Saturday, May 22, 2010 - Port Antonio, Jamaica

At 10 am we were at the marina office awaiting our ride to the Rio Grande for our “must do” rafting excursion on the river. Albert, who was recommended to us by George, the dockmaster, arrived with his van and a driver to take us up the mountain to his raft. The skies were overcast and the temperature in the mid 80’s – a very pleasant start for the day.

The ride up the mountain was an adventure in itself! In Jamaica, the cars drive on the left side of the road – add to that a very narrow and curvy mountain road with homes and businesses only a few feet away, people, bicycles, goats, dogs and parked








cars on the edges of the road and oncoming traffic driving fast! We were all very glad we wouldn’t have to make that trek again. At the launching site, we were directed to the stairs that would take us down to the river and the raft. Some of us were feeling a little nervous and a bit vulnerable as we looked around; but it wasn’t long before we oriented ourselves to how the excursion was to work. We waited a few minutes for the second raft and its captain to arrive. In the meantime, we took a few pictures as a light rain began to fall.

Gale, Maureen and Jim were seated on Albert’s raft while Mark and Diane rode with Reed on his raft. Even though it rained the entire time, it was a warm rain and we loved the leisurely trip down the river. The scenery was spectacular with the high bluffs, lush rain forest and clean water. The only wilidlife we saw were a few shore birds. The river was very shallow – sometimes only 3 or 4 inches deep – exactly what the rafts were built for. Each raft was made of several 20-foot lengths of bamboo with a bamboo chair big enough for two people. Albert’s raft even had two cupholders!

After more than an hour into our ride, Albert and Reed beached the rafts and encouraged us to go to shore. We found two ladies cooking up a wonderful riverside Jamaican lunch. We enjoyed chicken, crayfish, dumplings, rice and beans, bok choy and roasted breadfruit with the local beer, Red Stripe, for a beverage or soda in 7 ounce bottles. If a visitor was looking for a little something to smoke after lunch, the local “tobacco” was also available. One of the ladies had Jamaican made crafts for sale and we picked up a few of her items as souvenirs including necklaces, a set of coasters and wooden mortar and pestles.

After lunch, we hopped back on the rafts and Albert and Reed took us down river another hour or so before they dropped us off at the end of the line where our driver was waiting to take us back to town.

Gale and Maureen were in bed very early that evening. The rest of the crew went to shore and enjoyed a little of the night life.