SundayHikers: In Our Backyard

Lured by the idea of an exploration into the unknown territory, and to find exotic new discoveries, thirteen hardy souls gather on Sunday at 6 a.m. for the first of the May hiking series. Despite an early morning rainfall, the sky is clear and the spirit is high. Welcoming new comers Efrain, Martha, David, and Vlad, the return of Wonder Woman, and the regular hikers Ewok, Thor, Giggles, CB, Chops, Sparky, Rexplorer, and Capt. Charlie, everyone is ready.

Armed with long pants (most of us), gloves, sustenance, and some hiking poles, it's time to go.

Forewarned that the terrain is going to be rough, we find that, as soon as we enter the boonie area, it is indeed covered with ages of fallen trees, branches, and leaves.

A few minutes later, we are at the site of this old gun. Time and element have worn it down, with the side seats missing, and the ground on which it is situated two feet higher than the original depth. It is still very impressive.

Two of the storage bunkers near the gun.

Leaving the gun site, we enter a large bamboo grove. The ground is completely carpeted with dry bamboo leaves, and fallen stocks.

Soon we change direction and veer south, crossing over and climbing up hill. Here Chops, Thor, and Vlad carefully step over fallen branches and foliages.

Near the top of the hill, a surprise find of an old helmet. Efrain and Martha happily showing it, and determining that it is a Japanese helmet. From here we continue south bound along the ridge.

Three railroad track segments are propped up and leaned against the entrance of this cave. Ewok, Giggles, Thor, Dave (George), and Chops stop to check it out.

At another cave Thor and Efrain rest amidst scattering of shrapnel on the ground. As the group works its way downhill, we see a large hole in the ground. It's the main entrance to the tunnel.

Several people enter the tunnel, as others debate whether to go in or not. Having been informed to bring flashlight, most everyone has done just that. Thor and Wonder Woman discuss how to get down, while Chops and CB declare non-participation in entering a cave.

Ewok is partway into the tunnel.

Giggles butt-slides down the loose rocks. Chops and CB change their mind, as it is clear that this is NOT a cave, rather CC calls it a five-finger tunnel, with five exits/entrances.

The initial entrance, after sliding down, is a little narrow. As Giggles demonstrates, one has to squat to proceed.

Once the narrow entrance is complete, the rest of the tunnel is standing-room high. CB watches, as Martha checks out one of the exits.

Another exit.

Sparky looks for hidden treasures in the crevices, finding none.

After two off-shoot fingers on the side of this last section, Vlad, Chops, and Thor take the final exit of the tunnel. The manmade five-fingers tunnel is similar to the Oba Cave above China Town.

Bone fragments inside a metal bowl.

Time for snacks and relaxation. We find a relatively dry and flat area, spread out the goodies, and share a few laughs.

As we are sitting right next to this large fallen tree, Vlad decides to climb up and take a photo of the group. After snacking, we pack up and head back, going down the hill and covering some new grounds.

We walk through an old broken down fuel tank and the berm that contains the tank. From the berm we can see the ocean and the surrounding buildings.

Back at our starting place is this large partly enclosed circle, could be a foxhole of some sort.

The trunk of a kapok tree (Java cotton, silk-cotton, ceiba) with bunches of cotton scattered on the ground. Although some kapok trees have regular trunks, for some "the trunk and many of the larger branches are often crowded with large simple thorns." (Wikipedia)

Balimbi-Belimbing-Cucumber tree-Pickle fruit tree-Tree sorrel. Fruit can be eaten raw, dipped in salt, cooked in curry, or as a souring agent in sinigang, etc. (Wikipedia)