Rafting through 'Likkle Porti'

I can't readily think of anyone who would disagree with me when I say that Portland has to be one of the most beautiful places on Earth. Even if you aren't going anywhere in particular, but are just driving around taking in the scenes and maybe making a stop here and there to have a chat with residents, the Portland experience is extraordinary.

Driving through Hope Bay recently, I was struck by the number of people selling carrots at the roadside. Every few kilometres I'd pass a stall or a table laden with huge bright-orange carrots.

One middle-aged vendor scratched his forehead when I asked him the price. He seemed confused about something. "Eem, $200 a bungle," he said. A smiling woman behind him was busy sorting through the new stock, apparently just delivered from the field. A man holding a tiny radio to his ear was nearby, but whatever he was listening to prevented him from lending a hand.

Further down the road, a boy about eight years old sat lazily behind a table of carrots. A woman across the road shouted to him to wake up.

A little way out of Hope Bay, I happened upon a sign pointing the way to the famous Somerset Falls. A few buses and cars were parked over there and I could hear music and laughter coming from inside. But it was what was across the road that caught my attention. A sign on the fence gave the name of the place as 'Likkle Porti', even though all I could see was what looked like an empty car park and an abandoned horse stable. Strange. I walked inside though and soon found some coloured sheds and benches next to a river.

Captain Danny

It was by this river that I met the friendly and extremely talkative Captain Danny, ruler of the waters and self-proclaimed expert on all things Portland. Captain Danny speaks quickly and it often takes a few seconds to figure out what he says. But his powers of persuasion are remarkable. So it was that moments after meeting him I found myself sitting at the back of a crudely made bamboo raft, floating down the river as Captain Danny explained the uses of almond.

"Yuh can bile hit, cook hit or eat hit raw," said he. "People use hit for all sort of thing."

Now it's clear that this is no five-star resort-type ride, what with Captain Danny's second - a man who wore a large gold chain, dark glasses and was smoking a cigarette - sitting lazily on the bank nearby. However, there's no escaping the beauty of the river and how peaceful the experience is.

"Ef yuh carrying car key or cellphone mek sure yuh put it up good, for out here is wet," Captain Danny warned.

"We going from five foot to four foot and den to tree foot deep. It don't go no lower dan dat."

The sounds of the birds, the calmness of the river and the breeze from the nearby sea capped off the ride. As we returned to dock, Captain Danny apparently spotted a friend on shore. "Oh deh man!" he yelled and waved. This distraction was perhaps the cause of our rough docking. Clunk! The back of the raft crashed hard on to the riverbank, sending me forward and nearly into the river below. Luckily, I recovered my balance in time.

"Yuh is back safe and sound now," said a smiling Captain Danny. "Welcome back to land and God go wid yuh. Love and peace!" he said, taking a bow.

I thanked him and hopped off the raft. I was still a little jumpy from the crash landing, but was nonetheless impressed with Likkle Porti and the smooth-talking Captain Danny.

Where should Robert go next? Let him know at robert.lalah@gleanerjm.com