Loranges' Last Stand at Old Man by the Sea

It's a sad day, and a happy day. Sad because this is the "last" hike Bruiser and Sherpa-Jane will join us on Saipan, as they soon to set sail to the Aloha state. Happy because so many hikers show up for this special event. The hike is chosen by the short-timers, and it is a good one. Old Man by the Sea, or Profile Beach is one of our favorites. Despite pouring rain the previous evening, we are ready to tackle the short but somewhat challenging trail to the beach. At 6:15, eighteen exciting hikers park the cars along the road side by the trail head, and ready to take off.

PT Shelley accompanied by dog Winnie approach the eagerly awaiting crowd. They complete the roll call for the hiking group.

 

The trail begins with a narrow and muddy path along the barbed wire fence. Ewok, Kate, Chops, WonderWoman, Vince, JungleCat, Bruiser and others watching their steps closely.

 

Wonder Woman completes the first set of ropes up the slippery slope, as Vince, JungleCat, and Dora await their turn.

 

Over the top of the hill is the second and more challenging series of ropes down a muddy and slippery trench. Here Wonder Woman and Chops go on the high side to avoid the mud. Ewok watches intently.

 

Vince makes it to the bottom as JungleCat does a fancy balancing act. Dora, Bruiser, Sherpa and Giggles are all finding their own special skills in descending without falling.

Oops! Sherpa-Jane is doing a flying trapeze act, while Dora holds the rope taut for Bruiser. Giggles steps gingerly down. Meanwhile, Scout, Spicegirl, and Sunny explore new alternative path.

At the bottom of the hill is the tangled grove of branches and vines. JungleCat is the crouching tiger.

Dora, Bruiser, Sherpa-Jane, Giggles, and Sunny hiding in the shelter of the branches. Soon they will be on the beach to see the Old Man.

Vince, newly crowned Mowgli, sticks his finger up the Old Man's nose. 

MOWGLI, of Rudyard Kipling's "The Jungle Book", is now a cute partner of the lovely Jungle Cat!

With so many rainy days, the stream going down to the beach is "full". A Crowd gathers to look at river creatures.  

A sizable shrimp swimming in the pond with only one claw.

PT Shelley presents Jane and Bruiser with a beach-find of a little green soldier and an old empty bullet shell, a souvenir to remind them of Saipan. 

Wonder Woman strolls the beach while Chops, Spicegirl and Sherpa-Jane enjoys the cool breeze.

Snacks on the beach with so much goodies. Sherpa is searching and trying to make up her mind.

 Cutie discovers these Two Old Men.

CC, Sunny, Chops, Scout, Lee (crowned Chatter Box), Spicegirl, Dora, JungleCat, Mowgli, Giggles, Bruiser, Ewok, Sherpa-Jane, WonderWoman, Cutie, Kate, HandyRedEye (aka Soleless  sometimes), PT Shelley, and good dog Winnie.

Dora and Sherpa-Jane on the way back up the hill with the help of this big rope.

Two years of having Sherpa-Jane carry the hiking pack, Bruiser finally decides to relieve Sherpa of the load on this final hike!

JungleCat in the trunk.

The Big Shoe-Round-table. Try your skills at recognizing the owners of these shoes and win a "prize". Two hints: 1. Start with the pink pants, it's Cutie. Go clockwise. 2. There are only 15 shoes. Minus Spicegirl, Scout, and Sunny.

Submit you answers ASAP. Let's see who has the 'bestest' sharp eyes! First correct answer wins...

Kimikazi Reunion

With the combination of rainy season and the recent storm, many of the hiking trails are either inaccessible or just plain too wet. One trail that remains fairly dry and mostly open is the Kimikazi trail. On Sunday the 19th, nine hikers gather at the Marpi GoKart parking lot for a reunion hike to stretch our legs and expand our lungs with a hearty climb up the old FEBC (Ayuyu) Road. 

As we leave the GoKart lot for the main road, we are delighted to see this rainbow. It is a welcome sign foretelling a good hike.

  

Handy showing off his brand new shoes.

This new sign marking the entrance to the Kimikaze Trail and the Conservation Area Boundary. It is a good sign encouraging hikers and bikers to preserve the trail, the plants and animals, and no motorized vehicles.

First group photo before PTShelley and HandyRedEye make their turnaround trip back to the car park. Here Shelley, dog Winnie, RedEye, Chops, Lee, Ewok, Giggles, Cutie, WonderWoman, and Capt. Charlie bid farewell. Shelley has an appointment to attend, but why is RedEye going back?

One of HandyRedEye's brand new shoes has come unglued. It is deja vu with our Laderan Tanghke hike a few months ago where RedEye lost both soles of his other "new" shoes. 

To make walking more easy, PT decides to yank off the other sole of Handy's "new" shoe, which comes off easily. Now Handy is truly soleless!

We have expected the tall sword grass at the beginning of the trail, so we plough through the grass and mimosa. But after the sword grass, we are surprised at how jungly the trail has become. Several trees have fallen,  blocking the trail. Giggles getting ready to crawl under the branches.

Cutie, Chops, WonderWoman, and Ewok take their turn.

There is a general feeling that the Kimikaze trail has a different atmosphere with its more jungly appearance, even though the trail is still easy to follow. 

A big fungus growing on the tree trunk.

A large tree fell across the trail.

Ewok checking out this vine that has snaked around the tree.

At the end of Kimikazi and beginning of Autobaun, we spread out our snacks to enjoy a leisurely break before we head back.

Last week's cupcakes become this week's cinnamon rolls. Giggles does it again!

Just as we get ready to pack up, large drops of rain start to fall. Chops and Ewok spread out their rain gear. WonderWoman and Cutie are well prepared with umbrellas. The rest will just get wet.

LET IT RAIN...

The rain has stopped, but this rain laden tree branch let Giggles peek through a small opening. The trail remains quite dry, the air is cool, although the sun has come out and humidity is heavy. We have actually enjoyed the momentary drenching by the rain. The return trip ends quite quickly and pleasantly. 

Picture of the remaining seven hikers at the parking lot: CC, Cutie, WonderWoman, Ewok, Lee, Chops, and Giggles.

Before we leave, we hear fire trucks, ambulance, and police cars rushing north. We decide to follow and see what is happening. 

We follow the emergency vehicles to the Grotto, and find out that a body has been discovered floating on the Grotto water. 

This is an unusual ending to our Sunday hike.