Project Discovery Back-to-School Hike

5 hours and ALOT of displacement... the St.Joseph to St.John and back sort of displacement. We started off the hike at the Bathsheba Community Center at minutes to 4, energetic, clean with little to no aches, pain, scratches or injuries. 18 young people,adults and an adolescent. After introductions we started our trek up the hills of Bathsheba and this was what we thought was a hard walk... little did we know of what was coming then. The air was humid, the sky was overcast, and sweat was "spouting" from every hikers pores. So this meant that lots of water was gone before it actually was supposed to be, but luckily it was an evening hike so the longer we walked the cooler and darker it got. After that warm up couple of hills that gave people a rude awakening of just how hard this hike was going to be we continued motivated and determined. We continued up the road and came to a hiking trail in which we were warned to conserve energy, one step at a time, that sort of advice and motivation in that it will be rewarding when we get to the top. I was suspicious, usually people only try to motivate you when something especially hard is coming.So up the trail into the woods we went.

The forested Area

Smile!

Limbo and Water-break

Right now I am fairly upset at myself because i didnt take a picture of the man's house in the woods!! It was a great work of art with what i thought looked alot like the sides of a Transport Board Bus and came to realise actually was. But no fear our legs were burning,shirts drenched and hearts pumping and we were soon to the top. To see the beauty and reward that awaits on top of Hackleton's Cliff. Some people had an especially hard time doing this steep and slippery uphill climb but they were motivated on and applauded when the reached the top. The scene at the top was breathtaking and extremely picturesque. We got to see where we came from which was a LONG way down and instilled a sense of pride us hikers who made it. It was cement over the vaults of people who were buried a long time ago.

 As you can see the view was amazing and at the edge of the picture on my right is where we originally came from. We definitely deserved to be proud.
Go Project Discovery! Some people like me where thinking wow we made end of the hike just a walk home now and some food.

 But this was not to be as we continued our trek with false hopes and no warnings feeling proud.





Our journey continued through some cane fields and the most hilarious things occurred. Swarms insects were attracted to Lydia's hair and actually nested in her head. She had to run from them but to no avail until the solution was presented. She had to open her hair and allow insect repellent to be sprayed in it. I laughed and laughed until my stomach and ribs hurt. Lydia was not enjoying it. Good humor returned after the swarms were gone and her hair was clear.
The sunset was gorgeous. The pictures where lovely. Look at some below.

      S U N S E T &
    C A N E F I E L D S

Now all of this beauty was at about 6 in the evening, please remember this hike did not end until 9 in the night. So while we were thinking we are soon done then little did we know not nearly. We kept walking and night fell and realized we were VERY far from the end and in the parish of St.John. Being told at 7 that we had one more hour. And then at 8 that we had 30 mins then at 8:30 being told it was truly just 30 mins. The East Coast trail hike was a true experience. Slip off, slides, water, cliffs, prickly trees, crabs (hehe), ditches. This hike taught us teamwork, cooperation and as i would say it was more like something out of Survivor or Boot Camp than is youth group hike. We had to wait lend support, send the messages and wait, true team spirit came out of that hell hike. When Mr.King said we are taking the coast I imagined something like a normal road not a trail that leads to Bathsheba. It was anything but and in the dark flash lights were really needed so people had to lend a hand. Some people needed help climbing a slippery clay cliff. Lend a Helping Hand could have been the motto for that experience. Then the most shocking part of the hike. The climb. No trail, no road, no help, we had to climb a mountain of grass up to the road, on hand,knees and pull. But after we conquered that obstacle we were soon home!! Just over a huge hill. I made the connection because at the beginning I went to the edge of this hill and actually thought it was a cliff but it turned out to be a little boat village. Little did i know that that "cliff" was what i would have to climb up to make my way home. We arrived at 9. But WE MADE IT!!!! WHOOPP!!! YAYY!!!!
And after that experience I am more than willing to do another one again, sorry to those who missed it, it was awesome and I also speak on behalf of most the group for the willingness to do it again.
Thank You Project Discovery
Dina.! :)