CORREGIDOR STATUS FOR TOURISTS - REPORT 16 FEB 2021 ONWARDS

[Karl Welteke]

North Shore Road update 2021-03-22

Mr. Jerry Rollin sent me the below picture and wrote this:

Karl,

Thought you might like to see that 60% of the North Shore Road from Engineers Ravine to Battery James has been cleared. Hope to finish by Easter.

Regards

Jerry

Note 1 from Karl: Mr. Jerry Rollin is acting as the Corregidor Foundation Inc. (CFI) Operation Consultant. He and his staff were most helpful to facilitate my return visit to Corregidor and succeeded to open Corregidor again for public visiting in spite of the lingering virus crisis.



U817. North Shore Road from Jerry Rollin

Note 2 from Karl: In this thread, by my mistake, I have several times mislabeled the North Shore Road as the Southshore Road. I’m sorry about that, my silly mistake! I believe I have corrected most of them and I will look harder.

[beirutvet]

Karl

Best news we have heard in a long time.  Thank you.

[Karl Welteke]

James Ravine.

4th Segment. Fourth Day, First Flag Anniversary 2021-02-16, the 76th on Corregidor Island.



Zf031. This is vegetation at the mouth of James Ravine on Corregidor Island. I tried to find the trail to the beach but it appears it has disappeared, better, gown over; so I dropped the idea going to the beach.



Zf032. The three US Army Philippine Scout’s Grave Stone, it took me some time to find them and I cleared some grass to find them. I really like to do something with them and I hope in the future they will be displayed somewhere on Corregidor. We have been told these three grave stone were rescued by a retired US Marine Officer (he is dead now) from the Fort Mills Cemetery on the Corregidor Tailend Cemetery because the other stones were disappearing.



Zf033. This is the bridge to the Fort Mills Mine Casemate in James Ravine, can you see the casemate, it is there, and I see it.



Zf034. This is a small section of the Fort Mills,-Corregidor map showing the mouth of the James Ravine and the places I looked at. Also, you can look back to earlier maps and data graphs in this thread. On this trip I did not enter the three tunnels we know of in James Ravine, the Mine Casemate, the 1918 underground Barracks or the Machinegun Casemates since I was alone.



Zf035. This is a bad picture of the bridge over the main James Ravine Creek leading to the 1918 underground troop barracks, but it illustrates how I got to the barracks this time. I’m looking up creek and I climbed up to my right and the entrance to the barrack is near there. This time it was the easiest way to get there.



Zf036. The way and distance to the entrance to the Fort Mills 1918 Underground Barracks from the bridge in the previous picture. I cut all that bamboo/vines vegetation out of the way, while there.



Zf037. This is the entrance to the Fort Mills 1918 Underground Barracks on Corregidor Island. I think, if we want to go inside again we have to move some of that dirt and those rocks.



Zf038. I could not resist taking at least one shot of inside the Fort Mills 1918 Underground Barracks on Corregidor Island. Indeed it is still there, inviting to come in and have a look. Above the entrance in the last image are some ventilation grills and one can shoot a picture thru them.



Zf039. This is the bridge over the James Ravine contributing east side-ravine; in the past we used this bridge to reach the Fort Mills 1918 Underground Barracks on Corregidor Island. It has deteriorated further and my way this time may be a better way to reach the underground barracks.



Zf040. This is the bridge over the James Ravine contributing east side-ravine; in the past we used this bridge to reach the Fort Mills 1918 Underground Barracks on Corregidor Island. It has deteriorated further and my way this time may be a better way to reach the underground barracks.



Zf041. I just added this picture because it is a nice shot of Rock Point on Corregidor Island and the Monja Island of Mariveles Bay. That was one reason I wanted to go the beach earlier but changed my mind because the trail is gone.

[Karl Welteke]

Up to Morrison Hill.


5th Segment. Fourth Day, First Flag Anniversary 2021-02-16, the 76th on Corregidor Island.




Zf042. One of the two 155mm Gun Shelters near Battery James. The Battery James Road had a fallen tree just before this shelter on the way to Battery James from Middleside. But I only cleared new plants/trees that have grown at the entrance of this shelter.



Zf043. One of the two 155mm Gun Shelters near Battery James. The Battery James Road had a fallen tree just before this shelter on the way to Battery James from Middleside. But I only cleared new plants/trees that have grown at the entrance of this shelter.



Zf044. This is a section of the Fort Mills 1936 map, and I marked the 4 venues for this 5th segment of my 4th Day report, visiting Corregidor for the 76th First Flag Anniversary.



Zf045. This is one of 2 pictures of the Telephone/Communication Hub #11 on my long way to Battery Morrison from Battery James. All the Telephone/Communication Hubs in Fort Mills are constructed in different ways, not by a common blueprint. This one is elaborate and has steps going down to it.



Zf046. This is one of 2 pictures of the Telephone/Communication Hub #11 on my long way to Battery Morrison from Battery James. All the Telephone/Communication Hubs in Fort Mills are constructed in different ways, not by a common blueprint. This one is elaborate and has steps going down to it.



Zf047. Battery Morrison is slowly disappearing under the vegetation growth; this is No. 2 Gun.



Zf048. Battery Morrison is slowly disappearing under the vegetation growth; this is No. 1 Gun.



Zf049. Battery Morrison is slowly disappearing under the vegetation growth; this is the bridge to gun control which is severely destroyed from the shelling during the Siege. But there are steps also to get there onto the bridge and the gun control station.



Zf050. This underground passage leads to the Battery Morrison Plotting Room; it is located very near to Battery Morrison and is under the destroyed Gun Control Station above. The battery spare gun rifle/barrel is lying between this entrance and the battery.



Zf051. This is the top of Morrison Hill and I promptly found the No.4 Gun Block, the northern one. This was for an anti aircraft battery, established in 1917 as a result of WW One (The Great War to end all Wars). There were 5 anti aircraft batteries/sites established in Fort Mills, on Corregidor Island at that time.

[Karl Welteke]

On top of Morrison Hill.

6th Segment. Fourth Day, First Flag Anniversary 2021-02-16, the 76th on Corregidor Island.



Zf052. One of several structures or earth heaps in the Anti Air Craft (AA) WWII Battery Chicago, which was placed in the 1917 built AA Battery area on Morrison Hill, Fort Mills on Corregidor Island. This, we believe was the Battery Chicago Range Finder Station built on an earth heap.



Zf053. One of several structures or earth heaps in the Anti Air Craft (AA) WWII Battery Chicago, which was placed in the 1917 built AA Battery area on Morrison Hill, Fort Mills on Corregidor Island. This, we believe was the Battery Chicago Range Finder Station built on an earth heap.



Zf054. This is a section of the 1936 Fort Mills on Corregidor Island map covering the images of this 6th and the next, # 7 segments, of this presentation. I marked the map with the subjects to be covered in this 6th and the next Segment.



Zf055. One of several structures or earth heaps in the Anti Air Craft (AA) WWII Battery Chicago, which was placed in the 1917 built AA Battery area on Morrison Hill, Fort Mills on Corregidor Island. This was a concrete structure and it is mostly buried but I don’t know what it purpose it served.



Zf056. One of several structures or earth heaps in the Anti Air Craft (AA) WWII Battery Chicago, which was placed in the 1917 built AA Battery area on Morrison Hill, Fort Mills on Corregidor Island. This was a concrete structure and it is mostly buried but I don’t know what it purpose it served. I tried this shot under it, but I can’t figure it out.



Zf057. This is one of the two stairway entrances to the 1917 AA Magazine; during WWII it became part of Battery Chicago



Zf058. Next, I was looking for the West Defense Officer Station and I promptly came across the vent of the structure.



Zf059. It took a little doing but I got down and around to the entrance of the West Defense Officer Station of Fort Mills on Corregidor Island.



Zf060. This is a look into the West Defense Officer Station in Fort Mills on Corregidor Island.



Zf061. I continued my march on Morrison Hill and spotted the row of about 20 sets of open air fuel tank stands

[Karl Welteke]

Descending from Morrison Hill.

7th Segment. Fourth Day, First Flag Anniversary 2021-02-16, the 76th on Corregidor Island.



Zf062. Bingo, I hit the exhaust vent of the bomb proof Magazine Bldg.182; I call it Magazine #7 in a row of 8 Magazine/Ordinance buildings on Morrison Hill, in Fort Mills on Corregidor Island.



Zf063. This is the west end of the bomb proof Magazine Bldg.182; I call it Magazine #7 in a row of 8 Magazine/Ordinance buildings on Morrison Hill, in Fort Mills on Corregidor Island.



Zf064. This bomb proof Magazine Bldg.182; I call it Magazine #7, and it is a massive building. It stands in a row of 8 Magazine/Ordinance buildings on Morrison Hill, in Fort Mills on Corregidor Island. There is one other massive sister magazine next to the rail line to Battery Cheney. But building 183, the magazine I call #8 is completely gone. The area is level and certainly could have housed a large building but if it was there it left no trace.



Zf065. I then descended thru the woods, down the slopes, thru some difficult vegetation to find the very large discarded concrete blocks and found them. Fots2 and I once surprised some scrappers getting the rebar. I can report no one else has been there since. This location is near the only remaining Japanese artillery gun, still at its original location. We still have not figured out from where it came, when and why it ended–up at that place.



Zf066. Looked for and found the only in-place remaining Japanese Artillery Piece on Corregidor Island, a tree fell on it but no damage.



Zf067. Looked for and found the only in-place remaining Japanese Artillery Piece on Corregidor Island, a tree fell on it but no damage.



Zf068. Then I descended to the Engineering Ravine via the defense position VII-F-2 near the Japanese gun and the ammunition storage of the Pistol Target Range on the Corregidor North Road. This half moon storage has further deteriorated.



Zf069. This is a shot of the Fort Mills Diesel Power Plant from the Corregidor Island North Road; one seldom takes the time to have this view. I did have to use my bolo a few times to travel the short distance from the Pistol Target Range to the shortcut I used to descend to the Engineering Ravine. The shortcut is between the Diesel Power Plant and the two in-the-open steel full tanks, which are hidden now due to overgrowth. The Corregidor Foundation Inc (CFI) recently reported that 60% of the Corregidor North Road between Battery James and the Engineering Ravine is cleared and they hope it will be completely cleared by Easter.



Zf070. On this day a Philippine Coast Guard Ship had an education and recreation visit to the former Fort Mills on Corregidor Island. They brought dependants or perhaps other civilian guests also. As I was finishing my walk they were preparing to depart from the former North Mine Dock.



Zf071. On this day a Philippine Coast Guard Ship had an education and recreation visit to the former Fort Mills on Corregidor Island. They brought dependants or perhaps other civilian guests also. As I was finishing my walk they were preparing to depart from the former North Mine Dock.

[Karl Welteke]

Corregidor Inn; formerly managed by the Sun Cruises Inc.

8th Segment. Fourth Day, First Flag Anniversary 2021-02-16, the 76th on Corregidor Island.

During my many visits to Corregidor, a few nights were spent in the Corregidor Inn. Accommodations were higher priced and after that huge, huge and costly renovation the room rates went thru the roof. But the hotel was a very unique hotel and I have many happy memories of my stays, the staff was always superb and most friendly. In the past they gave us free rides to our goal on the island and later they charged fees but they were manageable. Most guests loved the patio type dining areas with views of the other islands or forts in one direction and Bataan in the other direction. The virus from Red China killed the tourist industry and the Sun Cruises operation on the Corregidor Island completely dead. I wanted to see what is happening of our fond place of remembrance; here are some images:



Zf072. First a picture of the former Boardwalk restaurant, it is located just inside to former Fort Mills North Mine Dock and at the sea wall where the boats from Bataan land. With the hotel closure and the closure of this place there is now only one eating place on the island, the employees cook for them self. The only eating place is the former MacArthur Café and is managed by the Corregidor Foundation Inc. (CFI) and they also manage the former Mac Arthur rooms for rent. See their Facebook page for information www.facebook.com/CorregidorNOW



Zf073. I’m walking, on my way to the former Sun Cruises Hotel, the Corregidor Inn; right is the former Sun Cruises Inn Staff Building. It stands now empty and closed.



Zf074. I’m walking, on my way to the former Sun Cruises Hotel, the Corregidor Inn; left is the former Sun Cruises Inn Generator Building. It stands now empty and closed; it always provided reliable power supply. CFI is running a generator in the former Fort Mills Power Building but is running the power only from about 6 pm to 6am each day. Next to the generator building we see the shortcut path to the former MacArthur Café which is still in operation with a slightly different name and a different Management.



Zf075. I had to have a look at the shortcut path to the former MacArthur Café which is still in operation with a slightly different name and a different Management. One can still walk it but there is some rubbish on the way, that building was the former Sun Cruises Recreation Building but was used for many other purposes.



Zf076. The Corregidor Inn is still here although it is closed. This is the main entrance to the Inn/Hotel.



Zf077. Because of the huge Sun Cruise’s renovation of the Corregidor Inn, this new passage to the patio type dining area cannot be locked up right now.



Zf078. Because of the huge Sun Cruise’s renovation of the Corregidor Inn, this new passage to the patio type dining area cannot be locked up right now. That battery provides one of two lonely lights at night for the Corregidor Inn.



Zf079. From the patio type dining area of the former Corregidor Inn I still could enjoy one more time the grand view of the south mouth opening/entrance of Manila Bay and see two of the other three Islands/Forts; we see Fort Drum left and Fort Frank at right.



Zf080. From the patio type dining area of the former Corregidor Inn I still could enjoy one more time the grand view of the North Channel entrance of Manila Bay. I always enjoy this view and then remember the tragic Battle of Bataan. I particular remember the Dog fight of the 9th Feb 1942 between an American and a Japanese Pilot that caused both pilots to crash on Tarak Ridge which is located about center in this picture on top of the Mount Mariveles peaks.



Zf081. Like the dining area of the Sun Cruises INC Corregidor inn is still in operation, all we have to do get the key to open and turn on the ovens. This shot is thru the glass from the patio type dining area. I have another shot thru the main door of the Hotel Lobby, also there, all is needed, is a key to open.



Zf082. Sad to see, but we are looking at the former Sun Cruises INC Corregidor Inn across their swimming pool; the water is now dirty brown.

[fots2]

Great report there Karl!

I have been the only visitor exploring on Corregidor Island a few times in the past but I always knew that when I got back to Bottomside that cold drinks, food and friendly faces would be there. It sure looks lonely now.

Since my first trip in 1996, I have been on the Inn patio almost every year (except this one). They were always good times with you, EXO, Phantom and others. We’ll do that again someday.

Thanks for the recent photos.

[EXO]

Karl & John

You guys sure know how to make me pine for the times we had there. I want to thank you for your words and images, which bring that sad nostalgia. Schadenfreude is NOT the word for it, as I have no joy about what the Wuhan CCP Flu has done to us. The word I was after is SAUDADE, of Portuguese origin, defined as a deep emotional state of nostalgic longing for an absent something or someone that one loves. A melancholy yearning. It often carries a repressed knowledge that the object of longing will never return. Though painful, your images bring the sting of saudade reminiscent of the good days that came before.

Have I posted Robin Hemley's trip report already? Spoiler Alert: It will give you saudade, for sure and certain.

[beirutvet]

EXO

Thank you for that.  Saudade, indeed.