Feb 2015 Trip Report 2/6-2/14

[Jaherring]

Loving your report and photos!!! You have my attention and you are doing a great report!! Thanks for sharing!

[never2many]

I've tried to upload a few videos from today but I think my low speed connection out here in the boonies isn't allowing it to work properly so I'll try tomorrow from work. Does anyone else spend hours at work day dreaming on this forum as much as me?

We stayed low key and played some guitar on our porch at Pure Garden and even got a standing ovation from our neighbors for our version of "what's up" by the four non blondes. Mr. T says that song was pretty popular in JA at one time. Who knew. Tomorrow is going to be a long day, with a trip to Roaring River, the cave, Sav and Just Natural.

[never2many]

Day 5

We got up and made some omelettes with fresh veggies and a side of fruit and toast and hired a driver to take us to Roaring River for $25. It really helped having Mr. T with us because he was a pro at negotiating some great driver fees the entire trip. The driver that we hired could DRIVE. And fast. He had some major skill. Only draw back was we were listening to some kind of talk radio that came through like static on his speakers. It was annoying for 2 hours. Here's some photo's I took from the car on the way there. Driver said that this is where they grow the sugar cane for the rum factories and that Chinese companies own all to processing plants.

[never2many]

[never2many]

[never2many]

We arrived in Petersfield, the town the Roaring River and the Cave is in. The Roaring River Citizens Association maintains the property. I learned that Petersfield is one of the oldest townships on the Island, dating back to the 17th Century. Peter Beckford was the owner of Roaring River Estate and one of the wealthiest people in the West Indies at the time. Petersfield was named after him.

[never2many]

Mr. T expressed to me how spiritual this area made him feel. He said that the caves contain escape routes that were used by slaves to escape their owners and that they extend for miles. I've tried to find some history on this and haven't been very successful but perhaps someone on this board can steer me in the right direction.

[never2many]

One of the guides told me that many of the people that reside in this town are employees of the Frome Sugar Factory.

[never2many]

Here are some of the pictures entering the Roaring River area. It all seemed to be abandoned but maybe there is more activity on the weekends. Apparently several tour buses visit the area. I had asked a local there about a series of little buildings and he said they used to house a craft market. I feel like this area may have had it going on at one time from a tourism standpoint but it did seem there was a big lack of maintenance in the area when I visited (particularity in the Cave area).

[Bluez]

This is a great trip report, I'm really enjoying it.