Anyone been to Gut River in Manchester on the south coast?

[Xavier]

The water looks really clear. Can wait to see the trip report.

[ohliz]

how was the road?

It was rough with potholes so relatively slow going, but bulldozers had recently cleared the macca from the sides of the road so it was much better than 13 years ago.

I only have one shot of the road itself and it is one of the better parts:

I wasn't watching the clock closely but we left Treasure Beach around 11:30AM. Went to Gut River first and hung out there for at least an hour (swam in the spring then walked to the beach). Went on to Milk River for about an hour. Made it to Little Ochi in Alligator Pond for an early dinner, like 4:30. We were in a Treasure Tours van with a driver from TB - he hadn't been that way himself for 2 years because of the road/brush. He drove carefully but well, I'm sure it would have taken me longer.

If you have car trouble or any kind of trouble you're going to have to walk a long, long way for help. My cell signal came and went, I wasn't watching that closely. But unless there are a lot hidden in the bush, I saw one house right by the river and no other structures of any kind from the outskirts of Alligator Pond to the little buildings at Alligator Hole. The entire time we were at the river one car passed, and they stopped and looked at the river for a bit while we were there.

We didn't pass any cars on the road while driving, not one. Our driver didn't even do the "honk at the curve" thing...there wasn't anyone to honk at and you'd have heard a car coming anyway, so quiet.

[Nanook]

Wonderful pictures. These were my first roads traveled on the Island. Question, did they ever renovate Milk River Bath Hotel and the baths?

[goldilocks]

Looks lovely, thanks for sharing!

[ohliz]

I don't know if Milk River has been renovated as I never saw it before this trip. The baths appeared to be old, in an historic way. Small tile, mosaics. The property appeared well kept - painted, nice wood, railings, etc. I didn't see in any of the hotel rooms.

I'm blogging bit by bit and will get to that part soon with photos and a full report.

So far: http://www.travelsinjamaica.com/p/tr...oast-2013.html

[ohliz]

Here is the part of my report that is about Gut River:

http://www.travelsinjamaica.com/2013/05/8-along-alligators-spine-to-gut-river.html

[RichD]

very nice.

way back when i used to go there was talk f crocodiles which come up to the rocks by the swimming hole to sun in the morning but move down to the rushed during the day.

[ohliz]

very nice.

way back when i used to go there was talk f crocodiles which come up to the rocks by the swimming hole to sun in the morning but move down to the rushed during the day.

For sure there are crocs all along the south coast, though far less than there once were I was tol.d

Alan, the gentleman who lives by the river, did say there were crocs. We watched for them, but as J'can crocs are saltwater crocs I'm told they really do not like fresh water much. Not sure they could easily get in and out of the river there either, with the rocks being pretty steep?

Of course there are plenty of crocs in Alligator Hole, the river we snorkeled with manatees in in 13 years ago....

[Peasie]

Very nice Ohliz. Thanks for sharing that part of Jamaica with this Jamaican . I can't help but feel a little sad that there may be plans to develop this unspoiled area.

[RichD]

Very nice Ohliz. Thanks for sharing that part of Jamaica with this Jamaican . I can't help but feel a little sad that there may be plans to develop this unspoiled area.

there has been talk about it for a long time. dont see it happening any time soon.

Way back in about 1970 a few people from mandeville used to have beach cottages down in that area. now you go along the coast you cant even find a trace of where those cottages used to be. A patient of my father has a place there and we spent a week...rustic little cottage full of croaking lizards (my mother refused to sleep there and drove back to mandeville every night) the place had no electricity there was a windmill and a hand pump. there was a small "mineral water" pool and a nice secluded beach cove. now there is not even a foundation left where the cottage used to be.

[ohliz]

When I look with Google Earth there really isn't much. A couple of buildings near Gut River and a couple near Alligator Hole....that's about it.

I don't know how they'd develop it as the area has no water or electricity right now? But I get the desire to do it, a beautiful long empty beach is rare in JA.

I think Font Hill is in more immediate danger of development, as far as the south coast goes - that undeveloped area is accessible and has white sand and already has Fiesta resort group getting tours of it with officials, at least a couple of years ago. I was surprised, driving back to MoBay from TB, at how many housing developments there are along the road between Black River and Ferris Cross now, especially around Belmont and Bluefields and Whitehouse. I last drove that road about 3 years ago and a lot has changed since then.

[Magician]

Very nice!

How was the road getting there and did you come from Milk River direction or from Likkle Ochi side?

Was there a few years ago and it was barely passable. Want to go again next month.