Memorial Monument & Cow Town

For Easter Sunday, Cutie and RedEyeHandy take over the helm of the hike. They wish to show their house guest and the hikers the grave site of a Japanese family near the Sabaneta Shore. It is "advertised" as an Easy Easter hike, with basically flat road and trail. Eleven hikers gather at the Last Command Post at 6 a.m.: Sherpa, Bruiser, Cutie, RedEye, Karen, Chops, CC, Thor, Sparky, Ewok, and WonderWoman, to begin the hike toward Banzai Cliff.

On Banzai Road, we see this almond tree full of almond nuts (not yet ripe). This is a local variety of the almond tree. When ripe, the nuts, although smaller than the regular almonds, have the same taste. The leaves will later turn red and fall off like autumn leaves.

About a quarter mile later, we turn onto this trail, following the first group of fast walkers are WonderWoman, RedEye, Cutie, Karen, Thor, and Chops.

Soon we reach the steps that lead down to the cave. The previously slippery steps are now made easier with hand railing of rough tree limbs. But it helps. Thor and Chops carefully lower themselves toward the cave where Ewok is taking a picture, and Bruiser and Karen are resting.

One of the special features is the skull like rock formation in the front, where two hollow eye sockets are staring out into the distance. 

The pointy arch opens to the boonies and the distant cliff line.

Cutie, Thor, Ewok, Chops and WonderWoman looking around in the cave.

Sparky and Ewok inside the cave, while Karen goes deeper in to see what is beyond  the entrance. WonderWoman heads out.

Looking through double windows from inside the cave towards the ocean. Look closely at the lower window, who is standing there? 

Continuing our journey down, Karen and Cutie carefully lower themselves, Thor and WonderWoman wait their turn. 

Into the boonies, RedEye gives a short introduction to the upcoming sight of latte stones.

We come upon this unexploded shell on the ground, just over one foot long. 

Ancient Chamorro village of latte Stone. It is protected with yellow tape. It shows the original latter stones that is made of limestone, basalt, or sandstone. These lattes are small in size, the pillar (haligi) remain standing, and the top (tasa) are on the ground.

 
A drawing of a latte stone house.

After leaving the latte stone site, we begin to look for the memorial "monument". As we encounter some really rough and sharp coral rocks, we are not able to locate it. Meanwhile, the hikers are out on the water edge, looking around and having fun. The water is calm. Cutie and CC climb up big rocks to scan the landscape for any sign of the monument, without success. Finally, Cutie  and CC make their way north, as Cutie recalls there is a trail. Soon a shout arises from Cutie, as she finds the monument.

As told by the Ohsawa son to Cutie and RedEye: His father was a manager at the sugar factory here, and during the final days of the war, the Ohsawa family, whose home was near the Serena cave, gathered together and the mother told the young son he must escape and survive. The father and the two sons hid in the Serena cave and survived. The mother and other females in the family jumped to their death (to avoid being harmed by the approaching American soldiers). The son came back to Saipan years later and erected this small memorial on the Sabaneta shore. The plaque says, "Ohsawa Family Grave Site" 

Cutie taking a photo of the memorial which is imbedded on this tall lava rock.

Following the trail that clearly leads us from the memorial to the steps back to the cave and the main trail, Cutie gets ahead and aims her camera at Thor, WonderWoman, Bruiser, and Sherpa.

By the time we are back on the main trail, the sun has risen and all the dew laden spider webs are glittering in the light.

Marching towards Banzai Cliff, the "Seven Samurai" are either elated?, or surrendering? Here is another guessing game: Can you identify the seven silhouettes? Everyone can participate (except CC), and we may even have a "prize" for the First Correct Answer! 

A Surprise find in the old Cow Town barracks on the trail. The old Royal Taga Hotel is now the Saipan World Resort. See below the story in the October 29, 2003 Saipan Tribune.

The old Royal Taga Hotel, the first hotel and modern tourist facility in the Northern Marianas after World War II is up for demolition, with its current owner, Saipan World Resort Corp., planning to build a more modern facility. (Photo by John Ravelo)

A brief stop at the beach on the northern shore. Everyone scatters to explore the tide pools, take  pictures, and watch the waves.

And some find a shady spot to rest, Thor, Ewok, Sparky, Cutie, and RedEye are thinking about snack time. We decide to get away from the sun, and walk back to the Cow Town road and prop ourselves right in the middle of the road, spread out the tablecloth and enjoy snack time.

A group photo before we hit the road back to the cars: RedEye (what is he doing with his hands?), CC, WonderWoman, Bruiser, Sparky, Chops, Sherpa, Ewok, Cutie, Karen, Thor. 

A good hike, with lots to see, especially the memorial, and we still get home early enough for the rest of the day's activities. 5 Sneakers.

Crack to Cave

Despite a warning that this Sunday's hike will be rather challenging, ten hikers show up at the big taotaomona tree in Marpi at 6 a.m. to visit the crack and to climb up into a neat cave: Handy, Cutie, Chops, Thor, Sparky, Ewok, Dora, Cowboy, Rexplorer, and CC. Since the original trail has been overgrown with tall grass, ever-spreading mother-in-laws-tongues, and thickening tree branches, we push through to find the first of the "on ribbon!". From there we skirt around the "tongues" and follow the ribbons toward the fence (of the farm), and up to the cliff.

It being the start of dry season, boonie bees are out and about. Chops, who has been stung the previous Sunday, falls victim once more. Following closely behind, Dora becomes the second victim. Here Ewok, Handy, Cowboy, and Sparky stop to share a moment of "laughter".

Under the big tree is the "party" ground where numerous broken dishes and cups, and bottles are strewn around. 

Final approach to the trail along the cliff that leads to the opening of the "crack". Dora picks her way carefully over fallen logs and boulders.

Lining up at the entrance to the Crack are Handy, Thor, Sparky, and Chops. The Crack is barely wide enough for one person, so everyone has to wait for his/her turn.  

Dora, Cutie, and Ewok making their way into the Crack. The floor is covered with a thick layer of leaves, the walls of the crack extend upward at least fifty feet from where we can see the sky. The first part of the crack is pretty easy walking.

The track gets narrower, and here a huge boulder wedged between the two rock walls, and the distance between the two walls is only about a foot and half. Ewok removes his backpack and waist pack to squeeze through.

Dora comes out on the other end of the Crack.

Ewok, Chops, and Dora climbing the steep trail that hugs the cliff, toward the cave. Part way up this cliff, we run into Handy and Cutie. Handy gets stabbed in the eye by a small sharp branch and his eye is red.

Handy's eye is fill with blood, even though it doesn't hurt. Cutie decides to take him to the hospital right away. Rexplorer leads them down the easier way to their car. We all hope Handy will be okay. It becomes clear that we should all be careful and wear glasses in the boonies to prevent getting poked in the eye or body.

Thor holding up this little nut with fuzzy-hair . 

The cave. At the entrance is a table with war relics.  

Ewok, Thor, Cowboy reach the cave and take a breather before checking it out.

On top of a slab of rock are these war relics. Even though this cave is rarely visited, probably due to the difficulty of reaching it, we notice that a few of the items we have seen in the past are now missing. Preserving the integrity of caves has been a challenge.

After squeezing through a tight opening into the inner chamber of the cave, Chops agrees to take a look through a small window into the lower chamber, despite her dislike of caves. The lower chamber is interesting and inviting, although we have never venture into it in the past.

Fearless Cowboy decides to go down into the lower chamber. Here he squeeze through the small window head first.

Going, going, gone.

In the lower chamber, Cowboys reports that past human occupancy is obvious, as various implements and tools are left behind.

Rexplorer looks through the window to ask questions and to make sure Cowboy is okay. We are crouching near Rexplorer to make sure he is okay too. The air is hot and humid.

Ewok takes his turn to look through the window.

Cowboy goes one step further into a hole below the lower chamber. It is hard to imagine how anyone could stay in these chambers for any long periods as the ventilation is minimal and the claustrophobic feeling can be frightening. Cowboy seems to enjoy his adventure.

Snack time just outside the cave. Cowboy and Dora and Ewok are ready for a rest.

Rexplorer returns and reports safe trip for Handy and Cutie to their car. Chops, Thor and Rexplorer enjoy some satisfying snacks.

Sparky sits some distance away and waits for air-borne snack packages to fly over. On the way back, instead of retracing through the crack, we take the easy way down the gentle slope to the main road, just in time to see Rexplorer and Ewok making their get-away.

 Is Sparky trying to push them away, or pull them back?

Another shrunken group, from ten to six: Sparky, Thor, Chops, Dora, CC, and Cowboy, happy to survive another adventure.

Happy to report that Handy is okay. His eye is still a bit red, but no permanent damage done. It is suggested that his new hiking name will be RedEye.

Everyone enjoys the hike greatly, despite bee stings and bloody eye. Five Sneakers are given to this hike. Another future attempt will be made for RedEye and Cutie who miss the cave.