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dan and sheila jamaica 2014 a trip report why i go (/showthread.php?tid=72134)Re: dan and sheila jamaica 2014 a trip report why - RGondaRoad - 03-05-2014
<P>I'm replying over here because I'm having trouble over there...<P>We did the Buff Bay to Kingston ride over the Blue Mountains this winter - on a motorcycle!!!! What a trip - like Daniel said, switchback after switchback, road barely existent in some spots, in some spots it actually had moss growing on it - hardly any guard rails and 20-30% grades up and down. Here's the thing...the scenery and views are A-MAY-ZING. Such a thrill...but its officially in the "been there done that" drawer now, lol!<P>Robbins Bay - Strawberry Hill in particular are on a list of Jamaica road-trip bucket list. I have friends who do a bike festival there every year, good hook ups for cool people to meet and show us around in the area. Maybe next winter...hmmmm?
RE: dan and sheila jamaica 2014 a trip report why i go - daniel - 03-05-2014
We finally reach Section It took about two hours. I got out to stretch and call the caretaker David. No cell service.We already had some new friends. Offers of coffee and weed .someone offered a quart of raspberries which I wish i had purchased,or, at least taken a picture of ... so neat looking. not unlike ours , but not like them either...more pink and fuzzy. I was willing to buy herb, but all to be had was a dollar bag.i paid 200. Off to find Silver Hill, with a few directions from the reservation,and little else.we soon passed the starlight chalet. directions said a landmark was a large stone wall. stay right and keep going to the top.What beauty. I had no Idea I would be so in awe !
ok right here i guess
it keeps going
and going
and going
almost heaven
OMG how blessed
RE: dan and sheila jamaica 2014 a trip report why i go - daniel - 03-06-2014
Caretaker David and housekeeper Pat live on site. They showed us around,and helped unload the car. Pat would do our cooking. We were just blown away by the views in every direction. Inside, the house is filled with antique furniture and a thousand nick- knacks .The place was spotless. no dust .no cobwebs. we were delighted to stroll about the many levels of terraced lawns, and check out all the seating areas. The flowering plants and trees were everywhere. This place is truly special, and i can't recommend it high enough.The views are constantly changing, from the clouds and sun.
full moon
RE: dan and sheila jamaica 2014 a trip report why i go - daniel - 03-06-2014
Silver Hill is a working coffee plantation. Also growing several types of oranges,grapefruit,limes,peaches,pears(not avocado, real pears). And flowers everywhere.Wish I knew more about plants. I am told the best time of year to visit would be late May or early June,as most everything is in bloom.It would be worth a special trip here alone.
breakfast
Re: dan and sheila jamaica 2014 a trip report why - daniel - 03-07-2014
<P>I had visions of hiking about, and swimming in mountain streams,before getting here. did not happen. I started up the ridge behind the house the first morning,only to quit 3/4s of the way up. It was nice , but it got hot,I got winded,and couldn't really see the point.The view really wasn't gonna get better. I asked one of the guys working around the property,Kevin, about a local swimming hole He spoke of one, but later,Pat, discouraged me from going, saying it wasn't that nice,water not all that clean. David and Pat have wonderful personalities ,and of course knowledge about the property and area. Next time, a hired driver(David will do this) to take a ride to Cinchona. Our rental Yaris went great everywhere I tried to take it, but a 4 wheel drive is must to really get around here. So I actually sat down and did a little reading. Great old Library in the house . Silver Hill gets its water from the springs at Catherine Peak.Free. So water was, freely running. there were hoses, and pipes way up the hillside.Pat ,is a good cook. She seemed glad to work for us.(I'm sure it was as much about, stranger in my kitchen, as the money). She supplemented the basic fish ,chicken,irish, ect. we had carried, with fresh from the garden veggies and herbs There was a large pitcher of fresh squeezed oj in the fridge all the time..The house was well equipped with spices and condiments. It did get cool at night,not cold. We used the comforter and slept great...in a double,no less. This was a bucket list item , problem is I can't cross it off,it only created the desire to go back...<BR><a href="http://www.almosthaven.com/" target="_blank">http://www.almosthaven.com/</A> A must do.<BR><img class="refimg" src="http://i77.photobucket.com/albums/j65/dcyr/jamaica%202014%20why%20we%20go/P1000492_zps53ee796f.jpg" border="0" alt="">
RE: dan and sheila jamaica 2014 a trip report why i go - daniel - 03-08-2014
We left Silver Hill , hoping some day we can return. When I made a left at the junction at Section,Sheila spoke up"your going the wrong way".
I thought we would see Kingston, I said jokingly.She wasn't keen on it,neither of us are city people . The ride through the Blue mountain forest was nice .We stopped and bought coffee at Twyman's , and checked out Hollywell. It was interesting to see the difference in the trees and plants, and how they changed . I did not care for the dry hills around Town.
RE: dan and sheila jamaica 2014 a trip report why i go - daniel - 03-08-2014
I explained our different options driving down from the mountains. Neither one of us really felt like sightseeing. So east we head, leaving Kingston in the rear view mirror . Somewhere around Port Morant we stopped and had a great lunch on the sea. I asked for the phone/note book from Sheila. A small memo book that holds 10 years of contact numbers from Jamaica.(most no longer valid,LOL). Hi,got a room,great !!I'll see you in an hour...Surprise we are going to Bath Fountains. Back on the phone Hi, Rasta Steve????, Great! see you in an hour!!! Jamaica so easy!
RE: dan and sheila jamaica 2014 a trip report why i go - daniel - 03-08-2014
Bath Fountain had long been on my bucket list. I knew if I ever made it there I wanted the whole deal. I had read the reviews, the hassles with the hustle. The last words Steven said on the phone was don't stop for dem pon di road! not that I would of, but sure enough, I knew we were getting close when people started trying to get me to stop. We pulled into the parking lot.Rasta Steve came walking up.We arranged to meet in 20 minutes.We checked in.Took a first floor room. ordered dinner.We met Rasta Steve and Sister Beverly,and took the walk out back . We were alone for most of our massage treatment.In talking later Sheila and I discovered that the treatment we received, concentrated on the areas we needed the most. different for both of us. never communicated. Steve and Beverly just knew. The pimento oil massage and mud scrub were fabulous. the setting magical. The hot mineral water soothing.The cold river water refreshing.We both loved it.
RE: dan and sheila jamaica 2014 a trip report why i go - daniel - 03-09-2014
Dinner was delivered to our room at 545. We both had shrimp.We ate out on the balcony.shrimp was tough.overpriced. At 6 all the staff left.We were told the baths would be left unlocked,and we were free to use them. We enjoyed the evening .Drinks on the veranda.Two short soaks , 10/15 minutes in the tubs. A smoke and a beer with security. In the morning ,I looked at Sheila...She looked 30 years younger. No stress lines, no wrinkles. She wants to go back. I would do this again.
Sister Beverly
RE: dan and sheila jamaica 2014 a trip report why i go - jitterbug - 03-09-2014
dan, what a treat! . . . it's like re-living some of my trips . . . thank you so much for posting . . .
hiliarious tid-bit about your dentures . . .