Skip to main content

Locked Gate Welcome - Ritidian, Guam


On President's day Monday, we were hoping for a good time at the beach.  Sunday we had stayed home because Araya wasn't feeling very good, so I had high hopes for Monday.  I wanted to go to Ritidian, the nicest beach on Guam, I'd heard.  We drove north, up to the Air Force Base, took a left turn, headed to the northern most point of the island. The road got rough, bouncy, swerving, pot-holes rough.  Then we came around a corner and saw this most amazing view of the ocean.  The road drops down from there, to the shore, and to a gate.  Which. Was. Locked!  

Locked.  After all of that.  In honor of President's Day.  If I had only known.  Heads drooping, we drove off.  Rob found a little road to explore.  At least we could look around a bit before heading back.


The kids got out of the car and set out on a photo hunt.


Flowers, butterflies, and brown tree snake research.  And a man who came by in his pickup and stopped for a minute to talk.


He asked what we were doing?  
Just waiting while the kids took some photographs. 
Where are you from?  
We answered.  
He paused.

Why don't you folks go down the road to my place.  I've been cutting down coconut trees today.  About 20 of them.  The gate is locked.  Just park to the right, and you can walk in.

He went on his way.  A kind and trusting stranger.

What could we say for what turned out to be such a nice gift.


One gate, locked, shut us out.  This gate, though locked, welcomed us in.


Down, the little paved lane, to a garden, some shelters, and then to a pristine beach.


Quiet.  Except the sound of the waves on the shore.  
Blue.  Sea and Sky. 
Shells in the sand.  Sea gifts.
Red coral sand.  Red Hibiscus.  
Orchids. Coconut trees.  
Quiet.  Peace and Quiet.

(You can just follow along with the pictures.  Word will just get in the way on this little vacation to one of the most beautiful private beaches I've ever experienced.) 











 






















Labels:

Comments

  1. Cheryl SternMarch 7, 2013 at 9:08 PM

    That's Aurona beach...the place and beach we went camping at right before christmas with a church group. You must have talked with MR. Mckeever's(from the Ordot church, History teacher at GAA)Uncle. His Uncle owns that cool camping spot(a park like setting)...and yes it is an awesome beach...glad you got to see it & experience it!!! Yay! :o) ....Cheryl Stern

    ReplyDelete
  2. SharonMarch 7, 2013 at 11:27 PM

    beautiful! what a blessing!!

    ReplyDelete
  3. HeidiMarch 8, 2013 at 3:23 AM

    What a gift! I love the hospitality he gave, love the way a generous stranger saved the day.

    ReplyDelete

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Guam 2020: Post 26 - Humatak Heritage Village

Monday was President's Day, and Rob had the day off from work.  I'm so glad because I wasn't feeling sick at all.  We decided to drive around the southern half of the island.  Last time we tried to do this, it was a very raining day, but today the weather was perfect, sunny and warm with fluffy white clouds. Our first stop was Umatac, an interesting village full of history.  In the local language, it is spelled Humatak.  Ferdinand Magellan and his sailors brought first European contact to the island in 1521.  It is thought they landed in Umatac Bay, but I just learned in further reading that the site is disputed, and might have been further north.  I wish I could say that this is a good story, but it leaves me very disturbed.  There was thievery, fighting, killing and burning of the settlement, not so different from stories of first visits in other places around the world.  It wasn't mentioned in the article, but I'm guessing that the...
Post a Comment
Read more

Wooden Bridge to a Huckleberry Trail called Mocus Point

You might be anticipating photos of the wildflowers of the Beartooth.  Those are coming, but first before we got there we had to drive through Idaho.  The most direct route follows the Lochsa River from Lewiston, ID to Missoula, MT along Highway 12, also known as the Northwest Passage Scenic Byway, because Lewis and Clark followed this route back home.  If you you haven't driven that road before, I definitely recommend it for your next road trip.  Here is a link to a publication about the road.   http://npshistory.com/publications/usfs/region/1/nez-perce/hwy-12.pdf I think there are 5 wooden suspension bridges over the Lochsa that is for foot and pack animal traffic only and crosses over to a trail. The one we stopped at is at mile post 143.  Sometime long ago, when my kids were little, we stopped there and I remember William taking a lot of photos down under the bridge with a camera we were letting him use.  It seems this was an important part of...
Post a Comment
Read more

Pohnpei, Part 3: Liduhduhniap Falls

(Note to those who weren't with me on Pohnpei in 1988.  You are welcome to listen in, but I am writing mainly for my fellow teachers, myself, and my family.  There will be some things you won't understand.  Just skim those parts, if you wish.) We stayed in this lovely building.  I think it used to be painted blue.  The lower floor used to be Mr. Quail's house.  The lower left apartment was Mr. Keith's.  Remember him?  The maintenance man?  We stayed in his apartment.  The building is still in good condition, but the cupboards and cabinets need help.  The particle board has swelled after all these years, and the drawers no longer work.  The building behind "Mr. Quail's place" is a cafeteria on the ground floor with  girls housing up above.  The boys are in the building that the nice Philippino lady, I think her name was Ramie, who taught typing lived in.  And there are a couple guys in the apartment in th...
9 comments
Read more