Accompong Town Jan 6 Celebration questions

Anyone been and can provide any insight? Specifically will it be easy and obvious to park the rental car, do we need to secure a place to sleep or just party thru the night or throw up an eno hammock somewhere safe, and looks like the best route from Negril is basically to YS and then up to Maggoty?? about 3 hours journey? Will the toyota Yaris rental car make it up to Accompong?. 2 adventurous dudes ready to explore. I have experience driving so not an issue.

Hoping Mr. Accompong (Bill?) is reading and can help. Thanks in advance for any guidance and insight.
We will be in Negril Friday night if any solos want to hook up for the ride. Not sure where we are staying yet maybe roots or Alfreds.

Happy New Year!

Personally, I think you are crazy attempting to go up those narrow winding mountain roads with a rental car. When I went I hired Linston, Cap D'S son, who is very experienced goin g
up there, it was still hairy....lol... and good luck if you to have car trouble .......P>S> Bring a cooler of ice, it is scarce up there !!!

I agree with jojo . I have no problem driving in Jamaica but this is a whole other driving skill . Winding narrow roads where if you meet another car one of you has to back up to find enough room to get by . I was nervous riding with a driver I trust . Not much room to park a car there and no place to stay. I would go early and go home at end of day . Not much shade and can get hot and yeah you will need ice .

Hi,

Don't try driving to Accompong Town. End of sentence. It ain't for the faint of heart

Hire someone if you really want to go.

I would recommend LInston LOL

Cap

Linston is great for sure but driving is all part of the adventure. Appreciate the concern and thanks for the tips. How do the roads compare to the one to Cascade from lucea? I was in a 12 passenger van and it was pretty tight there. Slow and easy

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Originally Posted by Chrispy

Linston is great for sure but driving is all part of the adventure. Appreciate the concern and thanks for the tips. How do the roads compare to the one to Cascade from lucea? I was in a 12 passenger van and it was pretty tight there. Slow and easy

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Cascade to lucea to the third power

Cap

Much Respect Cap!

Made that trip up and back. Amazing community! Thankful for an experienced local driver. I have driven/travelled some bad roads but the combination of narrow road, rocks sticking up in the road bed, rock face and sheer drop offs and blind corners on a road that barely is wide enough for one vehicle. As stated if you are unlucky enough to meet someone, one of you has to back up or down to be able to pass. Sorry I wouldn’t recommend it on your own. Thanks Linston!

Momthor, That was indeed a great day.....( Poor Linston ...''Linston, we need to find ice, we need to find ice .'')..lol

Chrispy, Take the advice from Jojo p, Momthor 3 and Captaind and do yourself a favor. Some of those roads are near impassable and help if you get stuck is few and far between. Save yourself a lot of angst and potential problems. Linston is the way to go!!

Dear wife and I visited Accompong a couple of years ago so she could learn the square drum. We met Mr. Huggins the "National Treasure Drum Builder", who is/was a lovely man who invited us into his home and gave us a tour of Accompong. Our driver was a local (to Accompong) man who was sure footed as a goat on the mountain roads, but was white knuckled in the traffic in Sav and Negril. We even got passed by a tour bus! LOL

It was a great day Jojo!!! He’s a very tolerant guy lol!!!

Okay, now I'm thoroughly curious to check this out. Did the road to Hana many years ago. But aside from the drive, it sounds interesting. Is the community open (welcoming) to visitors / tourists?

Mikey, absolutely, we were swarmed by the school kids, they do not see many tourists..... and everyone in town were welcoming. Very quiet, very different feel, very interesting to find out about the history !

If you are interested I have a number and email for a guy in Accompong who was our guide when we visited. He is a fountain of information and all around great guy. Private message me if you want

I'll speak with Linston after Wednesday.He's taking Accompong (boardie) to the airport and he has Marshall's phone number.

Check here on Thursday

Cap

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Originally Posted by captaind

I'll speak with Linston after Wednesday.He's taking Accompong (boardie) to the airport and he has Marshall's phone number.

Check here on Thursday

Cap

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I have been taking some much needed recuperation time since my Birthday on November 1st. A bad case of the flu on top of lingering health issues had me seek out a personal care assistant to basically do everything for me from daily massages, laundry and cooking my meals. I can happily say that I am going home a much healthier man than when I landed in October.

Now, about Accompong Town. I have been traversing the road from Maggotty to Accompong Town for over 20 years in all types of vehicles and fully agree with the assessment that having an experienced driver is not only prudent but essential to your safe trip. I personally know 3 people who died on that road and several more seriously injured. It would be not a good way to end an otherwise great vacation.

I have been living on and off for almost 20 years in Accompong Town with my best friend "Marshall" and he an Linston are good friends. Everybody always knows somebody that was a great guy and maybe they will be great with you too but you can't always count on that either. Accompong Town can sometimes be only be about the money and how much they can get you to spend there. The good thing about Marshall is that he can go around some of that and get you a special tour with a competent guide at nearly half the tourist rate.

I go home in another day and plan to work further on my health hoping to return next year for the January 6 Celebration of 2019.

Peace and Guidance

Marshall is the great guy I speak of. He truly is a knowledgeable guide I was very curious about the history and had done some reading but he answered all my questions and took us on a walk about Was a wonderful day!

Feel better soon Bill!

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Originally Posted by Momthor3

Marshall is the great guy I speak of. He truly is a knowledgeable guide I was very curious about the history and had done some reading but he answered all my questions and took us on a walk about Was a wonderful day!

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I thought it might have been Marshall but the email address threw me a little as he is not connected to the computer in any way. Marshall is a farmer by trade and inclination and only gets into the tourist thing mostly as a favor to his friends. Any day he spends giving history tours takes away from work in the fields. He is a little hard to get a hold of as cell phone connections are spotty in the Cockpits and he mostly looks upon his phone as a necessary evil to stay in touch with his close friends and family. Getting phone calls from strangers is an annoyance to him but he is also a people-pleaser and can't help the urge to do what he can.

Please don't give out his personal phone number (if you have it) to people who are looking to shop around and take up his time. If the number you have is 262-6538, be advised that this number is no longer valid as the chip expired in my phone and that was the phone he was keeping for me.

If you are his friend, by all means, call him yourself. If you are looking for a tour around Accompong Town, by all means, contact one of his friends like Linston to arrange it for you.

Marshall is my best friend in the world (full stop) for more than 20 years and sometimes I actually regret pulling him into the social media world.

Momthor3. I am glad you had a great experience with Marshall and most everyone who meets him feel he is a special person. I am sure you can see I am a little overprotective of him but he would be more than happy if his phone never rang again.

Peace and Guidance

Hope Jamaica has revived you Bill!! Yes that was the number on the card he gave me. Thank you for letting me know.

Hello All,

So I did make the drive to Accompong despite the warnings, which only inspired me more!! But I live in Appalachia and the roads i drive on every day are very similar but are dirt here and paved there which was much nicer really. BUT I agree it is not for teh faint of heart or inexperienced. I am not trying to be a Jamaica expert but good safe driving is everywhere.
So my quick trip itinerary was land friday in MoBay at 10:30 AM, get the car and onto rainy and stormy Negril. Luciano Friday night at Roots Bamboo, Sat morning drive to Belmont and hook up with Bigga at Shades guest house for a room that night. Drive 2 more hours to Accompong light rain but cool. Picked up a nice jamaican woman going to Festival as well in Maggoty and head straight up. Not intimidated as like I said i drive on curvy one lane mountain roads everyday but slow going for sure. For some reason they sent me all the way to the top to park at the school instead of making the turn down and parking on street like everyone else. Parked beside some super nice maroon family that had traveled in and cruised around. It was super muddy and tour buses were coming up there and getting stuck so thought we might be there for the night, which was fine. Well finally the tour buses got pushed out and we were able to get about around 5 pm. Was there from about Noon on and ate so much good food, played some street games but didn't win??!!, saw the parade, drank some cane juice and a few guiness, watched the dancing and heard some speakers. Awesome place and view even on dreary day. Drove back to Belmont and ate at Dor's awesome fried chicken, then a big party on beach that night in Belmont. Whew woke up feeling rough but Gwen cook up a nice breakfast and coffee then off to Mayfield falls.
Likkle more later if anyone cares

My 3rd time to Mayfield, the place is incredible. The guides are really cool and laid back, at least the 3 I have had, Lester, Dennis , and Andy. This time Dennis took us on another hike after the falls to a place next door that was beautiful. campcabarita.com. Will def stay here at some point in the future.
Back to Negril Sunday late afternoon and got a room at Barry's for $50 a night. Dinner at Sips and Bites and early night to bed actually. Raining and easy to sleep to the fan. I usually stya on West end but since I had a new with me I thought the beach would have more action for him.
Monday finally a nice sunny beach day. it was the first trip for my buddy so was glad he got to see what the beach was really like. First day we were there the waves were huge and crashing in. No one in di sea. So much water and sea weed washed up by Sunshine plaza that traffic in both directions was driving on the side walk to get thru to west end. Anyway nice breakfast at Coconuts on beach, best mushroom guy, and just chilled for the day drinking cold Guiness and watching it all go by. Hit favorites Yellow Bird for 2 for 1 drinks later and late lunch at the cook shop beside Drifters. Party at Bourbon beach Monday night but rain came in so we just chilled at Barry's mostly. Tuesday is flying home day so cleaned up the car, went for last swim then Juicy Js for patty's and stew chicken and curry for 400J! My new go to cheap box food spot. Awesome guys trip. The weather was the worst in all my trips but since hanging on beach or cliffs wasn't our main mission it really worked out well. It was cool and breezy so never felt hot and easy to sleep wiyhjout AC. The trip to Accompong has been on my list for a while so glad to do that. The wife would not have been so open to adventure.
If you haven't been down to Bluefields bay beach or Belmont I would highly encourage. Both have nice beach area. Bluefields has some folks working you but Belmont is pretty empty but great water and some cool places. Check out Luna Sea for a higher end destination in Belmont.
Oh forgot that we accidentally went thru the Sav market on Saturday, I seem to always make a wrong turn thru Sav. It was cool to see all the cars with their goods. I usually hit the Lucea market when staying at a place with a kitchen, everyting you need there fro sure including some of the best honey I have ever had.
Rambling now but back to airport for 3 PM flight all good. Happy to answer any questions as I have used this board for years to get new ideas for different activities and places to go and eat. I am pretty cheap so I love finding a bargain. Constantly amazed at the difference in pricing in Negril, but makes the bargain hunt so much fun.
Back in May with a whole crew so will have the 12 passenger van again woohoo!

Chrispy, glad you made it in one piece. You never know what you get for a rental car so sounds like everything worked out well for you. One of your visits you should check out the east end of the island and the Blue Mountains. If you think your ride was interesting you gotta see the roads over there in the high mountains. Really scary!! I read yesterday that a van heading up to Hardware Gap in Portland almost got wiped out from a mud slide that would have done them in if it weren't for the driver.

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Great reporting, thanks man! Photos would be awesome, especially of the drive and the Accompong Town.