Two Beaches

12/22/13 Hidden Beach

With the Xterra Trail recently cleared, we decide to take the opportunity to fulfill Spicegirl's long-ago request to have a pre-Christmas "breakfast" at CC's house. At 6:30 Sunday morning, the group gathers at the driveway for a short hike to Hidden beach: Handy, Cutie, Ewok, Spicegirl, Scout, Sherpa, Sparky, CC and Boy eagerly cross the road onto the trail. The trail is indeed cleared. We are happy to make good time to the Camacho farm at the end of the trail.  

New residents at the farm. Although Boy shows a little interest, he realizes that these guys are  not reachable.

Water break. 

Another improvement for this hike is the repair of the concrete steps. Part of the steps have been  washed away during a typhoon several years ago, so the climb up and down this section was a little challenging. Some good folks have rebuilt them recently, so the tourists, shown here with their guide, can enjoy the beach.

Cutie leading Ewok, Handy, and Sparky down the final stretch of trail to the beach.

Beautiful early morning sun casting long shadows. Cutie and Sparky strolling on the sand, while Scout, Spicegirl and Boy admiring the calm seas.  

Cutie and Handy taking a short rest on the rocks. Since we have our breakfast plans, we skip the usual snack time on the beach. 

Boy shows off his newly learned skill. He makes mommy Spicegirl very happy.

Happy bunch of hikers enjoying coffee and breakfast. No bacon or eggs, just sweet stuff. Sherpa, Spicegirl, CC. Ewok, Sparky, Cutie, and Handy, all agree we should do this again.

Okay. A closer look at the goodies, banana muffins, nuts and chocolate chips cookies, coconut cookies, and healthy sliced apples. A very good pre-Christmas celebration.

12/29/13 Wing Beach

Finally, we are going to Wing Beach. After having postponed it twice, we feel that it is a good destination to cap off a year of great hikes. It will be an easy and short hike, so that we can relax on the beach before a big lunch. Wonder Woman has been waiting to visit this beach for the first time, so we are excited for her. We meet at the Go-Kart parking lot, soon Handy (new name Mr. Grace), Cutie, Alice (Cutie's niece), Spicegirl, Scout, Boy, Bruiser, Sherpa, Wonder Woman and CC cross the road to start climbing up toward the Country Club.

Sherpa comes prepared with coffee to help her carry the heavy backpack. The sky is overcast, so it is nice and cool for this long climb to the back side of the golf course.

Oh the backside of the golf course, everyone takes a short detour to look at the Camacho quarry which is now closed.

Leaving the gate of the Camacho Quarry: Sherpa, Ewok, Cutie, Mr. Grace, Wonder Woman, Alice, Scout, Spicegirl, and Boy.

 

Another tourist attraction.

Mr. Grace demonstrates his dancing skill as Sherpa and Wonder Woman look on, whether with admiration or awe, it's hard to tell :-) We have just negotiated carefully down the old FEBC road. We are now close to the turn off to the beach.

Wing Beach is the green sea turtle nesting beach, it has a long stretch of white sands, and the reef  is close enough to the beach for the female turtles to swim ashore to lay her eggs.  

A joyful Boy getting a sand bath. 

Since there is a group of campers near the entrance, we move south toward the golf course and park ourselves on the beach for our snack time. 

Making a perfect circle around the "table", everyone is relaxed , and the sea is calm. A perfect morning to wrap up our hiking year. We miss everyone who is not here to share this moment of complete contentment. 

Always-prepared Bruiser whips out his rain gear as soon as the sky starts to sprinkle. No one moves away from this light shower, as we know it will not last.

Beautiful. 

Also always-prepared Cutie opens her pink umbrella to protect the food. Our priority is set in the right place. 

The show-stealer! Boy figures he is the prettiest of them all, he should be front and center in this group photo.

Having stolen the last shot, Boy retreats to the back of the crowd for this picture: Ewok, Alice, Wonder Woman, Boy, Cutie, Grace, CC, Bruiser, Sherpa, Spicegirl, and Scout.

We walk past the rugged coastline just outside of the golf course to find our short cut to the car.

Pretty Alice balances on the coral rock. 

A very satisfying hike to stretch our legs and relax on the beach. We look forward to 2014 to explore more new trails and to repeat some of our favorites trails. Happy New Year!

Laderan Tangke 12/8/13 & Banaderu 12/15/13

Laderan Tangke 12/8/13

With many of the trails still under the influence of rainy season growth, we decide to take on the Laderan Tangke Trail which is mostly clear year round. To avoid walking out on the long stretch of unpaved road after the challenging L.T. trail, CC suggests that we park our cars at the clearing at Marker #16, the end of the trail, so we can make a easy and quick exit. Twelve brave souls in four vehicles tackle the bumpy and somewhat overgrown road from the entrance of the nature trail. It gives Bruiser/Jane's "Little White Car That Can" a real workout. We eventually arrive at the clearing (which is not as clear as we have thought) and park. 

These three smiling faces have just finished a grueling Hell of the Marianas bike race the day before. Bravo. Youth does have its advantages. 

Moving figures on the road toward Marker #1.   

The trail is thick old growth jungle. Wonder woman and Handy follow Chops. 

We are delighted to welcome Boy back from his ordeal. He looks healthy and extremely happy attacking hermit crabs and everything that moves.

Another special feature of this trail is the numerous limestone "forests" of various sizes and shapes, and some spectacular formations. Here the group decide to take a rest: Wonder Woman, Thor, Ewok, Bruiser, Sherpa (previously aka Jane), Cowboy, Dora, and Chops.

Dora and Spicegirl having a discussion as they conquer this part of the limestone buildup.

Is that Sasquatch taking a photo of us? 

Ewok guiding Bruiser, Sherpa, and Wonder Woman carefully in case of another encounter with the Sasquatch. 

Buiser negotiating a rough drop. 

Chops almost accepted our challenge to perform her limbo dance under the fallen tree.  

Ewok does a modified limbo dance.  

Bruiser checking out an interesting little cave with candle-like items inside. We stop to snack after Marker #14, with the intention to continue onto the Bird Island overlook. However, time is late, so we save that hike for another time.

Happy to exit Marker #16 and back to the parking area with tall bushes. Wonder Woman having taken off earlier, the rest of us stay for this nice photo: Capt. Charlie, Sherpa, Thor, Ewok, Spicegirl, Scout (aka Andy), Dora, Sparky, Bruiser, Chops, and Cowboy. Great Hike...

Banaderu Trail 12/15/13

It is a little touch and go as to whether we can hike the Banaderu trail from the Last Command Post to the top of Suicide Cliff, as heavy rainfall greets us on Saturday night, and the forecast is for more rain on Sunday. We decide to wait and see whether we will need to change the venue on Sunday morning. 

Sunday begins with stars in the sky. We gather at the parking space next to the Korean Monument, away from the tour buses, to begin our hike. With just a few clouds in the sky, we are hopeful that we will have little or no rain.

Wonder Woman, Sparky, and Handy looking at this interesting monument, not able to read the inscription. Behind this area is the start of the trail.

With heavy foliage, the trail is dark and rocky. We soon begin to climb steadily, over boulders and slippery roots. We are careful not to step on the roots. Using tree trunks liberally scattered along the trail, we are able to haul ourselves up the steep slope relatively easily. Ewok, Sparky, and Chops looking up ahead for more climbing.

Dora, Cutie, and Cowboy are pleased to have found nice rocks to sit on and rest.

Ewok appears to have four eyes, peering over the tree trunk for any danger lurking beyond. 

Handy takes a fall and rips his shorts.

Ewok and Sparky appear to be looking at something interesting, complete with pointing and staring. But actually they wish to have a picture taken of them with nice and smooth chin and neck. Vanity... 

Right in the middle of our hike, Dora and Ewok have a biceps challenge. Hands down, Ewok has more hair! 

Chops stepping on large stone steps nearing the top of the trail.

Although the weather is beautiful, not a drop of rain throughout the hike, but it is windy. The waters off the Marpi coast are choppy.

Top of Suicide Cliff, where thousands jumped to their deaths. Warded off by the railing, Sparky, Chops, Ewok and Wonder Woman contemplate the current peace and serenity of the scenery.

Snacking at the benches by the monuments, the wind is so strong that we have to use our hiking poles to hold down the table cloth. Still, a strong gust blows the snacks off the bench.

Dora and her healthy concoction of a snack. No noni drinks this week.

We are charmed by the combination of a cross and the statue of the Goddess of Compassion (Kuan Yin/Bodhisattva), and the lotus shape base. Group photo of CC, Sparky, Cutie, WW, Handy, Ewok, Chops, Cowboy, and Dora. 

After an unanimous decision not to return on the same trail, we take the main road down. Ewok lives up to his namsake, with his nature walking stick...

Ewok goes hiking...

A thorn between five roses. Ewok looks triumphant. Beautiful blue lagoon in the background caps off our hike. Five Sneakers Hike.