Portland Bight (2 of 2)

Rocky Point

Funny enough for a protected zone the Portland Bight Protected Area (PBPA) is full of commercial and industrial areas.  Go Figure.

There are two Bauxite ports, one at Rocky Point and the other at Port Esquivel.  The Jamaica Broilers Group has a Ethanol Dehydration Plant at Port Esquivel as well. There are also several fishing villages within the PBPA. Jamaica Power Company has a ailing power plant in Old Harbour bay as well. I believe it is now complimented with a power barge moored on its western side.

The JPS Plant in Old Harbour Bay

A ship being loaded at Rocky Point (above and below)

The large 300 food diameter dome at Rocky Point

Aside from the above the PBPA is a beautiful place.  It is home to several mangrove forrests that provide shelter for young fish.  As well as several rivers.  The most popular of which is Salt River.

The remains of the jetty and defunct beacon at the entrance to Salt River

A rainbow over the Salt River Area

The Marina by the pumping station at Salt River (Above and Below)

Rocky Point taken from the mouth of Salt River.

As we left Salt River and circled around Rocky point a small squall set in while we were in open water headed to Pigeon Island.  I have come to realise that experiencing some wind and rain at sea is far different from on land (see previous post).

Small squall in Portland Bight

Past the squall

Pigeon Island is a lush green isle in the middle of the mouth of the bight.  A beautification project that started off as a hobby for John Greaves (see article) keeps the island this way.  Its now filled with coconut trees and other vegetation.

Coconut trees in the middle of Pigeon Island

Garbage washed up on one of the beaches on Pigeon Island

Old Harbour bay as seen from Pigeon Island.  On the Horizon just left of the beacon tower is Goat Island.

A makeshift tent on pigeon island (above and below)

Rocky point as seen from Pigeon Island

Portland Bight (1 of 2)

Portland Blight was made Jamaica's largest protected area just before the turn of the turn of the century.  According to the Jamaica Protected Areas Trust (JPAT) the Portland Blight Protected Area (PBPA) measures 1,876 sq kilometres (724sq. miles).

Old Harbour Bay

During World War II this quiet area was home to a US naval base.  As part of the "Destroyers for Bases Agreement" parcels of land within the British Empire were leased to you the United States in exchange for destroyers.  Goat Island was home to one of  two naval bases on the island.  There was another naval facility at Port Royal and an Air Force Base (Vernam Field).

Periwinkle growing on a beach of shells on  Little Goat Island

The view from Goat Island with the JPS Power Plant in the background (above and below).

Teal Point on Little Goat Island

(Part 2)

St. Thomas... a short "post op" run

So i'm back!!! Well sort of...  My post operation recovery has been a bit slow but i'm getting off my ass and starting up the vibes again.  So the crew and I headed out to St. Thomas for a short run.  After the "demonisation" of coconut oils back in the day courtesy of our friends up north this parish took a hit.  

I hope this parish makes a comeback now that we all know those claims were pretty much made with hydrogenated coconut oil not virgin coconut oil.  As far as hydrogenated anything goes they're all bad... taste good tho...but baaad!!!!  Funny enough i've found  this on amazon 

More info on coconut oil can be found here.

 

And Finally for a architect friend,  Here's the bridge.

Made in Jamaica but probably by the british...lol 

Location Serge Island.

Till nex time.. walk good...:)

The Stadium

 

With all this talk of cantilevers being old, worn down, potentially dangerous they pulled it off anyway.  No big fiasco, no parts of the superstructure falling and crushing fans or foreign talent scouts.   So that said it was well wicked... or so i heard.  From where I was  it was clear to see the police presence, both inside and out.  All

of the cycle track was littered with them (see below).

The crowd was massive although I noticed there were quite a few seats free in the grandstand on saturday night.  Enjoy the rest of the pics.

The walk over to paradise...

The day started off as most mornings do close to a court house police sirens blaring loudly over the morning rush hour traffic.  The fact that it was comming from the direction of  the Government House in Nassau pushed me in the opposite direction.  Yes towards the earth shattering sound of cruise ship horns and the smell of sun block. 

Thats just the morning and not really part of the walk over to paradise island.  I was in Nassau to shoot a wedding and the idea was to walk over to the venue for the reception (the Colonial Hylton) for a recce.  Of course things got out of hand... you walk some where do a recce try to find a store to buy a cold Heineken completely miss the liquor store across the road and the next thing you know you're 1½ miles from where you've started on a bridge headed over to the largest hotel in the Caribbean (someone correct me if i'm wrong).

On the way though me and my good friend ( the doomed groom) took in some sites.

Cathedral On George Street

Shoppers on Bay Street

 Lawyers on the way to the Court House

Shoppers on Bay Street

Rum... Heineken... Heineken..Rum ...choices choices...

boats...boats... 

 

Complex by the Paradise Island Bridge

Tunnel On Paradise Island

Funny thing about that tunnel... its below the water level (to allow yatch to pass into the Atlantis Marina)... and I think it leaks.

 Well the rest of images speak for themselves.

And the whole reason for walking over there.... well its my reason and im sticking to it....

Alas if only there were bikini clad models in the background...