Red Salts Drench...stories from the North Coast

[DiamondDave]

Re: Red Salts Drench...stories from the North Coast

I genuinely appreciate all your responses...and believe me, flattery will get you everywhere [img]/forums/images/graemlins/704555_dwl.gif[/img] [img]/forums/images/graemlins/704555_dwl.gif[/img]

The last installment was, by far, the most difficult to write....but also the most enjoyable, as I got to revisit the sights, sounds, smells, and emotions of that day... [img]/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img]

as for finding another one like me, well, when I was born, they broke the mold......and threw the mold-maker into jail [img]/forums/images/graemlins/704555_dwl.gif[/img]

Snapfish is back up, so I'm gonna add a little more...BTW...snapfish is offering 50% off prints to make up for the inconvenience of the last couple days...now I can buy twice as many

[Marilyn]

Re: Red Salts Drench...stories from the North Coast

Dave
I also had Jospeh as my guide when I went to Nine Mile. I do not even have to tell you how much that added to the trip. What a spiritual experience!!!!!!!!!!His reverence for what he is doing has to get to you even if you are not a Marley fan (if there is such a thing).

If you think Nine Mile got you, you have to go to the house in Kingston. I always trailed to the end of the line, and as I went up the stairs I ran my hand along the banister thinking "He HAD to have touched this at least once."

Then when we got to the little room that holds some of his costumes on dress forms the lady saw me looking at that little denim shirt he always wore so wistfully. She asked me if I would like to touch it. Here in the US they have everything behind glass and off limits, so I was really surprised. WHen I touched it, I almost felt an electric jolt go through me.

Downstairs was the master keyboard to his sound studio. I am thinking "now I KNOW he had to have touched this." It had a big sign on it saying "DO NOT TOUCH". I lagged behind long enough to run my hand gently over the keys, same electric jolt.

My friend, your pilgrimage is not complete yet.

Oh yeah, when you see those bullet holes in the kitchen wall from the assassination attempt, and realize that this man still did a concert the next night.......

[DiamondDave]

Re: Red Salts Drench...stories from the North Coast

The roll of TP I'd thrown in my pack in case Pooh needed came in handy right about now! I dried my tears, wiped my brow, blew my nose and made my way back to the gates...

Joseph, my friend..peace & blessin's 'til we see you again....




Junior, who'd seen the tour so many times he probably could have led it himself, was waiting for us down at the little bar...the three of us spent the next little while chatting, reasoning, laughing and smiling as we recounted the tour....I'm quite confident that Junior was aware of the enormity of the moment for me....again, who feels it knows it.......

[DiamondDave]

Re: Red Salts Drench...stories from the North Coast

true dat, Miss M...56 Hope Road is another must do....

I have some video of that performance....at the end of the show, Bob pointed to his wounds, did a gunslingers dance and, laughing derisively, defiantly, went off into self-imposed exile...

so, let's add courage to his list of attributes...

[DiamondDave]

Re: Red Salts Drench...stories from the North Coast

We'd told Junior that we wanted to visit Bob, and afterwards.....show us anything he thought we'd like to see....

While we were up at Mount Zion, Junior had made arrangements for us to view the fields of a local farmer...

Megastar showed us around his garden...he had a tea garden..mint, fever weed, etc...he also had coffee beans growing....(look closely, they're there somewhere...)



then we wondered through a little thicket...on the other side was the plantation....really entertaining... .... Private inquiries are welcome... [img]/forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif[/img]

[Laurel]

Re: Red Salts Drench...stories from the North Coast

Dave - Well Done!!

[DiamondDave]

Re: Red Salts Drench...stories from the North Coast

We thanked Megastar for his hospitality and headed back to the car...one of the neighborhood children, an adorable little girl of maybe 12 years, approached and with a shy smile, asked if we had anything to leave for her....I reached into my pack and removed one of the harmonicas that I'd brought along for just such an occasion....I'll never forget the look of wonder on her face as I demonstrated it's use [img]/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img] ....with an ear to ear grin, she thanked me and dashed away to show off her new toy....(darn...another missed photo op).....

It was just about now that I noticed that the excited, nervous, anxious knot in my stomach had unraveled...it had been there since the Saturday before the Monday that we'd arrived...but now I felt only serenity....I smiled blissfully as we wound our way down out of the hills.....

"Feelin' pretty mellow, David?"

I'd hoped that Junior would not mistake my silence for unhappiness...his question allayed those fears....

My decidedly mellow "Yeah, mon" made us both chuckle [img]/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img]

As the Sea returned to view he asked if we'd like to see the "Medicine Hole".....

"Yeah! Sure!...what is it?" [img]/forums/images/graemlins/704555_dwl.gif[/img]

It's to be a surprise, but he thinks we'd really enjoy it......and virtually no tourists know about it....that's good enough for me!! Surprise me Junior!!!

coming down from the hills...

[DiamondDave]

Re: Red Salts Drench...stories from the North Coast

The road out of the hills deposited us back at the shore, and we twisted and turned our way through the streets of (I think [img]/forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif[/img] ) St Ann's Bay....we turned into a dirt path, guarded by this fearsome fellow



down the path until we reached a little carpark near a small river....

we walked along the bank of the river a little ways, then ducked behind a black tarpauline...there we saw a small, rockhewn pool...Junior introduced us to the man that keeps watch over the site...David treated me like a long lost brother when he discovered we shared the same name!! [img]/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img] (this was not the first time that my Biblically derived name had delighted a Jamaican!) David explained that this was a natural mineral spring, but one with a special difference...he placed a match near the surface of the pool, and produced...

"Fiyah wata!"





how cool is that??!!

David welcomed us to join him in the pool.....(yeah, I know....this is not the most flattering photo...but it's one of the two of us together [img]/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img] )

[DiamondDave]

Re: Red Salts Drench...stories from the North Coast

here in New York spring water is usually as cold as recently melted snow....but this spring was warm and comforting....it's called the "Medicine Hole" due to it's healing properties, which were plainly evident upon immersion...David proceeded to employ a hands-on technique reminiscent of a Reiki treatment ( for those not familiar, Reiki is a Japanese method of treating spiritual/physical ailments by channeling life energy... )...he would swirl his hand in the "firewater" and, rather than massage, gently pressed the warm, healing water wherever he felt it was needed...I was astonished when he moved directly to my knees, both of which were damaged by a childhood disease...I darn near fell in the Hole when he mentioned that I spent too much time in the cold...I'd never told him I was from the Northeast USA!!!



This was another place where I would gladly have spent more time...laughing, reasoning, discovering....but, emotionally drained, we felt it was time to move on....

A young dread joined us and introduced himself ( sorry, brother...I forget your name [img]/forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif[/img] )... when he learned my name, he jokingly asked if I'd slain Goliath....my answer elicited surprised laughter from the bredren...

"Yeah mon...wit a sling and a stone...."

I may be wrong (it wouldn't be the first time!), but I don't think the Jamaican people realize how pervasive their culture is around the World....knowledge of Biblical quotes, Bob lyrics, and Jamaican proverbs almost always shocked the bejeebers outta our hosts!! [img]/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img]

I gave the children hanging around (who, I suspect, don't often see people fairer complexioned than they) the last couple of harmonicas in my pack....

then, back on the road....

We rode through St Ann's Bay on the way back to Runaway....I got a quick foto of the Marcus Garvey monument....I love the children dancing around [img]/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img]



I think we need to come back here and simply wander....



Back at the hotel, I thanked Junior to the best of my ability for helping make this day possible...

Junior lives near Ochii....please feel free to contact me for his cell # if you have any need for transport services in that area...in addition to his personal car, he also has a van at his disposal...

[Marilyn]

Re: Red Salts Drench...stories from the North Coast

Dave this sounds like it was a special special day. Glad you had a great time.

[Laurel]

Re: Red Salts Drench...stories from the North Coast

What incredible days you have had to share with us!!

We are Blessed!

[sammy]

Re: Red Salts Drench...stories from the North Coast

dave

THANK YOU for sharing such a personal/spiritual journey with us...thank you dave for taking me with you

[Marilyn]

Re: Red Salts Drench...stories from the North Coast

Dave
Tapping fuuut, waiting impatiently for the next installment.

[goldilocks]

Re: Red Salts Drench...stories from the North Coast

Cool! I mean Hot! What makes the water burn?

[DiamondDave]

Re: Red Salts Drench...stories from the North Coast

Originally posted by goldilocks:
[qb] Cool! I mean Hot! What makes the water burn? [/qb]

the water has not been analyzed as of yet, simply because the people that live there don't want too many people to know about it...I did detect just the slightest odor of sulfur...I suspect that has something to do with it...

the fire only burns at the surface...if you look at the pics, you'll see my foot in the water, under the fire, not getting burned....

oh, I also remembered this...I asked how to extinguish the fire....the answer??

"you throw water on it"..!!

well, of course ..what a ridiculous question!!!! [img]/forums/images/graemlins/704555_dwl.gif[/img]

MissM...I realize I'm slackin' off alittle...I only wrote for 4 hours last nite...I really need to get my priorities in order.... [img]/forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif[/img]