Another Wonderful Weekend

This National heroes weekend was and absolute blast. On Saturday and Monday we went riding and swimming at Bob Marley beach in Bull Bay. Actually Simpson had wanted to ride to Hellshire on Monday as he lives near Bob Marley beach and complains that when we go there, he barely gets a little ride. But we shouted him  down and suggested that he ride to Kingston to meet us. He did and never met us until he had ridden to the top of Mountain View avenue, so I suspect he will never complain about the length of the ride again lest he be given the same option.
Anyway now that we have discovered Bob Marley, Hellshire is just too crowded and polluted for us! Besides riding to Bull bay is much more fun than riding in the blazing sun on the long, flat stretch to Hellshire   As usual the crazies rode back, but I and I not into dat.

Beautiful Bob Marley beach

Anyway it was great fun both days and the rasta men cooked some nice ital food. Saturday they shorted us a bit with the food but today we got more than enough. Barry created the excitement today when he lost his $50,000 tested, designer sun glasses. We spent a good while searching for it but  no luck. When a $5,000 reward was announced, a professional spear fisherman came with his snorkeling equipment and found it within 20 minutes.

Sunday was the real clincher though as we journeyed to Accompong Town in St. Elizabeth to reconnect with out ancestors. 

While some 50 of us traveled in a JUTC bus, another 25 or so went in a mini bus. Our driver was absolutely competent, pleasant and his music was fantastic as we were entertained by a wide selection of oldies to all the way.

On the way down we stopped at Jucci in Clarendon where Charles had pre-ordered breakfast. The camaraderie in the bus was great and it was smooth sailing until we almost reached Accompong where we encountered some really narrow roads which our big bus had some difficulty with. Desiree created some excitement as she looked over the deep inclines and got out of her seat thinking, I guess, that the bus might catapult down the side of the road. I was sitting on the hill side of the bus and did not see what was creating the problem, but on the return journey, I sat on that side and really didn't see any area that was particularly treacherous , but as they say, different strokes for different folks.

This  beautiful painting of Nanny of the Maroons is in the assembly hall.

When  we got to Accompong, they were ready for us and we got an interesting 10 minute presentation from the colonel, on the history and traditions of the Maroons. They are really well  set for tourism as there is an interesting museum there and an a number of explanatory plaques and statues.

The view from that plateau too is absolutely awesome and I can't recall ever seeing so many little, verdant, warm hills surrounding any one town anywhere else.

We set off for the hike to Cudjoe's grave site after our guide sprinkled white rum and wiped his face with some. (Cudjoe is the leader who led the western Maroons to victory in the fight against the British) .

Unfortunately it started to rain  as we set out and the soil there is extremely muddy so our hike, (despite the trail being shorter and less difficult than the Cuna Cuna trail of the Eastern Maroons) became quite treacherous . I slid and fell at least four times, I hear some lady got so stuck in the mud she had to be pulled out by others, then they rescued her shoes! 

Others less fit were bawling and complaining all the way but I think it was because they were ill prepared for the hike, most not even carrying the basic insect repellent although it was well known that we were going to the Cockpit country, but then that's why they are known as MTR for most never even carried water when they first tried to hike down to the bottom of Lovers leap some time ago!

The champion hiker was of course Penny who though about 7 months pregnant, declared at one point "isn't  this fun" and even offered to carry Verleta's bag as she observed that she was struggling! Stephan carried one child and the guide the other. That family is patterned off the Robinson Crusoe clan.

Crusoe himself with passenger! (A Terry Ann Miller photo)

I  thought it was great walking in the rain but we never got a chance to go to Cudjoe's burial site which is up a hill among the rocks, because of the rain and most people never made it to the "peace cave" which is the site where the British signed the peace treaty with the Maroons, giving them the land and self government as they just could not defeat them. And one could see clearly why the white man got what the duck got for there is no way they could have survived in those hills as the Maroons had the strategic advantage of being above them at all times and having many caves to hide in and ambush the enemy.

The way back was quite easy and when we returned they played the drums for us and did some traditional dances (after doing another ritual of pouring white rum on the floor and wiping their faces with it.) The food was absolutely wonderful too..... stewed pork, curried goat, run dung, fried chicken, rice and peas and lots of ground provisions.

 Part of the plan was to go back to  the Maggoty water fall and swim. From we were going past it however, I declared I was not swimming since it was the rainy season  and the river looked really  muddy. It seems everyone else had that thought for when it was said that it was too late for us to stop there, no one protested. Some of us wanted to hike down the hill anyway but were over ruled by the Ayatollah. Howie, Richard  Sharon and myself did start out on foot anyway but before we had covered two miles we were caught up by the buses and had to board.

The drive back was great, rum punch flowing from Bernadette's stash and I had already had my fill of Vodka and coconut water with Howie, Fatman etc. The absolutely wonderful selection of oldies that our driver brought along was competing with the loud chatting and laughter and a few snores but that made the journey even more interesting.

Can't wait for the next hike.

Christmas 2010

Christmas 2010 was one of my most memorable and enjoyable Christmases in recent memory, or more to the point, since my entire immediate family left for foreign shores.

 Before this year, I spent most of my chrismases having dinner with my late best friend Hilma Walker, who being a flight attendant, never failed to put on a big do whenever she was in Jamaica. After that we would head up to the Lynches for an afternoon of boozing and camaradie.

When she wasn't around, I usually spent the entire day with my close friend, Miss Rites and family (Lynches).This Christmas was very different and far healthier.

You know, although I have lived in Jamaica for 61 of my 64 years and have heard of carol singing at Christmas, I have never experienced it before either as a participant or as a member of the audience. 

You see, since crime climbed out of control, most people would not dare to continue that wonderful Christmas tradition.

 This year though,  I spent Christmas with my friend Audley and Marcia Nain and their daughters at their home in Lauristan, Spanish Town. 

When people hear of Spanish Town, they often conjure up images of violence, but I am here to tell you that I discovered with some degree of awe that Marcia and Audley do not lock up their home until they go to bed at night.

I digress however. 

Audley is the dynamic president of Lauristan Citizens Associastion and being a great singer himself ( his daughter Kim is a rising star with lots of music videos on Utube. Look out for her).

Audley defied the norm in the society and started up carol singing last Christmas in his community. 

This year we got up at 5 am (since it has been ultra cold this Christmas, I had on two sweaters) and set out with Audley on the bull horn, singing carols on top of his voice and waking up the neighbourhood wishing them Merry Christmas. We were slowly joined by other shivering members of the community until we got to the community Centre around 7am.

There they had a Christmas tree and huge pots were boiling away as some citizens were preparing breakfast. Others who did not like to wake up early brought food . After a small concert and the exchange of gifts pixie style I had the most delicious turned corn meal and barbecue pork with a slice of roasted breadfruit and mackerel. Had I been greedy, there was also yam, banana , ackee and satfish, callaloo and sandwiches. But being a small eater, I finished off with a couple cups of real country hot chocolate and some Christmas cake.

At around noon about nine of us went over to Juniors house to travel together to Aunt Nessa in Mandeville for Christmas dinner. Aunt Nessa is Audley's aunt who is returning resident living in a huge house in Mandeville. Junior is Audley's young brother and he is otherwise known as Bishop Rohan Edwards who has made quite a name for himself organising the 10 thousand man march against violence and other national activities. His son Jermain Edwards is a famous gospel artist who tours quite a lot and has made quite a name for himself in the gospel music world.

After a long wait we eventually set out just before 2 pm and reached aunt Nessa around 3pm. They had been waiting so long for us that it was straight into dinner, excellent food, then dominoes. I must say I have never beaten up a ' man of the cloth ' before but Junior and his partner, a guy from Boston, got two six loves. We got none. After a wonderful afternoon, Jermain who drives a Benz, had to return home on a wrecker for the benz had mechanical problems. We left later and returned to Spanish Town safely around 9pm.

On Sunday morning, I came over to Kingston after breakfast and did pass the indomitable Fun and Thrills riders at Ferry, as they had ridden over to Hellishire for breakfast and were just coming home.

 I relished my air condition and after shouting out to them and seeing them sweating away in the hot sun!

On Sunday afternoon I headed back to Spanish Town for a dominoe party and spent the night there. On Monday which was also a holiday, we resumed playing around 1pm.

 

I tell you it was an absolutely wonderful weekend and either I am becoming very good at dominoes or everyone else is regressing, for although I dropped two six loves over the period, I got none. Just one technical.

I am quite proud of myself actually!

Link; https://youtu.be/L3sgIci5ffs

NEW YEAR , NEW RESOLUTIONS.

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New year 2010 started out as usual with me getting up at 6am. We were supposed to ride to Bog Walk to a brunch. Start time I was told, 6.15am. So I headed out from home at about 6.15am, to meet the rest at the riders somewhere on the road.

It was a nice easy ride up Hope Road in the cool, crisp, morning air. Of course, Fun and Thrills members are never on time so I never saw any sign of them until I got to Liguenea. There they all were standing around as if they weren't going anywhere. Then I was told they were waiting for Michael who had gone to pick up some girl. Why wasn’t I surprised, after all, he is constantly replenishing his harem so why should New Year 2010 be any different? 

After a long wait I suggested that we start riding and they could catch up. No one agreed with me. A stark reminder of why I don’t join organizations as I hate to wait and besides the will of the majority is rarely my will. But it was a new year, so we waited and waited and waited.
Finally we got on our way, anticipating a wonderful ride through the scenic Bog Walk gorge then a delicious breakfast. The gorge did not disappoint as it was as beautiful, refreshing and cool as ever and not that much traffic was around.

Of course it wasn’t known specifically where we were actually going, for Charles, the confused was the organizer and whereas he had told me Bog Walk he had told others Linstead. It turned out that we went to neither place but instead rode past both to get to Charlemount.

At Charlemount we went into the wrong plaza, used the bathroom facilities and got up the hopes of a restaurateur that some 25 persons were going to patronize him for breakfast, before we were informed that we were in the wrong place. So what’s new?

We eventually found the right place, but guess what they had no plan to have food before 

1pm. So when we arrived at around 10am they were rushing to get us some breakfast. My annoyance only diminished when we were provided with a domino table. Spy and Fatman against Betty and me..

Long live woman power for after they got a straight 6 love, Spy took off only to be replaced by Winston. They got a straight 3 love (so Fatman got 9 love for the New year) before the blessed call that the food was ready saved the day. The mackerel tasted ok but was full of bones.

In the meantime, I learnt how coconuts were picked from tall trees without them all bursting. It’s simple really but I just did not know. What the climber does is to go up in the tree with a long rope and a knife. He then attaches the rope to the stem of the bunch of coconuts, cuts the stem and gently lowers the entire bunch to someone on the ground. 

Brilliant. The coconuts were great.

In the meantime, they had rushed some jerk chicken to supplement the breakfast, but it was awful. No seasoning.

After we returned to Kingston we had to start cooking for our Fun and Thrills Christmas party. Every one was assigned food or drinks to bring and would you believe they wanted me to cook curried goat? Curried goat is something I only cook after psyching up my mind for weeks before! So I did roasted chicken and I hear poor Winston Chin You had to spend about four hours seasoning the goat at the last minute.

The party was at Howie’s house and went very well. Ample food drinks and David did slide presentation of our past rides. It must have inspired many persons as on our Saturday ride 15 people turned up. Howie didn’t however. "Too much party last night.!"

On Saturday morning I left my home 6 am and arrived at the headquarters at 6.35am. Would you believe we did not start riding out until after 7 am? `Another day of waiting and waiting.

Then came the cass cass, another reminder of why I don't join organisations.

Apparently Charles had asked Michelle to organise the food as he was going to go to the children's home to get the kids organized to take them for a ride in Hope Gardens as we had promised at the Christmas party. Unfortunately, that plan was only communicated to a few persons and I certainly did not hear. When Charles and Chuck rode out I rode behind them. When we got to Papine I noticed that they did not go through the market but as I was heading to Annie’s to buy breakfast, I turned off. I was not at all curious about where Charles and Chuck were going as they often marched to their own drum beat, like the time they rode to Hellshire and then just jumped into the van and headed back to Kingston without saying anything to anyone. So I headed to Annie's to buy breakfast. The others arrived shortly after.

While we were there we were shocked to see Chuck riding into the plaza with the kids in tow, a most dangerous thing since we should not be taking the responsibility of carrying them on the road.

After we bought breakfast, Tara, Desiree, Patrick and I rode up to the children’s home and were told that the riders had not yet returned. We rode into Hope Gardens and saw Charles, Chuck and the kids riding around and joined them only to be met with a tirade from Charles about us not helping him with the kids.

Actually when the idea of taking the kids for rides on Saturdays came up, I figured a roster would have been drawn up setting out which group would do it each Saturday as I certainly could not see the sense in fifteen or sixteen adults taking five or six kids for a ride. This was not done hence the haphazard affair.

We, along with David rode around with the kids while Charles ranted, then they changed the route and we lost them so we headed to breakfast When he arrived for breakfast it was another round of ranting and raving about how no one had come to help he and Chuck with the kids. Eventually, they finally came to the realization that the thing had to be better organized, thus a roster was drawn up,

Shaggy is my favourite entertainer but when I got an invitation about midday to go to his wonderful concert, I declined for I really can't take crowds and the long lines. I guess I am happy to just listen to his music and admire him from afar. Anyway i had seen him on stage before and besides I wanted to wake up early for my Sunday morning ride.

Sunday morning I was up by 5.45 and rearing to go as we were scheduled to ride up to Jacks hill at 6.30 am. I hurried to get ready then I recalled my daughter asking me the day before what my new year's resolution was and telling her I had none.

So, I made one. 

I decided there and then that I would never rush again to meet fun and thrills riders as they have no respect for time. So I took my time and departed at 6.16am. It was cool and nice and since the designated meeting place was Widcombe, uphill all the way, I decided it would be a leisurely ride for me, ear plugs in, music playing and whatever time I got there would be fine with me. I only rode a little faster when I got to Bob Marley’s museum and saw a young man running behind me. I decided that no runner would overtake me, so I stepped on it and when he turned off, resumed my leisurely pace.

Got to the designated meeting place at 2 minutes to seven and saw no one so decided to ride up to Tavistock and head back home as that would have been enough exercise for one day. When I got to the stream in the road, I saw Jerry Maffood and he rode past me and said the others were coming behind him. When they caught up Michael claimed they were late because they had been waiting on me but that was obviously untrue since the meeting place should have been Widcombe, not his home and besides no one called to find out if I was on my way. Howie also came up with the same lame story but by then I had decided that I had outgrown Fun and Thrills.

When we got to the first rest stop, Mafood said he was going ahead and Chuck and I joined him. Chuck only rode a few yards before dismounting and saying g he was going to push is bicycle all the way up. When I told him that he would be breaking Alair's record he jumped back on.

By then Jerry had thundered ahead and I struggled to keep up with him. I finally saw him at the intersection of Jack's hill, road and Cherry Gardens. By then, riding at my own pace while enjoying some wonderful music through my earphones.(there is a great gospel DJ called DJ Nicholas, I must check out his stuff and download some). I decided that since it was a new year, I was going to resume riding by myself again, at my own pace, when I felt like, and spend more time enjoying some great music. I told him I was heading home for I had had enough uphill riding for one day and besides I was having people over for dinner and I would have enough time to do all I needed to and get some rest before they arrived.

The ride down was wonderful as the roads in Cherry Gardens are really smooth like Long \Mountain and it was downhill all the way. Got back at 8am.

Another great ride.

New Year’s resolutions;

No more waiting on anyone to go riding as will now be riding by myself when I feel like and go wherever I feel like.

No more Wednesday rides but will do Long Mountain and Beverley Hills on a Saturday morning and cut out Annie’s greasy breakfast. For although I love the salt fish fritters (which really have no salt fish!) they are full of oil and therefore do my high cholesterol no good.

Will continue riding with Fun and Thrills when they are going out of town to places I have never been or been to recently.