Navy Island CleanUp #3: bonfire by the "8-Mile" marker

Week #3 of the Clean-up series found us (myself and an initially small group that grew with time heading to the  beach at the western point of the island. The shallow water is laid with a dark bed of seagrass which makes it prime habitat for both sea urchins (sea eggs) and conger eels, but the crystalline shore is still nice for relaxing.

Relaxation of course, was not on our minds, and the thick growth of various trees and shrubs (many almond trees, but other varieties as well) meant there was much to occupy our time and energy. The presence of a chainsaw made the going considerably easier, but there was still a considerable amount of  "elbow grease" required, not only in clearing leaves, limbs and other detritus, but in hauling stuff back to the main entry point for  final transport.

Gratitude to local fisherman/caretaker, the industrious Elvis Thomas, his cohorts, and several of the ladies in the group, for putting together a tasty rib-sticking lunch of seasoned rice (with pumpkin and saltfish bits), to the boat pilots and all the Marina hands who have assisted in the process thus far.

Oh yes, the title of this blog. Well, the Clean-up experience has turned up some intriguing and unusual discoveries (including a cannon) but you can imagine my amazement at encountering, about 30 yards from our actual clean up spot, a concrete mile post, deposited from God-knows-where, laying on its side, with the number 8 visible at the top. Wherever that original 8-mile spot is (the photo here is not the actual article), it must be quite a memorable spot for the person to choose to comemorate it on an island.

We retun to "8Mile" and the rest of Navy Island next week.  

Navy Island Clean-Up II: Through the Vines to the Cliffs

The numbers were slightly reduced from the previous outing, but not the energy and communal spirits that pervaded the first Navy Island Clean-up over a week ago.

This time around, heavy overnight rains rendered some tasks unfeasible, but work nonetheless continued apace on bringing some semblance of order to the fabled resort island.

By the time the first wave of volunteers set foot on the shore, the sun was fully dominant, and only the sodden walls and floors of the main building provided any evidence of the previous downpour.

With leaves and debris collected and even some new planting in progress, a small band headed west to the beach, passing by the former hideaways of the rich and famous, now uniformly in ruins, and the massive concrete basin that awaits resuscitation as the swimming pool.

Machete, weed whacker and chainsaw-armed crews meanwhile set about removing excess branches and limbs adjacent tot he main resort house

this writer then took the opportunity to trek through the dense overgrowth to reach to the honeycomb cliffs at the island's northern end, a vantage that opened up the entire Folly area and the peninsula to the east.

Not unlike some dramatic scene in an  adventure movie, of the type Errol Flynn frequently starred in, with the crashing surf, providing the soundtrack.

Reverie ended, it was soon time to board the boat, say farewell to Navy Island and head back to the Errol Flynn Marina. but the separation is merely temporary. We'll be reunited on Saturday, March 24, when the next clean-up is scheduled. Why don't YOU join us?

Glimmers of A Former - and Future Glory

here;s excerpt of a feature on Portland - inclduing highlights of the new ital restaurant Akwaaba Ital, that is published by Caribbean magazine MNI Alive. You can click the link at the end to read the full story.

Gazing out on the azure curve of Port Antonio's East Harbour in the late afternoon has a near hypnotic effect: from the tip of Navy Island, across to the promontory that houses the former Titchfield hotel and the high school of the same name -the harbour wantonly pushes its curvaceous rump into the town proper before curving outward once more towards Folly, where the aspiring but relatively messy urbanization begins to give way to the more traditional rural landscape of lush vegetation, small freeholdings and beachfront villas; the setting sun ripples across the water that laps invitingly just inches from our feet - glimmers of a soon fading glory.




http://www.mnialive.com/caribbean/jamaica/2089-glimmers-of-a-former-and-future-glory-.html

Grab yu 'lass and head for Navy Island

From the Errol Flynn Marina newsleter - "Docklines":

A community volunteer campaign to clean up Navy Island will
get underway on Saturday, March 10, and continue through each of the following
Saturdays in the month.  Dubbed “Nice Up De Place” by its sponsor, The Ignite Portland
committee,  the event will start at 8:30 a.m. each Saturday boarding boats at Errol Flynn
Marina which are being provided by Lady G Diver and Somerset Falls.  Volunteers are
being asked to wear jeans and shoes (no flip flops) , bring a hat and gloves, plus some
appropriate tools for cleaning and brush removal.  Suggested items include machetes,
shovels, rakes and  brooms. Volunteers will be treated to a lunch at the Great House on
the island prepared by the Errol Flynn Marina Dock Boys. Lunch food is being donated
by both Kamal’s and Ramtulla’s supermarkets and the Coronation Bakery.   Navy Island
has been abandoned for many years since the former resort went into receivership and
the island became the property of the Jamaican Government.  The buildings are all in
great disrepair and all have been stripped of everything of value.  The Great House,
made largely of concrete, remains pretty much intact.  The island has great historical

significance.

Originally known as Lynch’s Island, it became Navy Island when the Royal
Navy turned it into a defensive location to protect the entrance to Port Antonio’s two
harbours.  It further went down on the pages of history when Capt. William Bligh landed
in Port Antonio with breadfruit from Tahiti.  In the 1940’s it became the property of
Actor-Womanizer Errol Flynn who developed it as his personal hangout.   Flynn was
followed by a succession of developers that turned it into a pristine resort location.
Flynn’s plantings of numerous majestic Royal Palms remain as his signature on the
island. There is presently no access to the island so the volunteers will be getting a rare
opportunity to view where a lot of our country’s history occurred and also make a
contribution toward preserving that heritage.  Persons wishing to volunteer for one or
more of the Saturday workdays should call 876-477-6914 to register.