My Return to Jamaica a 3-month homecoming

[JitterBug]

thanks captain . . . pls send my greetings to linston. that was the most fun day with a driver ever!!

[Accompong]

October 22nd – Trip to Accompong Town

Linston is a lot like me when it comes to time. I am usually always early and waiting or exactly on time. I try never to keep anyone waiting and so it was this morning. Both Linston and I were early so we packed the car and headed to BarBBarn. The car was neat, clean and shiny and Linston put a cooler in the trunk at my request which would be needed when we stopped to see our friend Monday who sells fish at the Savanna La Mar market. We were our way to see my good, longtime friend called Jitterbug and her traveling companion.

Jitterbug and I met in Port Maria some 10 years or so ago when we shared a guest house over New Years. I often think back to a particular day we spent playing dominoes and drinking rum on Pagee Beach with some locals and New Year’s Eve on a cliff overlooking Cabarita Island. We always seem to miss each other as we were in Jamaica at different times, opposite ends of the island or had previous plans so I was delighted that she and her friend would be joining us for the trip. I called her the night before and we agreed on a time. She is a real traveler so I knew she too would be waiting.

Another thing about Jitterbug is that she is a leader and not much of a follower just like I am so she was understandably unsettled by my choice of a driver she didn’t know and the cost for the trip not confirmed but we settled the cost part right away and it didn’t take too long before she was expressing her happiness on Linston’s driving as we were off to Sav.

Monday and I have been friends for sometime as well so I was looking forward to seeing him again. I was surprised when I talked to Linston about buying some fish and he recommended his friend Monday to me. Now I knew for sure that this was a great choice. Monday has a stall right on the ocean at the foot of St. Georges Street next to where some fishing boats come in. I almost didn’t recognize him without his dreadlocks as he was clean shaven bald. I picked out about 10 pounds of butterfish and goat fish and had them cleaned and cut into steaks while Monday and I talked about old times and what had happened in our lives since we last saw each other. Task completed and paid, we were off to Accompong Town.

Likkle more soon come.

Peace and Guidance

[JitterBug]

hey bill, we met in 1999! 16 years ago . . . how time flies . . .

[Accompong]

Jitterbug... after 10 years back I have limited memory. You can only administer abuse to your brain cells for so many years and then they just shut down like an overworked donkey!

continuing....
We pulled out of Sav in high spirits after sharing a few laughs over fire trucks in a station and no hydrants to connect to if a fire should start and the other three were eating fresh coco bread from a local store. The ladies were settling in for the ride after gaining confidence in Linston’s driving. The only thing on my mind was my impending homecoming and spending the night in my own bed in my own bedroom.

At Ferris Cross the road was new without potholes all the way past Whitehouse making for a smooth ride. Around Belmont we took a brief break to imbibe in herbal supplements to properly align the mind in synchronization to the smooth road. Mission accomplished and we were nearly half way to our destination.

Middle Quarters, Holland Bamboo and finally Tombstone at Lacovia where we turned North towards Maggotty and then Accompong Town. We were now in my neighborhood travelling through Haughton and Newton. I am getting more excited by the minute.

At the roundabout outside of Maggotty where the back road to Montego Bay branches from the road to Appleton, we saw the first Accompong sign. Jitterbug asked, “How much further now, Bill?” and I said about maybe 10 miles or so. Of course, over those 10 miles we have to climb about 3000’ so the roads become steep, curvy, pot hole ridden and narrow with drop offs right from the edge of the road some 1000’ straight down. Maybe I should have added that but I didn’t.

We reached a shortcut at Tranail Road where the road suddenly started a steep climb with cutouts in the road for water to go across. When Linston went over some, the underside of the car would scrape. Linston and I laughed when he said his mechanic asked why the bottom of his car was so clean. Now we know why. Jitterbug was not so amused and it was then that I sensed she was a little uncomfortable but we pressed on scraping several more times and meeting a vehicle or two where only inches were the clearance between the vehicles and sometimes the edge of the road. We were still only about half way there.

Steep walls on our left and drop offs of 1000 feet or more made for beautiful scenery but uncomfortable for some people. We entered the small village of White Hall and Jitterbug asked Linston to stop because she didn’t want to go further. She would have been more comfortable driving but even then she indicated that she would have probably have turned around some miles back. Linston was reluctant to leave her there but I knew (and Jitterbug agreed) that she would be just fine there in that Maroon community where I have many friends to await Linston’s return.

Some sharp turns, switchbacks and steep inclines later we entered Accompong Town. A couple of residents tried to get us to pull over and register as visitors until they saw me and said welcome home. Through the village we continued with friends waving a greeting until we pulled up in front of our house where Marshall was waiting on the verandah.

The house had been completely tiled since my last time home and I just couldn’t help admiring how good it looked as Marshall greeted Jitterbug’s friend and Linston who he already knew from last year. I could see that Linston and Jitterbug’s friend were anxious to pick her up so we said our goodbyes and they were back down the hill.

I was home where I belonged and I instantly felt that old familiar feeling that I was missing in my life. Marshall cooked some pumpkin rice with ackee and a piece of fish. Ahhh… Could life be any better?

Thank you for reading. I will post a couple of short pieces later when I get to November 10 and the Mystic Bowie concert at 3 Dives and a stop before I leave Jamaica for South Florida next year. I will also post a link to the continuing story at Living In Jamaica when I get to that point.

Peace and Guidance

[Vince]

The ride up the mountain sounds like a blast to me!!!- Kinda felt like I was there with ya. lol Thanks again!

[TAH]

Good stuff, thanks for posting.

[Accompong]

Testing my connection for uploading pictures. Here is a picture taken about an hour ago when the CIB (coffee industry board) came to town with tools for the coffee farmers. Maybe more to come if this works.

Peace and Guidance

[sonja]

i love all your stories and adventures and will be looking forward to reading daily.. i have wanted to go to Accompong Town for years.. the ride sounds a little harrowing for this 60+ year old, but i know i could make it part of the fun.. thanks for sharing.

[Islander]

I just LOVE reading your stories, thanks so very much for them!!

Peace & Respect

[Momthor3]

Looking forward to Feb. now even more!!!!Jojo said Linston will get us there!!!