Orote point and the Spanish steps-take 2

Happy Labor day weekend! Hope you all have a great weekend!

Yesterday (Sunday) was an amazing day, if a tad bit busy for us here on the Island. Right after going to church,we headed to the gym (which is right across the street) to change into hiking clothes and meet a friend to head out to the Spanish steps and Orote point.

If you don't remember, Orote point was the first hike we did following our arrival on the island (story here). Since then, I've learned that it was actually amazing that we made it out there when we did. Navy operational restrictions frequently shut down the site to visitors, and it is actually quite rare that it is open.

(I now have a goal to hike down there every time it's open while I'm here I think. It's that much fun and that beautiful )

Any way, back to the story. We met our friend (the same one we took to Talofofo Falls) and drove out to the hike point. I strapped the baby on my back, hand carried a backpack, and we headed down the side of the cliff out to the tiny cove. The trip this time went much faster than last since the kids and I knew what to expect.

Since this trip was a bit earlier in the day than last, the sun was a bit more intense, but it made the trip in many ways much more fun. We were able to see SO many more fish playing in the reefs, and the aqua blue reflection off the water took my breath away.

Despite the hike being "easier" this time we were still quite tired between the actual journey, exploring and swimming.

Our day was no where close to over when we got back to the car though. First, we ended up driving a few guys that we met while on our hike back to a ship that was currently pulled in but is normally homeported in Yokuska so they wouldn't have to walk the whole way back to their ship. It's a far journey, and they were very grateful for the ride. From there, we went back to the gym to shower and change, headed to the commissary to get some food, went home to prep food and then headed out to the first on-Guam spouse party for those associated with Adam's boat (all 6 of us)! WHEW! It was tiring, but a blast of a day, that ended with me actually knowing a few of the other wives I've been isolated from by being the only boat spouse on Guam for so long.

This week, I hope to continue the hiking adventures by joining the "boonie stompers". It's a local group that runs hikes every Saturday morning to different locations on island. Some hikes will be too much for the kids, but the schedule for this week looks totally doable! Fingers crossed the weather is clear and we can go!

Orote point hike

AKA The hike that showed me that medium hikes should not be attempted without 2 adults.

View of the cove from above

After being kept in a bit over the last few days, I was anxious to get out and hit the ocean again. Threw Adam the hiking guide and asked him to pick one. He chose Orote point, the westernmost point in the US. Reading the description, it said it was a 160 ft elevation change and a one mile hike, figured it couldn't be bad.

The beginning.....

Wellllll, it wasn't too bad (we obviously survived it) but were not prepared for the 160 ft to be as rapid as it was. Should have paid more attention to the description part where it called out ropes (left there by others) and a ladder I guess. It wasn't too bad, but I was nervous about the kids and the baby we were carrying. One adult was at the front at all times and the other was at the back. This was needed to help kids down (and then back up) and could not be done with only one of us.

Old bunker

The site itself has so much history to it. At the top there are ruins from both the American and Japanese during WWII. On the way down you hit sections of stairs put in when the Spaniards colonized the island and an old Spanish well archaeologists think was used supply water to the colonists. There is also evidence that the island has been inhabited since     3500 BC.

Spanish well

After the decent and trekking through the jungle a bit, we were richly rewarded for our efforts. It was so amazingly beautiful and quiet.

We quickly drank some water and jumped in the pools. It was so much fun exploring and swimming.

The only real hiccup of the afternoon was when the middle child gouged his foot on a rock. There was blood everywhere, but he was a trooper and calmly dealt with it and hiked back up without complaint after I dressed it. (lesson learned today #2-I really need to go buy water shoes). He did so well and made us very proud!




We're now relaxing as a family after showering and eating. I have a feeling we will all sleep well tonight!

In other news: we're progressing well towards move in. If all continues as planned we and all our household goods will move in on June 1! Here's hoping :)!