A Lighthouse and Jurassic Park

So, it’s about a little over a week since my last post. I admit that I got super lazy because my days were pretty full of working out and actual work at my job, and then when I get home, I don’t want to be on the computer any longer than I have to.

I haven’t really had any cool adventures in the time that has passed. I had one before I stopped writing, so I guess I will write about that.

It was the best of times, it was the worst of times…

It’s funny how that statement is true with COVID-19 going around and yet we can still find really good and positive things…

After the Mars Roaming adventure, Matt also took me to the lighthouse on Ham’s Bluff. We took the same route we always take – the road of many potholes. We head north and instead of going left to Mars, we go to the right and end up at this abandoned building that literally looks like it was taken out of Jurassic Park: Lost World. I regret not taking a picture of it. So, at this abandoned building, you park in the lot and walk down this little hill to a wooden bridge. You would probably look at it and not think anything of it, but alas, it is the beginning of the trail.

Let me premise this by saying I honestly thought it would not be a difficult hike and that we would be there and back in no time.

I was wrong.

Yo, I really don’t remember feeling this out of shape. As we walk/hike/climb our way up this trail that goes under trees and has switchbacks, and has ants that come off plants and then bite you, I am thinking to myself that I might actually die of a heart attack today. My heart was POUNDING, y’all. That shows you how out of shape I had gotten. I made a mental note to get back to the business of working out because there would be no way I would be able to dive for long periods of time if this was killing me. Anyway, we had to stop about 3 times on the way up. I don’t think it would have been so bad if there wasn’t such a steep incline. It wasn’t like Michigan hiking – though that can get tough as well – but this was for sure just straight up the side of a mountain. The hike wasn’t even that long! It was about 20-25 minutes up (probably closer to 30 thanks to me having to stop). But, we finally reached the top and I proceeded to sit my big behind down and take a breather. I thanked God that I brought the day pack with me because it held my water and Matt’s water, and without that I would have surely perished.

As I sat and regained regular breathing, I looked out to where I was. I looked up and there was a decaying lighthouse above me. I looked forward and there were beautiful shrubbery with these rather large black bee-like things flying around. I looked right, and there was the most beautiful view I have seen since I arrived on the island. You see nothing but blue water and the coastline and it is striking.

After I felt better, I decided to check out the lighthouse. It was actually really cool, and really old, and of course I had to go climb the stairs to get my “danger fix” since I typically don’t like to take risks.

As I’m climbing the lighthouse, I see holes in the floor that have completely rusted out and I am legitimately questioning my choices. But as my girlfriends say, “choices were made” and I think I made the right choice by facing that little fear and making it to the top. What a view! It was a 360 degree view of awesomeness. I could actually look out and see St. Thomas, St. John, and I’m pretty sure I was able to make out Culebra, Puerto Rico. The day was perfect and clear and made for some excellent visibility. Matt and I, of course, took the obligatory photos at the lighthouse, and I got some extra of myself.

After we spent a little time at the lighthouse, Matt wanted to show me the lighthouse from further away. He likes to adventure so he had already been here and hiked along the cliffs. That’s what I did. I literally hiked along the cliffs. At one point, I look over the edge and found myself holding my breathe. I attempted not to daydream my tripping on a rock and falling over the edge to my death. I have a very active imagination, so that task is quite difficult. I told myself to breathe and we kept going. We entered the canopy of some of the rainforest and Matt regaled me with interesting facts about some of the plants and trees.

Fun fact: there is literally a tree on this island that will kill you. It’s basically the tree in Eden. Eat the fruit and you die. Juuuuuust putting that out there.

Anyway, I got my other view of the lighthouse and that was pretty cool in itself. I was up to continue hiking but we ended up turning around and going back. One day, Matt is going to take me to the goat farm that is on the other side of the mountain. I’m looking forward to that. Goats are pretty funny looking.

After we came down from the lighthouse (the hike down was a bajillion times better – thanks, gravity!), we hopped in the car and started to head back. But, as always, there is something else that Matt wants to show me. We take a left down this road (still have no idea where I am at this point), and we get to the end where there was an old quarry. People still live right outside the property. I thought we were getting out there, I was confused because it didn’t look like there were any other roads. It looks like a dead end! Lo and behold, we turn left into what I thought were bushes. It’s a dirt road going up the side of a mountain, and let me tell you – that ride was so much fun! At some point, we hang a left and park. We get out and I follow Matt. He wanted to show me another old sugar mill. We got to it and once we climbed inside, he pointed up and showed me the beauty of a wild bee colony.

I have never seen a wild bee colony. Only the boxed bees from bee farmers. This was AH-MAZING.

Not only that, but we were standing in a centuries old building made of stone that was broken down, but still together. It’s incredible.

After spending some time there, we walk out and turn further away from the vehicle to continue exploring. Turns out, there’s ruins of a house probably built in the 60’s. It’s old and kind of creepy, and there is definitely black mold, but it was beautiful at the same time. I couldn’t stop looking at it. I was amazed at how the building was still pretty well intact. I wondered about the people who used to live there. It definitely wasn’t an easy area to get to, which is probably why they left it. But, it was still really cool to see. We left and headed back down the mountain.

You would think that we would be done with the day at this point.

Think again.

We go out and again, Matt has another thing he wants to show me. Mostly, this really beautiful scenic road that goes through the rainforest. We head down it and I can definitely see the appeal. The drive is calming and so very green. We stop at this dam because I am highly curious about it. Now, remember when I said the building by the lighthouse looked like it was from Jurassic Park? Well, this dam definitely looked like it was part of the scenery in basically all of the movies. It was so lush and green, I couldn’t take my eyes off of it.

I ended up belting some Alanis Morrisette just because I could. Matt looked at me like he really didn’t expect that. I sometimes forget that we haven’t known each other very long; it feels like we have been best friends forever. We get back in the car and continue the drive and I just remember feeling the calmest and most relaxed I had ever felt. It truly was something different and unexpected. It’s so interesting how being in a different location/environment/society can change how you’re viewing the world. I mean, I tried to make sure to look for the beauty around me while I was in Michigan, and while I was traveling all over the contiguous United States. But this felt different.

Maybe I feel the calmest because it’s a tropical island. Or maybe it’s because there is so much green everywhere. Or maybe it’s because I’m near the ocean. Or maybe it’s the sunny and warm weather.

Could be all of those things, but I like to believe that it’s because I am exactly where I’m supposed to be, where God wants me to be – where I can better my life, my career, and my soul. I literally have slept the best I have ever slept while being here. That’s a sign.

Keep living, keep appreciating, keep smiling.

-Curby