Waterfall Valley

 

Last week my friends Ashley (above) and Bligh (left) and I took advantage of the break in rainy season and ventured into the great Guam outdoors. Part of the problem of rainy season is that, not only does the sky open up upon all humanity, but even in the intervals where gallons of water are not actively falling from above, the unbelievable amount of mud created from past deluges makes outdoor land activities like hiking and golf simply not doable. After a few promising days with more sun than rain, we decided to take a chance and get back out there. To get going boonie stompin again, we started with a short hike to a place called Waterfall Valley, which is absolutely as beautiful as it sounds. 

 Ashley and I at the bottom of the first of a series of four waterfalls.

Bligh and I at the landing pool of the largest of the falls, which looks like this...

Nothing "Ugly Guam" about this!

Bligh giving a pretty convincing demo on how muddy it is. 

The above picture was taken on a Thursday around 10a.m. 

There's no way to include that piece of info without also acknowledging 

the twinge of guilt I feel knowing how many people reading this (uhh, like Nick)

were in an office at that time. Yeah... this just is not real life... (thanks honey!).

 The darker line of trees behind us marks the river where all of these waterfalls 

cascade down from.  It's a really beautiful place, exceptionally rewarding considering 

the hike to get here is only about 5 minutes from the main road!

Next we ventured down the road (and by the road I mean the road... there is only one road on this remote part of the island!) toward one of my favorite spots in all of Guam, Inarajan Pools. I've been here before with our out-of-town visitors, but this is one of those places that's worth going to for any or no reason. I just never get tired of how beautiful it is. We brought a picnic lunch and hung out in the sun for a while, taking a dip in the pools, listening to the ocean waves crash not far from us, and enjoying one of the best natural water features this beautiful island has to offer. It was a great end to a wonderful Guam morning! 

The only less than ideal part of the day was realizing my two hiking buddies are both in the middle of organizing their moves off Guam to their next duty station, so it won't be long (just weeks, actually) until my friends peace out and I've got to find some new hiking buddies. It also won't be long until Ashley and Bligh are experiencing winter again for the first time in a few years (yikes!). Pretty sure there will be a moment in the future for us all when we will look back on days like this and wish we could, even if just for a moment, be transported back here, to this place where the ocean is warm and inviting, the jungle is seethingly green, the wind is crisp, and the sunshine is generous. Until that day comes for each of us, carpe diem prevails.

"And forget not that the earth delights to feel your bare feet and the winds long to play with your hair." Khalil Gibran