Naftan Point Adventure

After much discussions, mapping, and numerous email exchanges, our first foray into the southern hemisphere is finally launched. Handy, our proud driver, picks up neighbor CC, Chops at the post office, Ning at CHC, and we all meet up with Kento at Herman's. Our trail to Naftan starts at Hawaiian Rocks.

The day is cool and breezy, the trail through a canopy of trees and tall bushes is more or less clear, with occasional hanging branches. Part way down the trail we take a left turn that takes us for about 3/4 mile to a spectacular view of a huge gap in the rocky cliff. The gap slopes into the foaming ocean below, and Forbidden Island is clearly visible in the distance. We pick our way carefully on the jagged rockes for a closer look. On the way out we notice the ground is covered with rusty iron shards.

Returning to the main trail, we continue southward, and then take another left turn through a wind-swept grassy field that leads to a iron fence. The fence used to be in fairly good shape so one could look down the cliff that drops straight to the rocky shore. But today, the fence is, sadly, mostly gone. But the grassy field is so inviting that we decide to have a "picnic" right there. Here, we also officially christen Kento with his hiker nickname of Clark, as "Clark Kento" the Super Man, after he has earlier volunteered to explore a steep opening on the right side of the trail. We stop him, but the his nickname is born.

The next nickname is volunteered by Ning, who aptly calls herself Giggles. We all agree that she has the happiest, loudest and most frequent giggles.

Just as we near the Point, a sudden shower catches us on the trail. Fortunately the canopy offer some protection, but we are still all wet. The shower lasts only a few minutes. The big gun is our final destination. This is the first time Handy, Clark, and Giggles get this up close look, and they are impressed by how huge it is. When we walk closer to the cliff we realize how well the gun is hidden from enemy sights. CC and Chops are sad that the gun is rusting away by the harsh weather.

We find two gate posts mid way on the way back. Not sure if they are Japanese or American as the surface of the posts are tiled. The final nickname is chistened in absentia, for Kento's mom who cannot make it to the hike today. We name her Wonder Woman.

So now the gang of hikers has completed the nickname roster:

Handy; Cutie; Chops (short for chopsticks); Peppy Devine; Monte; Clark; Wonder Woman; CC (how many names can you come up with these two initials? No nasty words :-)

We estimate the hiking distance today is roughly five miles, with lengthy stops, it takes us nearly three hours. The trails are mostly flat, with a couple of gentle hills, so we are not overly tired. We are able to find the connecting trail head to the lower trail. Giggles is assigned to find the lower trail head and tie a ribbon there. The next time we hike Naftan we will start from Obyan Beach.

A good, and all around, successful hike today.