My Return to Jamaica a 3-month homecoming

[Accompong]

that road was something else . . . at one point, as we came to pass another car, we had to back up to accommodate the passing car . . . the scenery was stunning though, when i was brave enough to look . . . was feeling pretty anxious and had to get out! . . . it was a blast, the whole trip!!

Jitterbug, Nuff Respect mi fren! I know how you felt. I remember my first trip in 1988. I was terrified but couldn't show it as I was already the object of everyone's attention as it was. Here is a link to a story about my first visit http://www.negril.com/discus/message...tml?1281835874 Perhaps you will give it another try some day. Would love to have you visit here for a few days.

Peace and Guidance

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.

sonja, I turned 68 this past November and I can assure you that just like in life, it is not about the destination it's about the trip to get to the end. I think you will enjoy the experience.

Peace and Guidance

[jojo p]

'' It's not the destination but the journey""....Joy is found not in finishing an activity, but in doing it !!! As long as you don't mind me screaming a little...Momthor!!! lol.....

[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

[Jamakafun]

Enjoy, you have the knack for writing. You had my suspense traveling up that mountain road. Don't know that I would make it that high up. Your home is the reward.

[EdmontonGuy]

Wow, sure glad I popped by today and read this...great storyteller . More please!!.

[justchuck]

Always enjoy reading tales of your travels.

[Babalew]

funny i don't remember that road being scary maybe because it was nighttime. might of been frightened if i could see it!

[Accompong]

November 10th – Trip to Negril for show at 3-Dives

With all the craziness here at our house with touch up rendering, painting and, of course, tending about a 20 acre farm with workers leaves little time for anything else. One date has been circled on my calendar since I arrived in mid-October; November 10th at 3-Dives.

My good friend and across the gully neighbor, Mystic Bowie, was headlining a show with a number of guest artists like Ras Noble, Mark Irie and a few I was not familiar with backed up by the 3-Dives Band. I had never experienced a Mystic Bowie concert but have heard him sing many times on the road in front of our neighborhood store.

Mystic Bowie is a rare individual with loads of talent, humility and a staunch supporter of the youth in our community. He and his foundation have recently completed a brand new library with 14 hi speed broadband computers fully stocked with thousands of books next to the basic school. His goal is to make the children of Accompong Town the best educated children in Jamaica. A lofty goal but if anyone can achieve it, Mystic can.

We wanted to get an early start so Marshall and I had our friend and driver Peckish pick us up at 7:00am as we needed to stop in Belmont and to get more fish from Monday in Sav. Traveling with Peckish and Marshall is a whole experience in itself. Peckish loves the music with plenty of BASS until it sounds like being inside a drum while he and Marshall try to carry on a conversation in rapid-fire patois. My senses are constantly on overload waiting for one of them to say, “ya overstand, Bill?” to which I just nod and say “yah mon” and maybe add something if I really do understand what they are saying.

We were looking for someone in Belmont that Marshall knew from many years ago in Kingston. We had a first name and little else to go on except that he was Peter Tosh’s cousin but then at least 2 out of every 3 people in Belmont claim that relationship. It always amazes me that with so little to go on only a couple of brief shout outs put us right on his yard. Business concluded, we were off to Sav. Monday was at his stall but he only had some larger butterfish which we bought 9 pounds cleaned and cut into 4 pieces each to take to Negril to refrigerate while we were in town.

Negril soon come!

Peace and Guidance

[Accompong]

Sorry, forgot to add a pic of the library and the new computers.

Peace and Guidance

[Accompong]

While looking around, I saw Rob and Lisa coming into the eating area and after greeting each other they sat down with us at the table. I have known them for several years but I never had the opportunity to chat with Lisa for any length of time. Sometimes I find it a fault of mine that I talk with a couple I tend to focus one-on-one with one person and often exclude the other in my conversations. I kind of feel I did that with them talking almost always exclusively with Rob and not including Lisa. After an hour or so chatting with Lisa I began to realize that I enjoyed my time so much that I regret not doing so earlier. She is such a smart, witty and engaging person. Big Up Lisa.

Then, of course, up walked CaptD. I had never met him in person but we have chatted several times by phone and emailed each other a few times. I could best describe him as Hemmingway-ish without the beard. He obviously loves to have a good time and I think he did that night. I am sure he and I will be spending more time together in the future. He told me Linston was working and would arrive later and about that time Linston appeared.

To me, the whole atmosphere was both electric and a little surreal. Surrounded by so many good friends at a beautiful spot like 3-Dives and added to that good music. About when I thought it couldn’t get better, it did. A mini bus pulled in and nearly 30 of my friends and neighbors from Accompong Town joined the festivities. Now I really felt at home.

This group was the Maroon Cultural Group along with a few helpers and Garfield Rowe the Principal at the Accompong Basic School. The group consists mainly of students and recent graduates of the basic school as dancers and drummers. They came as guests of Mystic Bowie and although they were not hired to perform, they told Mystic that they wanted to perform anyways.

Sound check over; it was time for the show to begin. One after another, marquee stars like Mark Irie and others along with some of Mystic’s friends took the stage to perform but I came to see and hear Mystic Bowie so when it was time for him to take the stage, I was delighted.

I play Mystic Bowie’s albums like “Neva Kiss and Tell” all the time on my home stereo so what really amazed me was his vast repertoire of tunes made popular by artists such as Freddie McGreggor, Barrington Levy and Dennis Brown just to name a few. Hit after hit from other artists interspersed with some of his hits like “Itty Bitty House” and “Mama” all more than adequately backed by the 3-Dives Band.

The show had to finish by midnight in respect for the hotels in the area so they took a brief break before the final set. Mystic Bowie stayed at the microphone to address the crowd. He told the assembled that he was a Maroon by heritage and gave a brief history lesson on just who the Maroons were and what they did to gain a Peace Treaty with the English in 1739. He declared his pride on being a Maroon and then went on to introduce the Maroon Cultural Group.

He told the crowd that they wanted to play for them and that any donation to give the performers would be deeply appreciated. Some hats were passed around and some money was collected for the group as they put on a long drumming, singing and dancing exhibition. I was very proud of my friends and neighbors at that moment.

A full night of wonderful music was over as the clock struck midnight. We had our fish from Penny’s refrigerator and hit the road for Accompong Town. It was nearly 3:30am when I finally hit the pillow but I couldn’t go right to sleep as I was still smiling from my wonderful day and night in Negril.

Peace and Guidance