Cricket, cricket, cricket

Whenever you mention cricket to a West Indian, the first and maybe only thing that comes to his mind is the West Indies team, our symbol of Caribbean integration.

But when my friend mentioned something about cricket to me, I was reluctant, because although I like the sport, I dont play. Well at least I only play softball cricket, I just dont think I could survive a bouncer with the regular cricket balls. But he was actually talking about the insect. He was going cricket hunting in Soufriere with coworkers from the Division of Forestry.

So here I was last night, on my way to the South of the island, in a group of four persons eager to get my hands dirty to collect cave crickets. They are called cave crickets because they hide between rocks and in small openings (miniture caves). I thought that catching crickets would be an easy task, we get there, put on our flashlights, search on the rocks and just collect them into our traps, what a rude awakening I recieved. It's a good thing I am a quick learner.

It is a good experience to walk through the forest during the day but nothing compares to night walks, that's when the forest and its critters come alive. I am an avid hiker and have walked through Dominica's forests many a times but I've always been disappointed with only spotting a few critters but not this time. Caterpillars, giant slugs, centipedes, frogs, snakes littered the forest floors but off course we were there on business, cricket business so everything else had to take a back seat, well at least I had to resort to only taking quick snap shots.

Now back to the hunting, that word makes it sound so dangerous, so I think I will refer to it as collecting. We got to Soufriere jsut after sunset, around 6:50 and already the place sounded so alive. Frogs, crickets and other insects made music, well at least to our ears. So we strapped on our headlights (similar to miners), collected our handmade traps (collection bins made from bottled water containers) and our nets (aquarium fishnets). We really improvised with our equipment.

At first I found it very difficult to catch one cricket, these critters jumped so fast and blended in so well with their environment (twigs, rotten leaves and forest litter). It took some time for the eyes to adapt to the area and for my hands to really getting used to the fast jumping activity of the crickets. I was on my hands and knees doing my best and still not one cricket found its way into my trap, what a disappointment.

Gradually I got the hang of it and at one time I even caught three of them in a row, I was feeling like a champion collector, lol. The rest of the night went on smoothly, we even stumbled upon a centipeded devouring a snake on the forest floor. All in all, it was a very good night, my first experience with collecting crickets but definitely not my last.

So now you can call me Delroy N. Williams, Cricket hunter, lol.

Just in case you are wondering why we were collecting crickets, there is a breeding program for crickets at the Botanic Gardens to feed the Crapaud or Mountain Chicken (Leptodactylus fallax), which is a frog that lives in Dominica and Montserrat. The population has declined by approximately 80 % in the last ten years and this species is now critically endangered. The fungal disease chytridiomycosis has had a dramatic effect on the population. So research efforts are on the wayto find a cure and to increase the numbers by a captive breeding program.

Locally, it is known as the Mountain Chicken for its large size and the fact it's hunted for food. As of 2007 eating the mountain chicken is discouraged because of its decreasing population due to the fungal disease. For more information check here.

Nest@

Hike no. 7: Middleham and Fond England Falls

Some time ago I heard about the Fond England Falls from a Peace Corps volunteer who was assisting the Cockrane community. I was surprised that there was a waterfall in the Roseau Valley that I hadn’t visited as yet and was determined to hike to it, just one problem there was no track/trail to the falls and any hike had to be as an expedition-type activity.

So turning on my radio on Wednesday I was excited to hear Ibrahim Brohim “The Sign Man” talking about the last hike of the 7 Wonders of Hiking in Dominica to the Middleham and Fond England Falls. The hike was being organized by Dwivayez Hiking Club and the National Reunion Committee 2008. I immediately rushed to their office, paid my 30 dollars and signed up without even checking my schedule for that Saturday, although I later found out that it was clear.

Saturday morning, bright and early, I made my way to the Financial Center to meet up with some 40 – 50 other hikers. We took the bus up to Providence, Laudat and assembled at the Middleham Falls Welcome Center. After a quick welcome, prayer and some hiking hints we were on our way around 7:00am. It was still kind of dark in the forest; the sun hadn’t come up yet on that part of the island.

I remember our guide saying that the first past of the hike was easy and the second part to Fond England was challenging to difficult, I took that to mean that it was difficult for the older hikers but I was to be pleasantly surprised.

I don’t really like to hike in prepared trails with the walkways all laid out with logs and ferns (fwigé). I prefer to walk and jump in the mud, if I can’t get dirty then I don’t feel like I’m taking a hike but just a walk or stroll. So for the first 45 minutes I was just running thru the trail and having fun taking pictures and drinking from the numerous streams along the way.

Did I mention that I am a competitive hiker? Even if no one is consciously competing with me I race through with every intention of making it first to the destination. Okay, I wasn't the first to reach Middleham falls, I was fifth but still in the first cluster of hikers. No one seemed to want to descend to the fresh pools of the falls until myself and my college classmate, now police officer, made our way down. Then all of a sudden every one was in the water swimming in the water. Did I mention that the water is as cold as ice? The sun rays hardly ever strike the water of the falls in the forest because of the leaf cover. I didn’t take a bath at Middleham, I was saving myself for Fond England falls and I would regret that choice.

After about 30 minutes of watching hikers swim across the pond at the base of the falls and taking photos of the picturesque scenery we gathered our bags and made our way back up the trail then made our way to the Tou Santi (Stinking Hole). It is another area of interest along the trail; a volcanic vent frequented by bats and the mixtures of the fumes and bat manure make for a very “undesirable” stink.

We continued along the trail, still to the front of the pack and almost passed the entrance of the Fond England Falls trail because it was only marked with ribbons. And now the true challenge began. We (pack of 6) made ourselves thru the dense forest search out pink and red ribbons to direct our path. Along the way, we had to grab unto young trees, descend a cliff holding unto knotted rope and even drag our butts in the mud, all worth it and exactly what I wanted in a hike.

By the time we made it down the mountain we were at a small river which came from the falls so from there it was upstream over rocks and through the water. Sweaty, muddy and now wet, just the way I like my hike, well the only thing missing was a good Dominican rain shower. I was the first to make it to Fond England and at first I was a little disappointed upon approaching the falls but then I touched the cold water, took a dip and felt all my pores open up under the crystal clear water and it was all worth it.

I had remarked one thing though during the hike, that although the Morne Trois Pitons National Park, World Heritage Site was renowned for its wildlife I had only heard the songs of a few birds (Siffleur Montagne) and seen one cyrique (crab). I wanted to cross paths with some snakes, agouti or manicou but I guess it was not to be today, well maybe the next time I visit the falls because this definitely isn’t my last hike there. I will definitely be back.

After about an hour at Fond England, we made our way back, first downstream, then back up the mountain, although easier it was more tiring to go up the muddy mountain side. My legs trembled up the hillside after a moment but I refused to stop because I didn’t want to lose momentum. But finally, I made it through the track to find a welcoming site, a white bus. It picked us up, by that time I was in a pack of four (4) persons and we descended Cockrane to the school where we feasted on rabbit water, fig and codfish, grilled plantains and sugar cane, all Dominican favourites. It was all worth it.

All in a day of hiking, all in my day.

Nest@