Murph's Trip Report

[murph]

Good morning Jamaica! Another early rise and the waves are still choppy. Wifey got me some new snorkel gear so I really want to get out there... But whatevs... So "what do you want to do?" wifey asks... I just felt like getting into the hills- so off the cuff, "Mayfield! Lets call...Chicken!" We met him by chance last trip hailing him roadside coming back from Rhodes Hall and I kept his card- as he is a legend! So I call and "no problem, I have nothing to do today." Perfect! I tell him to meet us at canoe... Im moving real slow today and need java. We stroll down to canoe n get some of that sweet sweet French press n some Jamaican breakfast.

Chicken pulls up and whoa whoa whoa... A thousand Negril.com warning posts run through my head... "Never get in a white plate vehicle". Chickens picking us up in a white plate? I ask him bout it. whattagwan? He explains how the roads are bad, he prefers this ride- a nice Toyota 4 wheel drive suv. I know he has a red plate bus as well as a red plate lil car...and if he says the roads are bad I gotta trust... So we're off. First stop was the pharmacy. Wifey got nomped on by the sand fleas back at seasplash, she got a pill and I think it did help.

Man that road to Mayfield is awesome, what a great drive! I love being in the country- seeing the looks on the little pickney- it's priceless. "whitey!!!" they scream. Especially the looks on the real little ones OO they're eyes light up... They're little mouths drop- I love each of them. We stop at random shacks for stripes and each is it's own little story. I love these roadside huts. They were so surprised (or more confused) when I would toss them a hundred J. Hey where I come from- you open a beer for me- and thats a tip worthy gesture, every time. I love those windy roads with open views and steep drop offs. Chicken navigated them perfectly- this ain't his first rodeo. On the way we stop for a quick photo at The Great House. Here's a great shot of Chicken... Well his finger anyway! Hahaha I then instruct him to move his finger!





We arrive at Mayfield Falls. We pass the first sign for Mayfield Falls and head to the second. Chicken says the first one- the river is harder to walk. Has anyone been at both, just wondering? We grab a stripe by the road and head down to the bar area. Say hello to everyone, pay our entry fee and meet Sheldon our guide. He takes us down to a little bamboo hut to chill and regroup before the river walk. He has a waterproof bag for our stuff and we're off. The first glimpse of the river I'm just in awe...



The way the sun hits it and it shines bright blue. I'm so happy we thought of coming up here. Our first water hole, Sheldon instructs us to jump! He was so good pointing out every rock and every step of the way. A photographer followed us up and took a bunch of sweet shots.











What a great time we had at Mayfield. On the way back we start getting a little hungry, Chickens knows a good spot in Sav, it's in a plaza and is called Kim's. I got the fried chicken and it was awesome... And it was 350 for the large! Chicken got the fried fish- it looked so good, next time I'm getting that. Chicken dropped us off back home and we say our goodbyes. Long day, the entire trip taking 7 hours.

We relax a bit and eventually head out the gate and bang a right. This time we actually did have a destination in mind... Choi Jamaica. I had the chicken picotta and it was heaven. I love ch. picotta and have such a hard time a place that makes a good one.

I was still glowing from our trip to the hills and then this meal... I was one happy guy.