Better from Boyz, But….

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Last Friday June 7, Jamaica’s Reggae Boyz football team played the United States in a vital world cup qualifying match in Kingston. Jamaica came into the match at the bottom of the six-team CONCACAF qualifying group with two points from four matches and had to win to have any chance of progressing to Rio 2014, either as one of the three automatic qualifiers or as the forth-placed team that will play-off against New Zealand.

The Reggae Boyz played with more purpose and passion than in their previous match three days earlier that they lost 1-0 to Mexico.  Against the United States they attacked with purpose and were unfortunate to go into half-time behind by 1-0, thanks to a 30th minute goal from Jozy Altidore. In the second half, Jamaica kept up the pressure and  equalised through Jermaine Beckford in the 89th minute which gave faith to the remaining faithful supporters that Jamaica  would not leave empty-handed. This was not be however, as Brad Evans scored the winning goal in the 92nd minute. The win put the USA into second place in the CONCACAF zone with 7 points from four matches, tied with Costa Rica and Mexico while Jamaica remain at the bottom of the group with two points from five matches.

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Reggae Boyz’ Disappoint

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On Tuesday June 4, Jamaica’s Reggae Boyz national football team played a key World Cup qualifying match against Mexico on home soil at Kingston’s National Stadium, known as “The Office”. There was a  time when playing at home meant that we would not be defeated. In fact, this was the main reason why Jamaica qualified for the 1998 World Cup in France. All of this seems a distant memory when compared with the current team’s form. After four matches in the CONCACAF hexagonal round Jamaica is rooted firmly at the bottom with two points, the same amount of points that they had after their first two games. Therefore there was no more crucial week for Jamaica’s hopes of qualifying for Rio 2014 than this week when they played home games against CONCACAF powerhouses Mexico and the United States on June 4 and 7 respectively, then played away to Honduras on June 11.  The loyal fans that turned out left sorely disappointed as a lack-lustre performance that lacked any penetration in attack resulted in a 1-0 loss to Mexico.

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Circling Cascade

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I’ve always wanted to become more familiar with some of the many hiking trails that surround my community of Cascade in the Blue Mountains of eastern Jamaica. I had the opportunity to do so when my cousin visited from Canada. When I told her that we would be able to hike to Holywell Park, I don’t think she knew exactly what she was getting herself into.

Near the start of the hike. One Drop Waterfall in Cascade is in the distane

Near the start of the hike. Cascade’s One Drop Waterfall is in the distance

Holywell Receational Park is  located at Hardwar Gap on the St. Andrew/Portland border at 1,800 metres above sea level. It is a popular hiking and camping site where many Kingstonians get their first taste of “bush”. It is also a world-famous birding location where many of Jamaica’s endemic avifauna can be observed in the montane mist forest in this section of the Blue & John Crow Mountains National Park. Most people get there by driving the fifteen miles from Kingston, which takes an hour to drive, thanks to the condition of the roads. We however, were on the Portland side of the mountains and my dear cousin had the misfortune to find me in a mood for discovery.

Negotiating one of the watercourses.

Negotiating one of the watercourses.

One of many flowers found on the trail.

One of many flowers found on the trail.

Following our able guide, Artie “Trelawny” Vernon, we started at Regale, close to the One Drop Waterfall which is one of the highest waterfalls in Jamaica. The first stretch is quite steep, especially for one used to the plains of central Canada.  I could claim that I was quite fit and used to such terrain and that the only reason I was at the back was to take photos and oversee my cousin. This wasn’t entirely true, since I’m sure my gasping for breath drowned out the birds in the forest canopy. We soon warmed up to the challenge and after an hour, the trail levelled off and we were able to enjoy the scenery and the wild raspberries found in the nearby thickets.

The main landmark is the Old Tavern, a 19th century building that dates back to when soldiers and other travellers made their way from Kingston to the north coast for trade and protection. Now part of a coffee plantation, the building is still in very good condition.

The 19th century Old Tavern

The 19th century Old Tavern

After 1 hour and 53 minutes (yes, I timed it) we finally reached Holywell. What I’ve always said about hiking is that the further you hike in one direction, is the further you have to go back. Fortunately this wasn’t quite the case for us since we took another route back which included the main road and the Green Hill Trail. The latter is very steep, but reduced the time substantially. We made it back in under 90 minutes, and we would have been back sooner if I wasn’t bring up the rear – photographing. In spite of the unexpected challenge, I am happy to say that my cousin enjoyed her day and that we were both able to walk quite normally the following day.