From the Blog: Great Houses, Great Hikes

[rastagirl777]

My introduction to “da bush” came with a phone call from our friend Rusty one morning many years ago. At that time he was the founder and organizer of the Negril Fat Tyre Festival, a week-long mountain biking event held every year at the beginning of February.

Our help was requested in marking the trail for both the cross-country and downhill races. The cross-country race started at the Good Hope Athletic Field and wound through the surrounding bush in a loop, a race course that totaled five miles. So we walked those five miles; Rusty with his machete, chopping his way through cow and goat trails marking the turns as we went along.

Deep in the bush you’ll find cows and goats – even pigs. We found them as we walked the prospective bike trail and the riders will find them as they executed their bikes over the rock, rubble and tree stumps. Farm animals are not the only things you’ll come across in the bush.
At one point we looked up and saw smoke. Alarmed at first, Rusty calmed our nerves and explained that we were near the “charcoal guys”. As we approached we found several men feeding branches into a fire, making charcoal. At that time you could call these guys, place your order and have charcoal for your barbecue delivered right to your door from the bush.

In another clearing we came upon THE trash pile. Not litter – trash. This appeared to be the place where old household appliances came to die. The remains of old washing machines, clothes dryers, refrigerators and stoves surrounded us. We made some good use of it. We collaborated on an art piece that resembled the skeleton of an ATV, honoring the “bike” tradition. Rusty made a structure to try to fend off the cows from the trail – he dubbed it a “Scare Cow”.