Santa Claus to Grotto

Last week we find out that the Santa Claus Lane (Santatte Lane) is open for hikers and bikers. That is good news for us hikers. We plan, tentatively, to explore the trail on Sunday. However, with another storm looming in the near distance and approaching the Marianas, we decide to wait and see if it would go south. By Saturday, the storm is definitely going south, below Guam. Sunday morning is cool and breezy, so ten of us meet at the big taotaomona tree.

A new tradition of taking a pre-hike photo, just in case anyone drops out during the hike. In front of the thick foliage of the taotaomona tree are: CC, Giggles, Sparky, new hiker Marianne, Waldo, CB, Marcia, RedEye, Thor, and Cutie

On Unai Laggua Dr. passing the dump, with Suicide Cliff in the background. 

Onto Santa Claus Lane towards the bomb detonation site. It is well groomed behind the fence. So far everything looks nicely cleared of debris.

A pretty little mushroom found right in the middle of the trail.

Giggles, Sparky, Marcia, and Marianne on the very clean and open trail. We appreciate the hard work done by those who reopened the trail. A job well done.

Morning sun...

 From the exit of Santatte Ln, we turn left for the Grotto. Due to a recent drowning, and due to rough waters in the grotto, the stairway is closed. We have to look at the pool below from the lookout deck.

CB and Marianne on top of the deck.

Marcia and Waldo take a moment to read the memorial poster for Ben Concepcion, a well known dive master.

Sparky, RedEye, CB, and Marianne also take a moment to look down at the grotto and the ocean beyond. The water is a little bit rough. But the breeze is nice and cool. Tropical storm In-Fa has passed south of Guam, leaving us with some rain, wind, and choppy water.  

View of the Grotto from above. 

Across from the overlook in the bushes far above the grotto are these three kingfishers. 

Everyone sitting cozily around the picnic table on the overlook deck. A feast is spread out for all to enjoy.

What better place for snacks and socializing! The overlook has a large deck with picnic tables. It is a favorite tourist site, but it also provides us with a perfect place to share our "breakfast"! We have the place all to ourselves for a while. 

Although some of us intend to backtrack through Santa Claus Lane, we miss the turn off while busy talking, we end up staying on the main road Chalan Kalabera back to the taotaomona tree. The gentle breeze keeps us cool, and we get a little cardial workout too. Thor, Cutie, Marianne, Giggles, and Sparky staying strong covering the final stretch.

Meanwhile, CB and Waldo keep company with RedEye, as an early morning biker zooms by.

We take the waiting time to relax and all decide that it is a good hike, easy and enjoyable.

And we didn't lose anyone! A happy bunch of hikers: CB, Marianne, CC Giggles, RedEye, Marcia, Cutie, Waldo, Thor, Sparky...

Nice little circle hike, with a detour to the Grotto. Total distance of 3.86 miles.

Old Man's Profile Beach

While driving by the trail head of Old Man by the Sea last Sunday, we run into a bunch people getting ready to head down the trail, and they tell us that the trail is open for"business". That is good news, as this is one of our favorite destinations. We decide then and there this will be our next hike.
On Sunday, nine hikers meet at the well marked trail head: Thor, Sparky, Chops, Marcia, CB, Cutie, RedEye, CC, and the newly named Doug, aka WALDO. (WALDO: while traveling...he has the audacity to assimilate with the local inhabitants; maintains a composed, calm demeanor despite the claustrophobic, crowded situations he frequently finds himself in; and for hygiene's sake, let's hope he has more than one change of shirt in his backpack...)
Despite rain showers in other parts of the island, the trail to the beach is nice and dry.

A Stick Insect sits on the window of the car, giving us the idea of a good hike ahead.

Right from the start, it's a steep drop. Sparky steps carefully down the loose dirt, and Waldo waits.

The new trail has been detoured slightly, bypassing the old trail next to the fence. But the climb to the top of the hill is still there, although slightly changed as well. The climb isn't bad since it is not muddy.

Chops and Sparky tackle another steep slope, almost to the top.

CB takes a tumble.

Waldo brings up the rear to this short and steep climb.

At the top of the climb, there are some fallen branches that Sparky and Waldo decide to clear away to open up the path. From the top of the hill, we stop to enjoy the view, then continue down the hill to the trail for the beach.

A beach plumeria displays its beauty.

Before the typhoon, one has to crawl under low hanging  branches before being able to reach the beach. Now those branches have been cut and cleared away so we only need to walk through this tunnel. Although it is a much easier hike, it is also less interesting and adventurous. Perhaps the branches will grow back after some time so we can recreate the previous fun hiking experience.   

Look! Another Old Man by the Beach...

Old Man's Profile appears in the mist.

Hikers scatter around the beach area and start exploring.

Chops and Marcia scamper over boulders to try finding the cliff that leads to Grotto 2. They return without reaching it, as the tide is coming in.

Meanwhile, Thor and CB are jumping with joy!

Beach combers are busy looking for treasures that might land by their feet. The beach trash is cleaned out by the storm. Part of the beach also turns into a pool, similar to what happens at Hidden Beach.

RedEye and Cutie taking a sunning break, looking quite relaxed.

A good spot to have snacks and some lively conversation. Hungry tummies soon devour most of the goodies on the table.

What better setting can one find to enjoy good snacks, good company and a good hike?

We also discover that this beach offers an excellent treasure trove of washed glass. Chops has been collecting them for a future project. 

Snacks over, we wrap up the hike and head back to the trail, crossing the new streams and ponds.

A simpatico display with the new Old Man. Only Waldo is laughing too much to join.

Up the trail we go. Sparky uses the rope to assist in climbing up the steep slope.

This photo is taken before we start the hike, just in case we should lose anyone on the trail. Fortunately, everyone returns to the cars in one piece: Waldo, Thor, Sparky, Marcia (needs a hiking name, anyone?), CB, CC, Chops, Cutie, RedEye.

This 2 hr. 10 min. hike is most enjoyable. We barely break a sweat!

Jeffrey's to Hidden Beach

Recently Scout informs us that he has cleared the road from the Camacho farm to the Hidden Beach after the typhoon. We decide to make that our Sunday hike, starting from Jeffrey's Beach. On Sunday, seven of us meet at the entrance to Jeffrey's Beach. We park on the road side. Although we have intended to walk down to the beach, the path is too muddy from the night's heavy rainfall, we gives up that idea. Instead, we start uphill towards King Fisher.

Typhoon Soudelor and Champi manage to clear off much greeneries covering the cliffside, so we are now able to see previously hidden caves. There seem to be many. This is a man-made cave on street level. It's about 15 ft deep, with nothing much left to explore.

Stopping to see more cave openings higher up on the cliff. RedEye also thinks there may be some caves that have been covered up, leaving some sort of outline on the cliff face. Chops, RedEye, Cutie, Thor, Ewok, and Marcia focusing their gaze on the spot.

A surprised discovery of this cave on the west side of the road, way above the Talofofo river gully. Everyone wants to explore that one day soon.

We continue our climb up the road, RedEye is still looking at the interesting cave.

Reaching the Camacho farm. Part of their roof is quite damaged, but the goat population has grown. Here daddy goat is giving us the eye.

Windward Road is very much cleared of debris, although we do have to conquer a few large puddles. Here is a poor little frog that rests in one of the puddles.

Reaching the end of the road, the view has opened up even more than before. A clear shot of the cove and the "crocodile" profile.

Ewok taking photo of Thor, Marcia and CC.

Chops, RedEye, and Cutie joining us, after negotiating the very narrow path leading to the stairway to the beach.

Redeye stops to fix his shoes before descending down the concrete stairway.

A surprise view greets us. The previously small sandy beach has changed its contour again after the typhoons. A new pond is sitting where the beach used to be, and the sand has been pushed over the rocks all the way inland.

large rocks and boulders are now exposed 

A new landscape.

Marcia, Ewok, and Chops exploring the beach beyond the pond. 

View of the "rock garden". Everyone wanders around and explore the expanded sandy beach. One positive result of having the storm is the clearing of trash and debris.

Marcia, Thor, Cutie, Ewok, and Chops in search of a shady and clean spot for our snack time stop. The sun-lit multi facetted cliff face lends a dramatic backdrop for our enjoyment.

All kinds of goodies spread out on the tablecloth. Soon enough they will disappear into our satisfied tummies. 

Happy hikers ready to resume our trip back. Chops, Ewok, Thor, Marcia, CC, Cutie, and RedEye, make good time back to Jeffrey's Beach entrance. No takers to try to make it to the beach. 

This roughly 2.5 hour, just over three miles hike is another easy and leisurely walk. Everyone is pretty relaxed and stay clean...