There were three or four rest stations along the way with water, even coconut water at one and a good variety of fruits and peeled sugar cane.

We saw raspberries blossoming along the side of the road and I did find a ripe bunch to eat but it was rather sour, but who cares when eating off the land is always half the fun.

We were in no hurry so we drank in the scenery, took pictures and learnt about some of our endemic plants which had been labeled by the organisers and at the end of the journey, I planted a mahogany tree. 

I knew the great house was owned by an acquaintance of mine, Pat Marston,  but I did not know she would have been there, so although she was not allowing the 600 or so hikers to tramp all over her house, she gave us a tour.

Pat (right) with famous artist Carol Crighton inside the great house/

The house was built in the 1800's and her family are the first non-white owners of  the seven families that have owned what had originally been a sugar plantation.

She and her late husband (Toby, who was murdered some years ago) bought the 152 acre property from the family of the late Perry Henzel  of the "The Harder They Come" fame.

He grew up there, she tells me. She had been growing coffee on the property but after destruction of the crop by one of our numerous hurricanes and being unable to collect from the insurers, she abandoned that exercise and now rents the great house to guests.

There is a wonderful view from  every angle of the four bedroom house and from the veranda, you can seen Bridgeport in St. Catherine, most of eastern St. Ann and Oracabessa in St. Mary and some of the most beautiful mountains and vegetation you will see anywhere.

After the tour, we had lunch and headed down but unfortunately Carol slipped, fell and twisted her ankle but luckily we saw a forestry vehicle going down shortly after and she was able to get a lift.

On the return journey we were unfortunate enough to go in a bus which had a power problem as it limped over all the hills but picked up speed on the flat causing another driver to stop to ask our driver what was happening to us,  as everyone passed us by.

Anyway, we got back safely after a great day of exercise, learning and camaraderie.

JOAN WILLIAMS, co-host of JUSTICE on POWER 106, describes herself as an unapologetic addict to the Jamaican outdoors. A foundation member of FUN AND THRILLS ADVENTURE CLUB, she explores the island at any given opportunity cycling, hiking or swimming with that group, family, Jah 3 and anyone else who will have her. In 1995, she published the popular TOUR JAMAICA and the 4^th edition is now an ebook available at;

http://www.amazon.com/Tour-Jamaica-Joan-Williams-ebook/dp/B00EJWCSHS/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1389464644&sr=8-1&keywords=tour+jamaica+by+joan+williams

Contact; gratestj@gmail.com