A Year In Review

Midnight is approaching and so is 2012 on this December 31st.  It has been quite the busy year for me.  2011 started out calmly enough, but before the month was out, we got word that we would be coming to Guam.  So began six months of "Major Move Preparations".  Sorting, and packing, and throwing out, and attending to more details than I thought I'd have to, etc. etc. etc.  Then, the time to actually travel arrived.  I had always heard from others how long the plane trip would be, but it really wasn't until I had to experience it myself that I gained a fuller appreciation for long distance endurance.  It is a small world, until you get on a plane to fly to the other side of it!  (Well, at least our little family didn't have to sail from one side of the world to the other, otherwise this post would take on a different tone altogether.)

After  arriving on the island there was about a month of "down time" before our things arrived.  Then it was time to unpack and set up house.  That took a little while, and before I knew it, the beginning of the holiday season was nearly upon us as I looked ahead toward October.  Now here it is New Year's Eve and I reflect back on how quickly this year has flown by.  This time last year, I was looking forward to making 2011 the "Year of the Photograph" by making the time to organize and document family photos, and get them backed up on a hard disc.  Instead, the "Year of the Photograph" rapidly morphed into the "Year of Our Move to Guam".

I still look forward to the New Year as one that will afford me the opportunity to do what I had hoped to do in this year, as well as continue to write, and pursue other interests. 

May 2012 bring you good health, peace, love and happiness.  Skol.

Holiday Greeting

Christmas Eve is fully upon us here on Guam and in approximately 30 minutes, the sun will have set and we will walk around our neighborhood to look at the lights on all our neighbors houses.  Today's weather has been just about perfect:  mostly sunny with some light occasional showers with the high temperature in the 80's.  The wind was calm and so were the waves, making it a great day for scuba diving, which is exactly what my family and I did today.  A temporary power outage caused us to eat our rueben sandwiches (made by my son Eric) to be made on the grill, and we ate out on our back patio.  Can this day get any better?  After our family walk we'll have some egg nog and watch "It's a Wonderful Life".  It is a wonderful life (Merry Christmas Bedford Falls, and Guam, and wherever you live).  Life is made even better when we remember the event we are celebrating to begin with:  the birth of Jesus, our Savior.  May God bless you and keep you.  And by the way,  we wish you, unabashedly, a very Merry Christmas.

Say It Loud: MERRY CHRISTMAS!

"Merry Christmas!"  That sentiment is freely spoken from one person to another on Guam whether between friends or strangers, in neighborhoods or businesses.  The wait staff in TGIFriday's write "Merry Christmas" on the check.  Few people seem to be worried about political correctness.  In fact, the closer we get to the holiday, the more people are saying the greeting with gusto, and that included two of Guam's Finest delivering a hearty "Merry Christmas" to my husband and me as we strolled along Skinner Park in Hagatna this evening.

Skinner Park.  This evening was the first time we visited the park after we ate dinner next door at TGIFriday's.  The sun had already set by the time we left the restaurant, and there it was...the park all lit up with Christmas lights and decorations.  We couldn't resist.  We strolled from one end of the park to the other taking it all in, and me snaping away with my iPhone photo app.  The atmosphere at the park was great, and so was the weather.  We wore short sleeves, no jacket required.  There was no rain.  There was no rush to see everything as then be on our way.  More and more people showed up with kids in tow.  It was just a great family-oriented atmosphere.  Guam police were present and glad to wish us a Merry Christmas. 

You don't see this everywhere:  at one end of Skinner Park is a lovely manger scene, next to which sits a sizable sign reading:  Merry Christmas from Gov. and Mrs. Calvo.  No concern for politcal correctness there.  Behind Skinner Park is the Dulce Nombre de Maria Cathedral-Basilica.  I took a couple of photos and I think they turned out pretty well, considering I only had an iPhone to work with. 

The spirit of Christmas seems to be everywhere on Guam.  Even the KFC restaurants are decorated with Christmas lights along the roof tops.  The only thing missing is snow, but you know, I really don't seem to mind the absence of cold weather.  It's great to be able to walk around in short-sleeves three days before Christmas.  On Christmas Eve I'll be scuba diving, or at least that morning, anyway.  Not something I ever thought I'd be doing, much less on the day before Christmas.  Guam is amazing.

Christmas at Skinner Park, Hagatna, Guam

Dulce Nombre de Maria Cathedral-Basilica, Hagatna, Guam

Two-Wheel Carabao Sleigh?

Attend any Christmas party on Guam, or listen to the local radio station and you will probably hear the tune of Jingle Bells but with a very distinct Island twist.  Well, read the lyrics below and you'll see what I mean...

          Jungle Bells

Here we are on Guam,

Without a hope of snow,

But through the spreading palms,

A typhoon sure can blow.

Santa Clause will know,

What the tropics will allow,

Instead of riding eight reindeer,

He'll ride a carabao.

Chorus:

Oh, Jungle Bells,

Cocounut shells,

Sticker burrs all the way,

Oh what fun it is to ride

In a two-wheeled carabao sleigh.

Be watchful everyone,

He'll send a telegram,

That today he'll be on Guam,

Sent out by Uncle Sam.

Santa will be here.

To see what you have done,

So let's all greet him.

Ha!  Ha!  Ha!

And join him in the fun.

Gotta love it!

December 8th

Just as the attack on Pearl Harbor by the Imperial Japanese Navy on December 7th, 1941 is remembered, so on Guam December 8th, 1941 is remembered.  The Japanese also attacked Guam on that day, just hours after the attack on Pearl Harbor.  Here is a YouTube video that I'd like to share with you.

It's Beginning to Look A Lot Like Christmas, Part 2

These pictures were taken at the Hotel Nikko in Tumon Saturday night.  I only had my iPhone 4 with me, so the picture quality is not as good as if I had had my Canon Rebel XL that night.  Still, [sing] Deck the Halls with boughs of holly, fa la la la la la la la la....

It's Beginning to Look A Lot Like Christmas, Part 1

It's looking a lot like Christmas all around Guam these days.  There may not be snow, but you can find crystal mistletoe at Macy's, and there is plenty of the ol' Christmas spirit not to mention lights wrapped around palm trees.  And it isn't just homes that are putting up trees and lights; malls and businesses are too, of course.  Here is the beginning of some of the holiday sights in Guam...

This photo was taken at the UnderWater World Aquarium in Tumon, just outside the entrance to the tour.

This photo was taken at the Sea Grill Restaurant at the UnderWater World Aquarium.

The following photos were taken at the Micronesia Mall in Upper Tumon. Unfortunately, the Christmas tree here has not been officially lit, so it's only partly impressive.  I'll need to go back to photograph it all lit up...Yay, another trip to the mall, woot, woot!  Plus, what self-repecting Christmas tree would be complete without a train to go under it?  All aboard!  Santa can be seen taking requests, and patrons in the mall were entertained by a man and woman (just beyon the tree) singing Christmas songs.  What beautiful voices they had!
 

 There are still a lot of places that have decked the halls.  Time to go out and get some night time photos!

Weighty Thoughts

Walking back home from the fitness center after attending a spin class is a great time to think. So is walking there, but then the mind quickly turns to the exercise class at hand upon arrival. Walking back is different. There is a wonderful calm, quiet, peaceful feeling about it. The perfect opportunity to think, and I was thinking. Not of the beautiful scenery around me: the cut grass, the recently power-sprayed sidewalks, a good stiff breeze, coconuts leaves swaying in the wind (and there is no shortage of coconut trees around here), blue skies with lots of clouds but not hindering the bright sun...what does Hawaii have that Guam doesn't? And yet, I wasn't thinking about any of that. I was thinking about two burning questions: 1. Why does the scale in my home read differently from the scale at the fitness center, and 2. How can the one at home tell me this morning I am one pound lighter than I was yesterday morning but the one at the fitness center told me I was one pound heavier than yesterday (which also told me the same thing yesterday)?


I realize I should be looking for trends, but I am confused. I walk along the sidewalk, sidetracked by a couple of small birds hopping around in the grass as I pass by. How long would it take to walk from home to the commissary? Too long, probably. Maybe the BX. I'll have to try that someday. But not today. The sun is strong and bright. I had brought my umbrella with me because it looked like it could rain on my journey to spin class. It's sometimes hard to know when it will rain and when it won't, but it probably will. We are in the rainy season, after all. I've seen it rain while the sun was shining, and not rain when dark clouds threatened. It rained. Just not where I was at that moment. As I said, it is the rainy season, after all, and there's always an opportunity to get wet...somewhere on the island.


The scale delima returned to my thoughts. The one at home is not "calibrated". I'm told that makes a difference. The one at the fitness center is, and it seems to be pretty consistent...but I'm not sure I believe it. I only consumed 190 calories at most before class, I walked to class, just like yesterday, and then it tells me I'm heavier than yesterday...and the day before? I looked at the scale dubiously. I considered how it spun its digital dashes until it landed on a number, as if it were some sort of weight monitoring slot machine: dash-dash-dash-point-dash. I stepped off the scale, paused, and stepped back on. It spun those menacing dashes only to come up with the same dash-dash-dash-point-dash. I didn't bother to have it mock me after spin class. I was satisfied to hear our wonderful spin instructor tell us that we burn off about 600-700 calories from the workout. I had left the class through a different door, deliberately ignoring the scale and hoping it noticed.


I cross a street and look to the left to see a glimpse of the Pacific Ocean. I never get tired of looking at the ocean, and there are some pretty spectacular views of it from certain areas on base. I thought about how the base is well protected from tsunamis, being up on the "top of the rock" as they say. Six hundred feet up. The navy base, well, not so much. The sun is hot so I take a few more swigs from my water bottle and drop my umbrella. Putting the bottle in my bag, I open the umbrella for shade and immediately Mother Nature starts to add strength training to the cardio I'm still getting. I walk for a while, gripping the umbrella with both hands, politely waving off the base shuttle bus as the driver slows down to see if I'd like a lift. He turns around at the golf course and we wave at each other as he passes in the opposite direction. I've put away my umbrella by now. Hopefully I will not get sunburned. At least I have a hat.


There must be some sort of conspiracy with weight scales. Why can't they all read the same? Should I even bother with them? Trends. I just need to watch for which way the scale is trending. Well, I think the one at the fitness center is trending toward me hating it. On the home stretch I see a laborer across the street ahead of me with a weed whacker. He's covered from head to toe in protective clothing. Not even his face or hands are exposed. That's for a number of reasons. He is protected from the sun, the equipment, and boonie bees. Boonie bees seem like your average guinea wasp on the outside, only smaller, but they're not your average guinea wasp. Boonie bees don't buzz. That's right -- they make no buzzing sound. You can't hear them coming. They're like ninjas of the bee/wasp world. They can be very aggressive, so you never want to be on the recieving end of their wrath. You need industrial strength wasp-freeze sprayed from 15 feet away from the little beasties to get rid of them. They also make their nests on the ground! Watch your step! They're evil!


Home at last. I return to the scale that gave me a more favorable report at 4 am this morning. What?! How can I be three pounds heavier than I was then?? I haven't even eaten breakfast yet! I'll try to figure this out over a bowl of corn flakes. With raisins.

Are You Hurricane-Ready?

With Hurricane Irene barreling down on the east coast of the United States, likely to become a Category 3 or 4 hurricane as it zeroes in, authorites are advising people along those areas to get ready. If you are in the crosshairs of a hurricane or typhoon would you be prepared for the storm? The following can help you be ready.

Set up a hurricane/typhoon locker in a closet or pantry area. If space is an issue, put together a Disaster Supply kit in a storage bin appropriate to your space. The locker/kit should include (but not limited to) the following items for a minimum of three days:

* Drinking water. At least one gallon per person per day. Remember to include enough water for the same duration for any pets you may have.
* Water to meet hygiene needs and for flushing toilets. Fill bathtubs and other containers for example.
* Nonperishable food and drinks. Keep pet food in air-tight containers.
* Special food for infants, elderly, and other health-related issues.
* Snack foods.
* Manual can opener.
* Cooking utensils.
* A portable gas stove with additional fuel containers.
* Paper plates and plasitc cups and utensils.
* Prescription medicines for infants, elderly, pets, other special medical needs.
* First Aid kit, medicines, ointments, aspirin and other pain relievers, rubbing alchohol or hydrogen perioxide, bandages, etc.
* Prescription glasses for those who normally wear contact lenses.
* Clothing, to include rain gear and closed-toe shoes.
* Sleeping bags, blankets and pillows.
* Infant formula, diapers, wipes, etc.
* Toiletries, hygiene items and disposable wipes. Include kitty litter or training pads for your pet.
* Garbage bags.
* Flashlights and batteries in multiple sizes.
* Emergency radio.
* Cash in small bills, and coins.
* Emergency whistle.
* Dust mask to filter contaminated air.
* Duct tape.
* Toys, books, games for kids and yourself. Don't forget toys for your pet.
* Paper, pens or pencils.
* Important documents and records (including those for your pet) in a waterproof container in case in evacuation.
* Tools to have handy to make quick repairs.
* Fill up your car.
* Lumber and nails/screws, hammer or powerdrill to protect windows unless you already have hurricane/typhoon shutters installed.
* Have a generator, if possible, and learn how to safely install and use it in case of planned or unplanned power outages.
* Prepare your pet's carrier as a place to feel secure.

Take time before hurricane/typhoon season to evaluate your readiness plan and have a plan ready in case of evacuation. Adjust it to fit your needs. Even in the middle of the storm season, it never hurts to go over your inventory list. Do your best to be prepared. For more information about storm/emergency preparedness, contact your local Red Cross.

Asan Point Overlook

The following pictures were taken atop Nimitz Hill overlooking Asan Point, the site where the 3rd Marine Division landed under intense fire from the Japanese on July 21, 1944.


Looking towards the north end of the island from Nimitz Hill.

Vantage Point for the Japanese on the heights over Asan. Imagine the US Navy ships, landing craft and Marines coming ashore under intense Japanese fire on July 21, 1944.

Shot looking straight out over Asan Point. Camel Rock is just off the Point. Below in the clearing is the War in the Pacific National Park in Asan. Guam was bombarded for 13 days prior to the US landing, hoping to soften up the Japanese defenses.

This is a zoom shot of the War in the Pacific National Park in Asan Village. I used a Canon EF 75-300mm soom lens.

This is a zoom shot of Camel Rock (so named because of its resemblance to a camel) using the same Canon zoom lens.

Asan Point Overlook, June 2011.

Drink Lots of Water, This Is Guam!

Nearly two weeks ago, when my husband, Roger and I stopped in at the Micronesia Dive Association (MDA) dive shop in Piti, Guam, we ran into one of the men that my husband works with, who was there with his wife and children. I was introduced to them all, and Roger reminded me that this man's wife, Sarah, was one of the fitness instructors at the Coral Reef Fitness Center on Andersen Air Force Base. We became acquainted and talked about one of the classes she leads: spin. I've often thought that would be a fun class to join, but was concerned that I might hold the class back if I could not keep up. How relieved I was to hear that everyone in the class "spins" at their own level. Encouraged, I committed to show up the following Wednesday for the 8:30am class and try it out. I had been wanting to start some sort of fitness class to begin getting into better shape and here was my chance.

I arrived a few minutes early, as Sarah recommended, and she walked me and two other gals new to the class through about what to expect. She showed us how the spin bikes operate and encouraged us all to take water brakes as needed, whenever we needed them, regardless of where we were in the spin routine. She also showed everyone the hand signals she would be using during class so that we would know how many turns up or down the resistance knob needed throughout the hour.

With the loud music blaring we were off and away, warming up, stretching, wheels spinning, uphill, downhill, sprinting, standing up, leaning over the handlebars, sitting down, repeat! taking it slower, and then stretching on and off the bike. "Drink lots of water, this is Guam!" Sarah hollers more than once throughout all of her spin classes.

As I drank the remaining water from my bottle after spin yesterday, I was first of all thankful for the gel-padded bike seat I went out and bought at the Base Exchange (BX) after last week's spin class. It made this spin class a lot less painful. Second, I was looking forward to participating in the yoga class that I noticed immediately following spin class last week. Yes, a little yoga would do the muscles good. The next instructor was in the exercise room already getting her music set up. Except that the music didn't sound much like yoga music. This music sounded too "wound up" for that. Wait a minute! Taking another look at the new class schedule (that changes every month) I realized that since we are now in a new month, there was a change in the Wednesday 9:40am time slot. Nowhere was yoga to be found...anywhere in August! Instead, kick-boxing took its place. [Gasp!] I looked at the clock...9:38am. Then I looked around...only two other women there besides the instructor and myself.

I made the conscious decision to stay and try it out, hoping that my already wobbly legs would not give out on me. Within five minutes or so, a lot more women showed up and joined in. The instructor, Nora, also encouraged all of us to drink lots of water throughout the workout. Bringing a water bottle is a definite must no matter what class you are taking. And a hand towel. Still, I tried to only sip the water during the workout; I didn't want to get sick.

Wondering how I got myself caught up in a vortex of high-impact aerobics I was determined to make it through the class. There was another woman there over 50. I was glad because that meant that I was not the only one. I think she is either Korean or Philippina, but I digress. After class it so happened that we were walking together out of Coral Reef FC talking about kick-boxing and zumba. She had done both before whereas this was my first time kick-boxing and I had never done zumba. There was a zumba class the next day, she explained, in the same time slot. Before parting she said "See you tomorrow." I replied "I'll be there." [Gasp!] Down comes the vortex again!

So, at 9:40am this morning, with sore legs, shoulders and arms, courtesy of yesterday's classes, I zumba-ed my way through the hour. Now? I am so sore that I'm glad the only thing I need to do for the rest of the day is read, blog, and continue unpacking the few boxes remaining and assimilate the contents into the house. Oh yes, and drink lots of water -- this is Guam!

Moving-In the Tropical Way

At long last the slow-moving kayak sailing across the wide Pacific with all of our household goods on it finally arrived on island. Happy day. Even happier the day we got to lay our eyes on the crates themselves when we had to meet the customs officials at the DeWitt Moving and Storage company's warehouse so that we could account for the firearms we brought along with us. "So, where are you from?" the customs man asked me with curiosity as my husband began withdrawing weapons from the gun safe. "Texas," I replied with a smile. "That explains it," he said. I smiled bigger. We had a pleasant conversation on a point or two about conceal/carry laws in Texas, Arizona, and Guam. He thought it was in Texas where your average citizen could carry a weapon unconcealed on his hip. No. That's in Arizona. In Texas it must be concealed while carrying the proper documentation on you. I presume one must carry the proper documentation with one in Arizona as well, unless one doesn't care about the law to begin with. It is the same in Guam.

After unwrapping each firearm it was out of the steamy warehouse with us, through the drizzling rain, and into the office where my husband and the customs man, along with his customs partner, went through all the paper work to get our little arsenal cleared for entry into the island. My husband took pride in showing off each and every piece we own. Customs' eyes grew large with admiration as they got to handle a couple of the firearms: a replica 1861 black powder Springfield, and the most recent acquisition, an SKS semi-automatic rifle. Once cleared with the instructions to get my husband's babies registered within thirty days, we took them home, knowing we had to wait one more day before the rest of our stuff showed up on our doorstep.

The next day came with our things, along with the edges of a typhoon that was about 600 miles to our north and thankfully moving away from us. While the off-loading began in sunshine, we were hit with bands of heavy rain forcing the men from DeWitt Moving to stop and get under the tarp they had strung up from their truck to a couple of our coconut trees. During lunch, one of the Chamorro fellows shucked and opened two of our coconuts, unplugged them, inserted straws and we had fresh coconut milk straight from our front yard. Wow. There was a natural fizziness to them as well. The Chamorro fellow told us about the various stages of the coconut and what it can be used for. Did you know that a young coconut, when it is removed from the interior shell is soft and pliable and feels rather rubbery? It's also still very edible, too. Only when the coconut is fully matured in the shell does it become the coconut we are accustomed to seeing in the stores. At this stage it is hard and can be easily grated.

At long last we were left alone. The men from DeWitt Moving Company had cleaned up and driven away. There it all stood, like cardboard redwoods blocking the furniture, imposing, attempting to be intimidating: boxes, boxes, and more boxes. I, however, refuse to be intimidated. After all, now I am in my organizational element! Just one question remains: had I downsized enough to fit everything into our tropical home? Without the luxury of even a carport (I guess sacrifices to the Square Footage Gods had to be made somewhere when the US Air Force designed the floor plans for the larger housing units) my husband quickly came to the conclusion that we need a portable outdoor storage unit (with tie downs to withstand the occasional tropical storm or typhoon) for those things that would normally reside in a garage. We're just happy to be able to mow the yard with our own lawnmower!

Time to get back to work. Unpacking boxes can be a rambling experience. Now where did I put that box of envelopes I unpacked just last night?

Whither Shall I Roam?

"Boonie Stomping? What is that?" my husband and I asked each other last October when he had put his name in for consideration for a position at Andersen Air Force Base, Guam. We had been looking at a web site about the island to get an idea of what we might be getting into if he should be selected for the position. We did not have to look far to discover what "Boonie Stomping" was all about. "Boonie" refers to the jungle and "stomping" refers to hiking. Put the two together and you have jungle hiking, and apparently, there are oodles of trails to stomp on to your heart's content in yon boonies.

These "trails" barely seem to meet the minimum requirement for such a classification. They are marked with brightly colored tags and there is a foot path, but the trail can easily fade into the rest of the jungle if you don't keep a sharp eye out. Stomps are categorized according to difficulty, from easy to very difficult, or as I might like to say, difficult to insane. Depending on the weather, those trails can quickly become more difficult than described. Bring water, a hat, hiking boots, bug spray, bathing suit, and be sure to put on your sunscreen. Leave your machete at home -- the idea is to leave minimal impact on the environment as you trek through the adventure. If you are going Boonie Stomping, it is a good idea to tell someone where you are going.

So off we went, myself, my husband, and our two nearly 23-year-old sons, to our first-ever Boonie Stomp. My husband had already been talking to the fellow who is in charge of these adventures, and first reported back to me that the hike we were going on would be an "easy" hike. Good, since my hiking boots were still on the slow-moving kayak across the Pacific and not on my feet. On the morning of the hike, we were ready with hydration packs, food, first-aid kits with Bunny Band Aids, sunscreen and plenty of enthusiasm. We met in the center court of the Chamorro Village in Haganta to register and be briefed. There was a good sized crowd there: young, old, little kids and even a baby or two.

After the briefing of our stomp location, Fadian Cove, and some other things I could not hear too easily, our caravan struck out. We went to the northern end of the island on the western coast onto some private property with spectacular views of the Philippine Sea. The Boonie Stomp leaders have arrangements with the owners to bring hikers out there to hike down to a cove at the bottom of the cliff. Another briefing, also a little hard to hear since I was in the back of our large group.

Off and away we tread. At first it was not too hard, and I was snapping away with my handy-dandy digital camera. Our descent to the cove began as we turned a around a bend and officially stepped into the jungle. After I observed the angle of the trail, I though it would be more prudent to return the lens cap to the camera lens so it would not get damaged in case I slipped or fell. Boy, am I glad I listened to that prompting. The red clay on the trail became wet as we realized that rain must have moved through the area about an hour before our arrival. I just needed to be careful how I stepped on the trail and everything would be alright. Easier said than done, as it turned out. I soon slipped and landed right on my posterior. Lucky for me I had a little extra padding back there. "No problem," I thought, getting up. I wondered why it seemed a little hard to stand up. A few feet later I slipped again. I got up again. This time I definitely noticed that my knees were not helping very well. I contemplated the problem. Surely this would be the only place where I would have problems slipping. A little further down the trail, another slip! OK, now this was just getting silly! My son Eric, who was hiking behind me, and a young woman hiking in front of me helped me get on my feet this time. They both helped me get down much of the trail. Between the two of them, I was able to finally reach the bottom of the trail, albeit a little muddy, bruised and scraped by the limestone rocks that are part of the landscape.

I had to stop along the path from time to time as the experience reminded me all too clearly that I am out of shape. After the third slip, I considered turning around and going back but the sound of the waves crashing somewhere down below me lured me onward. Once while resting off to the side of the trail, a woman in the group commented how no one had better get a broken bone or else that person would be hated by the others. I marveled how young kids were bounding down the trail as if there were no hazards to watch out for. One of the women, who must've only weighed 90 pounds, wore a backpack complete with baby on board. Somehow, I didn't think this was the place to pack a baby into, especially with the trail in the condition it was in, but what do I know?

I had passed my camera off to my other son, James, for safe-keeping somewhere along the trial. He had gotten down to the cove before I did and was off taking pictures. I found a "soft" limestone rock and sat down. What a site! I wasn't expecting the beach to be so rocky, but it was all very breath-taking. Some people were already in the surf while others were diving off the natural bridge. Still others were exploring the rocks. I was content to sit there, wondering why my thighs had gone to muscle failure. That did it. Starting the following Monday I was going to start working out. Well, maybe after I recovered from the hike.

We stayed at the cove about an hour or more and then it began to rain. Putting my camera in my backpack, I just sat there, not caring if I got wet as long as the camera stayed dry. The rain came and went and came again. James advised it was time to think about climbing the trail back to base camp. We were all thinking about the red clay and the slick conditions that might worsen if we didn't get started. My husband was not yet ready to depart, having just gotten out of the surf and was still getting his shoes on and taking a bite to eating. Eric stayed with him while James and I began the long ascent.

Going up appeared to be a lot easier than going down. For a while, I was doing quite well not slipping but when I did, it didn't seem to be as bad. Perhaps it was because we were going up? It began to rain again, making the jungle more steamy and fogging my glasses. I rather like to see where I am going. I just hoped that my camera was staying dry inside the backpack. My muscles and hands hurt. I wondered a few times if we were still on the trail. Thankfully, James was able to help me see that we were when it looked as if we had gone off. I prayed I would not slide down the slope. Thank goodness for the trees and vines. How much further? During a rest stop, I was reminded of a scene from the movie, Jurassic Park. At least I didn't have any dinosaurs after me, but I had to climb the trail on my hands and knees in many places. I tried not to think about how long it was taking, and definitely had to concentrate on avoiding hyperventilation. At last the jungle thinned, and, right when I was about to cry, we rounded the bend and there was base camp! I survived! I might have kissed the ground but I might not have had enough strength to stand up again.

Base camp. What a welcome site. James and I sat under the canopy to rest and wait for the rest of the family who were surely a few minutes behind us or closer. There were only a handful of people left to come out. We waited and waited. Word was my husband was having trouble on the trail. Bad knees. After over and hour, with Eric's help, he finally made it out. For a while, I wondered if he was going to become "an incident". Fortunately, rescue helicopters were not required. The classification of this hike turned out to be "medium", but the weather had definitely made it "very difficult". Translation: really hard!

This hike may well have been the toughest one I've ever done in my life. I don't know if I will ever do another Boonie Stomp, but I know I will never forget this one.