Katie and Jason had invited me the previous day to join them on a walk to the Emerald Pool. The Emerald Pool is one of the main tourist attractions of the island and attracts a large amount of traffic, especially days on which there were a cruise ship. Because of confusion in reading the directions from the camp, we underestimated the distance to the entrance to the Falls. To ensure that we made it their safely, the camps dogs (four of them,) and a neighbors dog, who tagged along, came on the walk as well. What was supposed to be a 15 minute walk turned to an hour and a half with no end in site. We did see some beautiful, picturesque views, however, the walk was turning into a trek. Luckily, a local guy in a truck must have wondered what a bunch of tourists with a pack of dogs was doing walking way out in the middle of nowhere. He asked if we wanted a lift and we eagerly accepted. At the time, the dogs had gone into the jungle so we pretty much left them there. They were all veterans of this part of the island so they just headed on home. We arrived a few minutes later to the entrance to the falls. What we agreed upon once arriving there is that the time schedules given by the tourist guys are timed with a Ethiopian Olympic award winner being used as a judge of time and distance. After showing our two dollar Natural Parks site pass, we went through to the Emerald Pool.

The Emerald Pool is a forty foot water fall located in the lush green forest. It was deep enough for a relaxing swim and an invigorating water massage. It created an excellent rejuvenating setting after a long, hot, uphill walk. We hung out for about a hour and decided to split up. They were headed into Roseau, the islands capital. For me, the first thing I like to do when I get to someplace new is to walk around the area in which I would be staying. At the main road we split company and I started the long walk back. I was originally hoping to just hitch hike back but there just wasn’t any traffic that day. About half way home, a family pulled over and gave me a ride back. Right off the main road to 3 Rivers, you can follow the river upstream to another waterfall and pool. It is about an hours worth of rock climbing and wading, but when you get there you are treated to a off the beaten track water fall. I relaxed there for a few minutes and headed back down stream. Another hour back and I was back on the main road. About this time, the legs started to protest. I could feel the unused muscles starting to cringe in protest. I figured a nice dip in the river “bath” would slow the onset of pain and give me a much needed cooling off. Well, I chose the wrong path and ended up at the entrance to the trail that takes you up to the “treehouse.” The treehouse is an actual treehouse that you can rent out just like one of the cottages. It was a good half an hour walk (especially when you are in pain,) located at the top of the hill in a very woodsy area. It’s a rather large one room house built with bamboo and supported by the four corners with four actual trees. There is a nice walk way patio, and a staircase. Inside is a nice leaf padded bed. There is even a separate water tank which accumulates rain water. A portable battery pack and your belongings can be carried to the remote area. After checking that out, I needed a break. I double stepped my way down at a cripples pace. Took the right path and found the large pool they call the “Bath”. Did a half hour of splashing about and hoofed it down stream to another large pool on the side of a cliff face. I figured that I had gone that far, so I followed the river until it came back around to the main road.

For that whole day, I had only my water for energy. I had not ordered any food so it was a long tough day. By the end I was becoming delirious with hunger. I could feel my fat cells being devoured. I had cravings for the first time in a long time. My mind was set on bananas and granola bars. Out of everything, for some reason those were the two that made my stomach growl. Along the bananas trees I had come upon a patch of pineapples. None of the islands bananas stay on the tree long enough to ripen because of shipping times so I stared at that little grenade of vitamin C. Looking at that piece of fruit fogged over my cravings for the bananas and I knew what I had to do. I grabbed the pineapple by its body and gave it a quick tug. It snapped off the stem rather easily. I slowly dragged my decrepid body with my defenseless hostage up the hill to my room where the hammock lay dangling, a site that I had also been craving for. I got out my little multi-tool and flipped open the knife. I had never operated on a pineapple before, but had seen it done on TV before. Once I learned how easy it was to cut into that little sweet body of love, it was over. I sucked down that whole pineapple in less than five minutes. The hunger pangs were quenched with must be the most refreshing of fruits. I looked up and saw the hammock and took a breath of relief. I woke up from my nap at around six feeling a bit frisky, so I headed down to the main lodge to ask Jem if he thought that it would be possible to make it to the ocean and back by seven. He said sure. Without me remembering that I was being compared to a gold medal winning Ethiopian, I jogged off into the sunset. Forty five minutes later I finally saw the ocean in the distance. I looked at my watch and the realization that I was not black, weighed 100 lbs, and had lungs like a horse. I did a quick jaunt to the turn off to the beach access and called it a close enough. I turned and slowly started walking back up the undulating hill sides, in the dark. With the help of my flashlight and the neighbors dog who came to fetch me, I made it back.

At dinner, I met Bam (Bom) who had just arrived. He was an older statesman in his late forties early fifties. Bam turned out to be an excellent guide who helped to make my trip an amazing one as well as very educational. He had been to Dominica a few times, staying at a different village in the central area. He had rented a four wheel drive for his trip and was planning to go into town the next day and invited me along. I had planned on visiting the capital but was doubtful because of the distance and cost. We sat down to an amazing meat and potatoes dinner. The plate was full of exotic, home grown, vegetables and some amazing tasting roasted beef. Dinner was followed by another plate of watermelon and pineapples.

With all of us doing some sort of trek, we called it an early evening after a little after dinner conversation and drinks.

Again I tried the hammock but was awakened in the middle of the night so I dragged myself into bed where I slept like a log.

Come back to these pages later and I should have some pictures uploaded. As long as I get some internet access to post them in Martinique.