This Week on Guam

This week on Guam got out to a rocky start. Rainy season was on in full force during the middle of last week, as it has been for some time now. Not seeing the sun for three weeks plus deciding our beloved boat, Propeller, is not fixable, I was about to go crazy. But things turned around as things usually do, and this week on Guam has gotten progressively better. Here's how it went...

The week on Guam started off with a going away party for my friend Ashley, the only person in this picture I knew prior to July 2010. I have to say it was a fantastic evening where I came to realize how many awesome friends we have here. Saying goodbye to Ashley was hard, but I'm still just so grateful to have overlapped here with a friend who knows me from back home. Few people out here have that luxury.

This week on Guam, Nick's friend Sumner was out from San Diego. Saturday morning we picked him up and took him to North Tipilao, one of our favorite snorkeling spots on base. The sun was out for the first time in weeks, the tide was at its low point, and the water was amazingly clear. In other words, it was perfect conditions for exploring underwater caves and looking at sea life. We spent two hours swimming in the glorious sunshine, and I remembered why I love it here so much. It is so beautiful!

 

 

This week on Guam, Nick got some awesome underwater shots! Our underwater flash had been out of commission (thanks to Broken Guam), but now it's back in action and so are we. Check this out...

We also took Sumner to see a plane crash wreck site on base. But first we had to walk through this beautiful arch in the jungle, which is extra green because of all the rain.

The wreck - a Marine fighter aircraft that crashed 320 ft. from the runway. So close...

 Of course, Nick sees the wreck and has an impulsive urge 

to check out the view from the cockpit.

Nice plane you got there

This week on Guam, Nick pressure washed the mildew and mold off our deck and driveway. I came outside Saturday afternoon once all the noise stopped to see this beautiful piece of artwork displayed for all the neighborhood to see. To give you a little perspective, that arrow is about 15 ft. long. I think someone loves me :)

This week on Guam, we finally got to go boonie stomping! After three days of not as torrential downpours (and only just a few downpours), we figured the ground might have dried up enough to attempt Mt. LamLam, Guam's tallest peak and a hike I have done twice but Nick has not done since he was here in 2007. It was an absolutely beautiful afternoon for it! It was fairly muddy, but well worth some dirty shoes for the view at the top.

 

This is a view i will never get tired of

After our hike, we climbed a tower on base so we could be above the treetops for the magical sunset. The perfect end to a fabulous weekend.

This week on Guam, I did my fourth sprint triathalon, this time shaving 1:30 off my time from last month's. More of my friends were able to join this one, a couple of them bringing the bike seats and strollers so they could take their little ones. Those are some super moms.

This week on Guam, we really got back in the swing of things. The glorious sun accompanied our journey into the ocean's depths and the mountain's heights. We were surrounded by friends from near and far, some coming, some going, some making an appearance through wonderful letters and thank you notes that surprised me at the mailbox.

This week on Guam may be the last of its kind for a little while. Nick goes on a trip next week, then my parents come(!), then it's finishing up business here before heading home for the holidays. But this week on Guam has been a refreshing one. So grateful for moments like these...