McDick Circle

We hear that the McDick Trail is open, but without the connecting HoChiMinh and Bananarama trails. McDick is open for the upcoming XTerra Race in March, and is the hikers' chance to experience the trail before it is overgrown back to the boonies until next year's race.
A good place to start the hike is the Santa Lourdes Shrine in As Teo. From there we can make a circle (actually it's more like a rectangle) hike. 
Sunday, Febraury 28, we meet at the parking area next to the shrine.

The early morning shrine ground is quiet, gift shop still closed, we are able to park our cars in the lot adjacent to the shrine. To take advantage of the early morning coolness, we will walk on the open road first. Marcia, Sparky, Cutie, RedEye, Thor, Cutie, and CC start up As Teo Dr. toward Santa Lourdes Road and Isa Drive.

At the corner of As Teo and Santa Lourdes Road is the location of where the two little girls disappeared several years ago. A memorial remains as a reminder of the tragedy. 

On Santa Lourdes, we see one of the biggest Taotaomona trees we have seen on island. 

We turn up onto Isa Dr. early enough to avoid traffic and to remain cool. It's a long uphill haul, with Marcia's determined strides alongside Thor, and Sparky, RedEye and Cutie following, all at a good clip. From Isa for about .75 mile, we reach Egigi where we leave the main highway and start downhill toward McDick.

Sitting in the middle of the road is a snail in its beautiful mobile home. We stop to admire it closely. Then we worry that it might get run over by a car, so Sparky picks it up and tosses it into the boonies, hopefully it won't come out again and risks its life on the road.

Partway down Egigi, we see the little shrine by the road, set in at the base of the cliff. The path leading to the shrine is clear, RedEye, Sparky, and Thor decide to pay a visit.

Sparky and Thor up close to the altar.

Further in there is a Japanese memorial. From here we continue on Egigi. 

A second detour takes us onto a "driveway" to a lush boonies and grass field. We stop when it's apparent we are on private land. But Giggles, Thor, and RedEye take time to admire the surrounding.

Look like the "wood ear" or "cloud ear" mushrooms popular in Asian cooking. However, best not try to eat it when one is not certain. They do look very pretty.

"Turkey Tail" mushroom or fungus, or Trametes Versicolor, comes in different colors, mostly in various shades of brown, with a leathery and fuzzy texture. This one with the green color is very nice. 

On the side of the Egigi is this house with a good view. We all know this house has been under construction for many years. Cutie and Marcia take a closer look.

We reach the newly trimmed McDick, clearly directed by the XTerra sign. 

Giggles and Marcia looking at the dry stream bed where there used to be a wooden bridge. The bridge is now missing. They are wondering what happens to the water that also used to be in the stream.

Cutie, RedEye, Sparky, and Thor taking a little rest before making the crossing. Everyone wonders what happens to the stream.

Without the water, crossing the stream is easy even without the bridge.  

More fungi on the dead branch. Not sure what these are called. Anyone?

Clearing this long and winding trail is obviously a big job. Hikers appreciate the hard work that gives us the opportunity to enjoy nature. The vines on both sides of the road will overtake the trail soon if they are not kept at bay regularly.

We decide to have our snacks before reaching the end of the trail. It's quite nice to prop ourselves down, right in the middle of the trail under the XTerra sign, nary a worry about trail traffic. We are very lucky that no bikers come charging!

Back on Santa Lourdes Road as we exit the McDick Trail. A little uphill hike back to our cars.

We wait at the entrance of As Teo Drive, and when RedEye appears around the road we give a big cheer! 

After a little browsing time spent in the gift shop (on the left), we decide to have our picture taken under the bell. Thor, Marcia, Sparky, CC, Giggles, Cutie, RedEye. Notice the tour group behind us, near the Lourdes Shrine. We finish our hike in the nick of time before the big tourist crowds arrive.

Thor's Strava shows the hiking route, completing 4.5 miles in just over 3 hours. Everyone agrees that it is a very fun hike, and the early morning breeze keeps us quite cool all the way.