Sound of Music

Finally, we are set for the famous Sound of Music hike. After making sure that everyone will be available, we are sorely disappointed that both Bruiser and Jane are unable to join us, due to injury and illness. We promise to repeat the hike when they recover fully. We wish everyone to have a chance to enjoy this hike while the trails are open this time of the year specifically for the race next month.
We are to meet at Chops' home. Still in darkness, we eventually find the sarong tied to the street sign that leads to her house. At 6 a.m., all are assembled at the driveway, with Dusty barking his hearty welcome.
Using flashlights, we proceed down Navy Hill Road and find the turnoff to the newly cleared Lamar Trail (aka Russian Trail).

The original Lamar trail has been rerouted when the Russian homes are built. We have a good view of the newly constructed houses at the bottom of the compound. 

The trail turns dark under the canopy of large trees and this hanging birds nest fern. The trail is mostly uphill over tree stumps, rocks and slippery dirt. We get a good workout right from the get go. 

A brief respite in this open field. The air is cool, we savor this moment of rest. The view is gorgeous.

Reaching the top of Lamar Trail, we stop for the view of Garapan and Managaha Island. With the clouds overhead, we don't expect to see much of a sunrise.

Coming out of Lamar Trail onto Captive Way, we turn left for Waserak Dr. We start this long trek of "wilderness" for the savanna. There are several offshoots from this road, but few houses. We are truly in the uninhabited part of the island. Mt. Tapochau is shrouded in the mist.

This large grove of bamboos is one of three or four stands of tall growths.

Last year we passed by this very same puddle, and we have called it a heart shape pond. This year Giggles claims this pond to be her "molar" pond!

The same abandoned van is still there. Now the windows are knocked out, and weeds are slowly devouring it. Chops goes to check out if there is any "thing" inside the van.

The trail starts to get muddy and slippery. Everyone picks their way carefully. Those who have brought their hiking poles are thankful for the extra support.

A debate is started to determine whether these are railway tracks or supports for a bridge. The heavier rainfalls this year have exposed the structure. No one can figure out why these are the only remains of whatever they have been used for. Dora stands over them for a closer look.

Cutie and Dora pose for this picture to show how rough the road is. This being part of the Xterra race trail next month, it is a challenge.

We walk through a stretch of the road we dub as the Field of Birds Nests Fern. There are literally hundreds and hundreds of ferns on the ground, up the trees, stretching far into the woods. 

Giggles balancing gingerly on the mucky middle lane. These roads have been gouged out by the giant two-wheelers. Looks like more challenges for the bike racers!

Cutie, Marcia, Giggles, and Dora heave-ho up the slope. We are near the "top" of the trail.

Cutie spots the turn-off onto this black-soil trail. We have arrived at the second Sound of Music. Spicegirl pleads hunger and looks for a spot to have our snack break.  

Giggles repeats her "grass angel" pose (from last year), but finds this savanna sinks deeper!

"Splendor in the Grass"angels Marcia, Dora, Spicegirl, Giggles, Chops, and Cutie. 

But wait! Who is that Peeping Tom?

Chops stuffing her face with her favorite cheese curls. This one is jalapeno curls. Everyone throws in so much snacks that it looks like an Easter Buffet! We fill our tummies and ready for the first Sound of Music. Having never taken this hike in reverse, we are temporarily lost (CC did warn everyone of this possibility). Chops and CC decide to take one of several trails and check it out. Realizing that this trail will go down to Kannat Tabla, we return to the group. Fortunately Giggles and her sharp eyes spots the bike trail, and we are on our way.

We run into this biker, one of two that we have met. This part of the trail is completely carved out through the sword grass. The trail runs on the shoulder between Mt. Tapochau and another hill.

After climbing up and up over the shoulder, Cutie finally is able to look back at the first savanna.

A bright green lizard is sunning on the tree trunk. Although the sun is out, it is very breezy and not hot at all.

Crossing over the original Sound of Music. Dora carries her pole on her shoulders, Spicegirl walks alongside. Giggles, Cutie, and Marcia are leading the pack. The tower on Mt. Tapochau looms in the distance.

Maybe we are just a little tired?

Many tour SUVs spent a few minutes on top of Mt. Tapochau to admire the view, and then drive back down hill, passing us.

A group photo on the steps of Marcia's home: L to R, Capt.Charlie, Spicegirl, Giggles, Marcia, Dora, Chops, Cutie, and Handy (looks suspiciously like the peeping tom, or Frankenstein!) 

The hike takes about four and half hours, with lots of up hills. Fortunately the weather is perfect. Right after we get into our cars to go home, the rain pours! We rate this hike Five Sneakers Plus.

Mariana Golf-Kimikaze-Autobaun

With Handy and Cutie both wishing to take a little easy on this hike, we decide to hike the trail behind the Mariana Country Club golf course, and up to Kimikaze, and Autobaun, ending with FEBC. At 6 a.m. we meet up at the Go-Kart parking lot. We are: Handy, Cutie, Chops, Bruiser, Jane, Spice Girl (aka Spicy Girl), and Capt. Charlie. Dora backed out due to late social engagement the previous night.

After crossing over the road toward the Country Club, we take Binadu Dr, for the backside of the golf course. At this point, Handy wants to cut through the golf course. Despite our objection to do so, as the guard at the golf club had frowned upon such intrusion the last time we did that, Handy decides to break off and proceeds to turn left toward the club. The rest of us take the dirt trail of Binadu Drive, then onto the main trail Matansa Drive. There we come to Camacho Quarry and note that the Quarry shows recent activity of new coral being dug and moved.

The sign on the gate of the quarry generates a great deal of interest by both the design and the color. Jane takes a photo.

Back on the main road of Magpi Parkway, Handy is waiting for us, having satisfied his independence. Here Handy defies the principle of gravity and demonstrates how to walk uphill bending backward. 

New sign directing the bikers to stay on the trail.

And who is this ochre-robed monk, having a cup of coffee??

It's the season for ripe wood roses. The rattlers (from the seeds inside the pocket) are ready for picking. Handy and Cutie will harvest some and decorate them with color sprays.

Several bunches of "pea pods" appear on this plant on Kimikaze. We are not sure what they are. Chops will check it out and enlighten us with their proper name. 

Recent prolific rainfalls have brought out these beautiful fern plants blanketing both sides of the Kimikaze trail.

Onto Autobaun Trail and a large number of these pods spread all over the trail. Larger than the tangan tangan seed pods (shown next to the larger pods), we are once again stumped by the source of these pods. Chops will have another investigative assignment.

Coming out of the first part of Autobaun, we are at the lookout for Bird Island. This is a brand new sign detailing the Bird Island Sanctuary. 

We decide not to go on the next section of the Autobaun, and proceed to the main road on our return trip. We are all hungry and park ourselves on the side of he road for snacking. Spice Girl brings moon cake, one of CC's favorite. 

Looking relaxed and sated with snacks. 

Having retraced uphill on Kimikaze, we return to Go-Kart via FEBC road (Ayuyu Dr.) These are some of the bikers we have met this morning. Part way down the road, we are caught in a rain shower, but make it back to our cars intact.

Ooops! we rush so quickly to our cars that we forget to take a group picture! 

Next week, Sound of Music.

Chinese New Year

To celebrate Chinese New Year, we have decided to take a shorter hike, from CC's house to Hidden Beach and be back early enough to celebrate with coffee and goodies. It sounds like a wonderful idea. To make it even more attractive, we start at 6:30 so we can see our way in daylight down the Xterra trail. At 6:40, Marcia, Dora, Chops and CC start the hike. 

A new discovery on the trail. A string of pods encased in a scalloped holder lay visible on the ground. We recognize the pods containing the seeds for the popular bojobo dolls. Looking around, we try to find out which plant is producing these pods.

We spot another string of pods hanging from a vine. Chops, with her height and her walking pole, manages to pull the pods down. A couple of the pods are opened and the seeds buffed. Marcia, Dora, and Chops show off the results. 

 View from the trail shows these beautiful coconut palms in perfect condition, unmolested by any storms. A stream bed runs below.

A sudden shower catches us as we near the beach. 

As we stand on the beach to watch the surfs, Dora lets out a shout as she turns around and sees this fantastically perfect rainbow. In fact, a second rainbow shows to form a double rainbow. We are very happy to see this "good omen".

The three beauties on the beach.

A hermit crab enjoying these coconuts opened by some kindly soul.

Chops and Dora discover a bunch of jellyfish scattered on the beach. Any thoughts of going into the water is set aside.  

A close-up of these small jellyfish with their tentacles trailing on the sand. There are literally hundreds of them in clumps on various spots on the beach. We can only guess it must be a seasonal event.

We linger on the beach looking for interesting rocks and glass shards. In the cave on the south side of the beach, we find this interesting looking rope attached to the top of the cliff. We figure that on a future hike we will plan to climb up this cliff to see where it leads to.

Dora is about to be eaten by this monster boar!

After a little bit of sustenance, we pose for this group photo before heading back up the trail to CC's house for our planned feast.

To make things more interesting, we forego the concrete steps, and climb up the boonie slope. Chops is near the top.

A quick stop at the Camacho farm, we find the star apples, which were green last week, are now ready for the picking. Marcia shows off her crop.

Marcia, Chops, and CC have also loaded up with the star apples. Chops is already eating hers.

A surprise welcome committee of Handy and Perky meets us on the trial. Back on the porch, we quickly assemble the goodies, brew the coffee, and get ready for some good snacks.

Yummmm, Yummmmm.