“Give praises. One day you may find your oasis. Rise up to the challenge you're faced with.Be hopeful and creative. You'll make it”. Damian Marley
Clarendon and Saint Thomas have been good to me. These parishes shared some there hidden gems with me.
I saw a gorgeous picture of a river in St.Toolies in Clarendon on Proud Jamaicans Instagram page. Another love story with nature for the blog. Nature keeps surprising me with her beauty.
I wanted to visit so badly. I already had a date with Allen Spring in Fonthill Saint Thomas.
I told my sister about a beautiful river in St.Toolies that was in Clarendon but close to Manchester.
My sister lives in Manchester. Very close to the border of Clarendon. I asked her to get the exact location of the river in St.Toolies.
She came through with precision. She said I should tell the driver I needed a bus stop at Scott Path. She said bike taxis were on the location that will carry me to my final destination.
Just when I decided to visit, the Jamaican government changed the curfew hours. Hence, no traveling for three weekends to reduces the increase in covid cases.
Heading to work on Friday, I had my swimsuit on, my bag packed with my extra clothes to stay with my sister in Manchester, shoes, alcohol, a portable charger, a first aid kit, and zip-lock bags.
When the clock struck twelve, I took a taxi to Downtown Kingston. I walked to Darling Street and entered the Rural Bus Terminus. The Darling Police Street Station is beside the bus terminus.
St.Mary, Portland, and St. Thomas are the only buses not parked in this terminus.
A loader man( a guy who assist in getting passengers onto the bus) put me on a coaster bus with only six passengers. I came off and went to look for a minivan. The one I found was almost full. I begged a passenger to save the front seat while I went for my bag on the empty coaster bus.
The minivan was almost ready to leave the terminus. The driver collected JMD 500.00 for bus-fare.
I told the driver I wanted a bus at Scott Path. I always inform the driver of my destination before getting on the bus. Sometimes they are not familiar with the parish.
After he finished collected the busfares, he left the bus terminus. He made his way onto Darling Street then onto Spanish Town Road.
He drove on the Ferry Road. Then unto the South Coast Highway.
When the driver exited the second toll, I called my sister. I told her to meet me at Scott Path.
When I got to Scott Path, I saw two signs. St.Toolis New Testament and Welcome to St.Toolis. I also saw the bike taxis waiting for passengers.
I had to wait around ten minutes for my sister's nieces and nephew. In the meantime, I took pictures secretly. I didn't want the bikers to think I was a journalist. They would raise the price for transportation and information.
My family arrived. My nephew Dillon and I rode together. My sister and Lilly rode together. Bryanna got a bike for herself. We paid JMD 150.00 per person for the ride on the bikes.
The ride was about two minutes. One of the bikers told me to go across the train line to confirm the correct location.
I peaked. I told the biker it wasn't the spot I was looking for on the river. He took us to another location. It didn't resemble the area I saw in the video.
I decided to show the bikers the video of the location. They said it was the first spot.
The bikers took us back to the first spot. The bikers followed us over the train line to the river. They made sure we were in the right location on the river.
The river was straight-up stunning. I only had a couple of hours to enjoy paradise.
Dillion, Lilly, and I were the only ones prepared to go into the water.
Bryanna was my photographer and Videographer. My sister made sure Dillon and Lilly enjoy the few hours we had.
The trip to St.Toolies was short but sweet. Solo Traveling during covid has been an adventure. I had the rivers to myself. I pray to the nature gods to never let me stop traveling. It has become a part of me.
I've found many hidden spots on the island. I can't wait to share it with you, my readers.
We will meet again at the next waterfall. Until then, keep exploring.
I would love to hear about your adventure to St.Toolies in the comments below.
Continue scrolling for more awesome pictures. You will thank me later.