A Jamaican Hike

As the scavengers circled above, I knew I was in trouble. Surely they were not coming for me, yet I was the only thing half alive insight. The story could not end this way. I decided to press onward, I had come this far and I knew that this would end with victory or death. I was committed.

Earlier my trek began on the paved road outside our villa. I just wanted to see what was beyond the curve of the beach. It was Wednesday and I needed a change of pace from my normal routine of readings. It was just before 10 a.m. A quick hike and I would return for an afternoon siesta. Do I need water?? Na, I will be back before it gets hot!! Wallet? Sure just incase I need to buy some souvenirs. Camera? Of course, what would a hike be without photos. Cell Phone? Yea, just incase someone calls. PSP? Check, I wanted to rock out to some tunes along the way.

The first hour was uneventful. I hiked along a mostly sandy beach. Along the trail I saw a baby shark. This was not a refreshing sight, seeing that I had been swimming in those same waters an hour earlier. Apparently he was caught some distance off the coast though…Swew!! Towards the end of the hour the terrain became more and more rocky. I had passed a fisherman hunting in the shallow waters. Little did I know that this would be the last human I would see for some time.

As I approached the first of many obstacles, I was overcome with a sense of bravado. As I went along, I found what seemed to be paths here and there. I joined these paths before returning to the rocky coast and cliffs. 15ft below was the ocean with its crystal clear waters. I thought to myself, “if anything I can swim around?” My first obstacle was a large boulder. It was about 15ft high, which now made the water 30ft below. There was no getting over it. The only choice was to turn around or find a way around. That little voice in all of us telling me to turnaround and call it a day was subsequently silenced by the spirit of adventure. All of the sudden reason and planning were tossed aside for rush of adrenaline. I was going to take on the rock; I just had to figure out how. To the right was the ocean and very very sharp coral rock to cushion my fall. To the left uncertain rocks and a steep climb. I decided to take the path without the coral cushion. After a short climb I found myself straddling a cave and a dubious fall. Needless to say my focus was sharper than the rocks I clung too. Like Spiderman I made my way up, over, and around this rock. My first victory only made me thirst for more. I was a junkie, and like most junkies, my demise was inevitable.

From the top of the rocks I could see a beach in the distance. My interest was sparked. Could I make? … Of course…”I’m O King baby!!” My trip in Jamaica had been a serendipitous adventure and surely this would become part of the fairytale. As my watch struck noon I once again heard that voice who was not so tiny anymore. Yet, my spirit wanted to push on. Surely I was not the first to attempt this feat, and I could always swim back. I decided to press on.

Around 12:15 I made it to a little beach. Like a desert oasis, this tiny stretch of sand served as a temporary resting place for me as I took time to appreciate all the natural beauty. I vowed to return to this beach one day…but by boat.
Looking at my watch I decided to push on. I wanted to get to the beach in the distance that could not be to far away now. The terrain became much more treacherous. I found myself clinging to trees and rocks more the ever before. Those paths that I had seen before had suddenly forsaken me and I was lost for all intense and purposes. Above me I noticed one scavenger, I thought his nest must be close. I pushed forward. I knew that if I could stay close to the coast, I would eventually get back to the rocks. An hour after I had left my little beach, I found myself knee deep in thorns and brush. This was not good. The forest provided some protection from Jamaican sun, but my swim trunks and tank were soaked with sweat.

As I reached another rock obstacle, that tiny voice was broadcasting loud and clear. “Turn around….NOW!!!” 3hrs into the trip, Reason and Adventure had a pow wow. They decided to bring forth a case of why I should carry on. “Surely the beach is closer than a return trip that took us 3hrs to get here? Lets keep going and see what happens…You’ve come this far right??” Unwillingly my doubt subsided and fear once again turned into adrenaline as I pushed on with a feverish pace. I found an old log and proceeded to bash my way through the brush, making a path were none existed before. My legs bloodied and scared became numb to the pain as I raced through thistles along my way. As long as I was bleeding I was still alive. My decision keep going could only be met with victory. My will to succeed was at times putting my life in peril as I was all alone. I could’ve fallen at any moment and broke something. To make it worse, not only would no one have known, but the chances of me being found would have decreased seeing that the scavengers (now 3 in #) were still circling above. Am I strong enough. My faith kept me strong. I have strong idea that this path I was going down (both figuratively and literally) was leading somewhere. God has always made a way for me when things seemed impossible….Why would today be any different?? Turning around or calling for help was not an option only unless I was faced with death. My faith brought me peace, although I wished it could somehow formulate that peace into some form of hydration. (Oh Moses….how did you pull that off??) I realized that without hydration, my muscle could cramp at any time or I could lose my balance. These thoughts raced through my mind as I climbed up another rock. I realized I was truly walking (or climbing) by faith and not by sight!!

I returned to the coast to see the beach was coming closer but still I had some impossible terrain to be crossed. 4hrs into the journey and my camera battery was dieing. I decided to make one last video of my trip. (Just incase they find the camera and not me!) At this point my play list had thankfully switched from Rock to Gospel. My spirit was lifted. I made my final plan and assault. I would attack from the coast as long as possible. This proved to be a difficult choice as the loose rocks and sharp coral edged the coast. I was forced to push my way through the brush and trees. I found the terrain to filled with twice thorns as before, my legs and arms had no time to bleed. I needed water and fast. As I came over a final set of rocks I could see two heads swimming distantly in the water. Where there are people, there is water!!

It was just after 2pm and I was exhausted. The final obstacle was some thick brush that came up to my shoulder. I tried to bash my way through but to no avail. I thought, “Isn’t every Jamaican supposed to carry a Machete… standard??” I wanted to scream as this final barrier kept me from triumph on white sandy beaches. My frustration only led to more cuts as the thorns dug into my thighs and hand. The battle wounds well deserved. My senseless bravado had led me to dead end only a hundred yards from my goal. My scars would only prove the legend one day….but first I had to find a way out of this brush. It could not end like this. I took time to compose myself. I was not going through chest high brush. This was a fact. I decided to back track slightly and find a way around. Surely if I could make it to the coast I could find a spot to dive in. Even if it meant losing my electrical items, I was willing to take that risk. As I began to back track, I noticed a set of rocks just beyond some shallow brush. Overdrive kicked in. I made and one final charge and subsequently began to pick up speed. My legs charged through the vines like a running back barreling over defenders. At one point I was walking on top of the brush and branches like Christ on water. Finally my sneakers hit sand. I put my arms up in celebration of the victory. My ocean audience applauded with calm waves crashing in.

My victory dance was now short lived I found the most desolate beach in human history. “Where were those two heads I previously saw?” I began my march along the beach. Like an angel transfigured in the shape of a human, I found a man waiting on his fisherman friends to return. He asked where I had come from? I laughed. His eyes opened as I told him my journey. He offered me some of his water, but I only took a little not being greedy, he seemed hesitant about it at first. He would have given me a ride but his friends were returning soon. Rather than waiting I decided to make my way home via a taxi. My journey was almost complete. I asked him how to get the main road and he said there was a path a few hundred yards up the beach. Great!! I was on my way again after a tease of some water.

As I approached the path I saw the hill in the background and knew thatI would be climbing this in order to get to civilization. I pushed forward. Uphill I walked for what seemed to be an eternity but was more like 45 minutes. At points I felt my hamstrings and calves cramping and stopped to stretch them out. My chest was imploding as my heart raced. I could see the heat rising from the earth ahead of me. As I looked down I saw blue empty shells of shotgun scattered about the road, I realized that this was a road seldom used. I wonder what or frightfully “who” the were shooting at? Surely I was not trespassing? I hope I was not walking into someones illegal garden?? My head was becoming light as the heat was causing slight dizziness. Was this it? Did I come all this way to pass out on some country road with no water? That tiny voice had gone fishing as he was disgusted by all my antics. His displeasure with my actions has left him with a smug smile ever since my first no. I knew I could make it, yet every step seemed as though I was mixing cement with my feet. My PSP provided me my only solace as the praise & worship tunes played out. As I reached the end of a long straight I made a turn. I pulled out my earphone to here the only thing sweeter than the music playing. A car horn. Yes that sweet-augmented fifth was more the devil in music for me now. I shook off the cinder blocks around my ankles and concluded my trek by hiring a taxi. Although he was not heading in my direction I offered to double his fair if he took me home. The 15 minute car ride home did no justice to the 5 ½ hour trek I had made. As I surveyed the landscape from the passenger window I shook my head and realized…

I ‘m an Idiot!!

But I would do it all over again!!