Yesterday we went by taxi to the Reo Grande River in the mountains of Jamaica for a rafting ride.

The rafts are made from lashing 20’ bamboo pole together with wire. They were originally used to transport bananas from the interior mountains to the mouth of the harbor where they were loaded onto ships.
Our guide Reed has been a raft captain for over 6 years. Prior to becoming a raft captain, you must first spend 5 years as an apprentice. Which means, you drag these rafts back up river, 7 miles against the current, barefoot. Crazy!
It rained all day but the rain was warm and added to the surreal environment. I am amazed how in touch these people are with their environment.

Mid-way on the trip we stopped for what I would call shore lunch. Belinda was our cook. Her mother started this business in the 1970's and Belinda took it over about 10 years ago. She scales down the side of a bluff from her home and rafts the supplies across the river and starts her day. Her commute to work is 1 and a half hours barefoot with her provisions balanced on her head.

We were most impressed with the clarity of the water on this river. I am accustomed to rivers turning brown especially during and after a hard rain. It was explained that there is so much vegetation what runoff is minimal. Unlike that which we experience on our rivers in the Midwest.
Today we are off to see the waterfalls not far from our harborage.

Tomorrow we head for Panama.