War in the Pacific NPS

I have the one and only NPS stamp for the island! This visitor center is right outside of the main gate and we drive by it all the time. The small submarine outside is a 2-person Japanese sub that was intended as a one-way trip. This sub ran aground thus not completing the mission. The information displays on the inside of the visitor center give a good overview of Guam as a whole and not just the WWII piece of the island's history. My favorite item I found was that there is a town named Finegayan.  It is currently some sort of military-related area so I sadly won't be able to find a post card to send to Finnegan. 

 

MWR Triathlon September 11

The Triathlon on base involved a nice Swim with the sunrise in Gab Gab bay. I made sure to go slow on the bike ride as the coral asphalt mixed with algae is extremely slick. Since I am a slow swimmer and I was very cautious on the bike I started the run way behind but passed people to the fourth spot.

Libugon

Libugon Radio Station was originaly established in 1917, then decommissioned in 1932 but then reestablished in 1934 to intercept Japanese communications. In 1941 the Japanese captured the area and the Navy personnel were captured and had 45 months of captivity in Japan. Before capture they destroyed the equipment and materials so the Japanese did not know what their purpose was at the site. At the time the land around the buildings was cleared, but now it is thickly forested and the only evidence of the radio station is a moss-covered pile of rocks. It was very muddy and the mosquitoes were crazy so the kids were not very impressed. We can cross the hike off the hike book though!

Piti Guns

The Piti Guns have three Japanese Vickers-type Model 3 140-millimeter (5.5 in) coastal defense guns. The guns were built in 1914 during the Japanese occupation of Guam from 1914 to 1944. The local Chamorro population was forced to build the earthwork defenses. The guns have a firing range of 10 miles to use against ships and landing crafts coming into Asan bay. When the US arrived on July 21, 1944, the guns were not fully operational and so were never fired. At the time of construction, the surrounding land was rice paddies. Presently, it is all forest, and difficult to even see the ocean. It was a short (but muddy) hike to the guns but the kids enjoyed seeing the huge guns. 

Talo’fo’fo Caves

This series of caves on the side of the cliffs of the main village of Talofofo are famous for artifacts and pictographs of the ancient Chamorro. This was another rainy muddy mess of a day so the pictures didn't turn out so great.  The kids did better than I would have guessed with the mud and complaining, but with it being so hot the rain feels pretty good.  We are still getting accustomed to what is needed for a hike such as bug spray and flashlights.  Milton loved being at the "Cave Forest" and is already asking to go back again. 

44 Gilmore Avenue

Our new home is in Santa Rita, Guam.  We are on the Naval Base, also referred to as "Big Navy".  The northern side of the island has Andersen Air Force Base.  There is a huge military presence, to say the least.  The newly-organized Marine Camp Blaz is also on the island. We were able to get a house within 2.5 weeks which in the scheme of things is pretty short.  We moved in on September 1st. Our house is a 7-minute bike ride from Owen and Milton's school, but 9 miles from the hospital.  If Damon drags us across the entire Pacific ocean, then Owen, Milton, and I get to have a more convenient daily existence.  We looked at houses off base but the selection was very slim.  What we really like about this house is the second living room where the kids can get to themselves and their toys.  The screen porch for Damon's treadmill and my erg is also really great.  The house is built to withstand typhoons with very thick concrete block walls and roofs.  All of the windows have exterior shutters that will close.  The same shutters are around the screens on the porch.  The garage has a heavy-duty door like the one we had in Lejeune. The boys have their own rooms.  The main living room is large enough for me to have the desk on one side and then the tv and couches on the other.  Tile floors throughout.  Home, sweet home for 3 years!

September 2021

We are no longer homeless! We moved into our house on September 1st.  We were successful in doing a full unpack so that we didn't have any boxes remaining.  Ironically I need some packing paper a few days later.  Our only damage was broken glass on the Chelsea clock and the floor lamp shade got broken off.  In the scheme of things pretty minor damages.  A friend had an entire crate with mold and they had their entire couch ruined with mold.  It always takes time to settle in, but we did a pretty good job getting things out of the boxes and put away.  It is a very chaotic day.  We also purchased a new vehicle for Damon to use on the occasion that he couldn't take his bike.  It is a Jimny Suzuki Japanese car with the steering wheel on the right side.  Damon's favorite part is that the windows are all manual.  Damon's other excitement this month was taking his PADI certification course by the nearby dive shop.  Owen was invited to a birthday party for one of his classmates at Skyzone which he was thrilled.  Milton was pretty bummed he couldn't go too so we took him to the Ypao beach for a ride on the paddle board while Owen was at the party.  Owen's favorite thing to do right now is read his Dogman books.  Then if he isn't reading the books he is quoting it and playing games with scenarios from the various stories in the book.  Milton is still obsessed with pirates and Damon found him a Pirate-themed restaurant near our chapel.  Milton got his first temporary tattoo and loved showing it off to anybody who was near him.  A favorite thing the boys are saying now is that we should "cough up an anchor" to scoot over.  We've tried explaining what coughing up an acre means, but they are sticking with the anchor.  Milton doesn't day dog hog for hot dog anymore.  He will occasionally. I have been getting as many plants as we can fit from other neighbors moving away.  I love having my plant friends to tend again.  We also got some edible plants for Damon.  We got an Avocado, Cocoa, Pineapple, basil, ghost pepper, lemon, okra and tomato.  The pineapple is crazy looking and it takes a long time to ripen.  One thing I like about living on this base is that colors are every morning at 8 am and then at sunset.  The anthem only plays in the morning, but the evening one we are supposed to stand at attention too.  Then if driving, you pull over.  The call to finish colors is what the kids wait for to go in the building.   We found a few dud hikes, but it seems that any hike in the rainy season is a mess.  The kids like to go to the beach and are settling in well.