Hill-Hike

After the relatively "easy" hike last week, we decide we need a more vigorous cardio workout this week. The two hills of FEBC Ayuyu Dr., and Kimikaze Trail fit the bill quite well. We will start at the Go-Kart parking, go up FEBC to Kimikaze, then back up Kimikaze, down behind the golf course and return to parking. At 6:30 a.m. seven of us gather at the parking lot. Oh, sorry, Boy makes eight.

 

A joyful Boy gives Sparky a manly welcome, leaving two nice paw prints on Sparky's clean white shirt. Maybe it's the snacks Boy is more interested in. From the parking lot, we walk up to the start of the Ayuyu Dr. and begin climbing the steep hill.

Part way up the hill, we notice, through the thinning trees, dark shapes that look like caves. We decide to explore. We are quite surprised to see these two holes on the mountain side, looking like a skull with two deep set eye sockets buried halfway in the ground. Here Spicegirl, Bruiser and Sherpa contemplate whether these holes have been created by the fallout of the rocks at the base.

 

Bruiser decides to climb up the scree-like hill side to get a closer look at the cave that must have deposited all the loose rocks. Curious Boy follows closely to see it for himself. 

 

Sparky, Thor and Ewok waiting at the entrance to the big caves. Ewok checking out his phone. From here we continue up Ayuyu and Kalebera Road to the trail head of Kimikaze.

 

On the way to Kimikaze, Boy finds a chicken in the boonies and disappears. Spicegirl, Bruiser, and Sherpa go to look for him. He has chased the chicken up a tree. Meanwhile Sparky and Thor waiting at the trail head.

 

We are a bit surprised that the first hundred feet of the trail is so overgrown. Fortunately no mimosa attacking us.

 

Is Sherpa imitating a bird or a plane in the fern forest? The ferns are spread far and wide, and very tall. It is a very beautiful part of the Kimikaze trail. 

Almost near the end of the trail and we notice a series of ribbons leading to the left. We are curious to see where the ribbons will lead us. Here Sparky examines a bundle of pink/blue/yellow ribbons. The trail continues.

The trail winds through the boonies where we can hear a lot of birds. We are careful not to run into any nettings in case they are placed somewhere along the trail. This is one of the old building walls. The trail is very well-marked and pleasant. Eventually we come back out on the main road, a couple of hundred feet from the end of the Kimikaze trail. We decide to take a break here.

Boy meets girl. Girl wins in growling and snapping at Boy.

Mamiko and Sherpa doing a secret dance. Mamiko takes her dogs away before Boy gets any more idea of making friends.

A perfect spot to not only spreading out our snacks and enjoying a roadside break, we can also greet all the joggers, bikers and drivers. After the snack, the group split into two, one group   (Thor, Sparky, and Ewok) decides to take the long route on the road, and the other (Bruiser, Sherpa, Spicegirl, Boy, and Capt. Charlie) opts to go back up Kimikaze. We agree to meet up at the beginning of the trail.

We notice there is a continuation of the trail we have taken earlier. It goes in the other direction. Of course we have to find out where it leads to. This area is completely different, as there are lots of rock formations. Sherpa is tackling one more ascend, while Spicegirl and Boy watch closely. Not wanting to spend more time on this trail even though it looks interesting, we return to the mail trail.

Bruiser and Sherpa in the midst of fern forest. 

The road group arrives at the rendezvous first. We take our photo right by the trail exit: Sparky, Thor, Ewok, Bruiser, CC, Sherpa, Spicegirl and Boy. Of course this is not the end of the hike. We continue downhill, retracing our steps.

The par course circuit was installed along with the building of the pathway during Froilan Tenorio's administration in 1993 - 97. Judging from the condition of the equipment, it is apparent that no maintenance has been kept, and most of the circuits are no longer useful. From the main road, we turn onto the dirt road behind the golf course.

Near the end of the trail behind the golf course, Ewok appears to be sleep-walking. It has been hot and humid. Once again two groups separated to go back to the parking lot. One group (Ewok, Bruiser, Sherpa) continues onto the main Pale Arnold Road, and the other (Thor, Sparky, Spicegirl, Boy, and CC) circles the south end of the golf course.

Boy has a cut on his nose when he goes on a big chase after another chicken over the barbed wire fence. Spicegirl comforts him.

Sparky sitting in the middle of the road while Thor continues downhill. Apparently Sparky is holding Boy to keep him from running off to the main road. Spicegirl puts Boy on the leash.

On Umang Dr. near the main road, Thor and CC find this big tree, mostly leaveless, with dark pods hanging on the branches. The tree has similar shape as flame trees, but the leaves are tiny, and the branches and trunk have horizontal striations. We look around the base of the tree to see if any of the pods have fallen on the ground.

Delighted to find several pods, brown and shiny, with rattling seeds inside. Seeking information from Chops yields the answer that it is called an Ear Tree, native of Costa Rica. CC's further research on Google and Wikipedia: The tree is known as Guanacaste, Caro Caro, Elephant Ear Tree, or Devil's Ear, a species in the pea family. It is popular as a shade tree, shedding its leaves for a month or two during dry season. The pod Thor is holding is called Guanacaste Fruit. Thor opens one section of the pod to retrieve a seed.

Here is the very pretty seed, described as "very hard, resembling small stones rather than tree seeds in their strength and durability. In order for germination to occur, the hard seed coat must be broken to enable water to reach the embryo. Otherwise, they will lie dormant indefinitely." It is wonderful to find another imported tree on island. We will watch for the tree when it has its full thick crown of leaves.

This hike gives us the cardio workout as planned, and we find new caves, new trail, and new tree. It is quite hot and humid, and the total time is @4.5 hours. It is a 4.5-sneaker hike.