A walk to the far end of TailsideI’ll end the year with some scenery for everyone. I had watched the tide schedule and planned a trip to Corregidor when it was low near mid morning. Along with a few other things, I wanted to walk from Kindley Field all the way to Hooker Point at the east tip of the island. To do this you need low tide to cross over to Razor Island which has Hooker Point at its eastern end.
I got an early ride from the Corregidor Inn to Kindley Field and was walking down the airstrip by 8:05am. From the airstrip I would go to the cemetery, the rifle butt (concrete wall) and then continue along the narrow island ridge until where I could get down to the beach. The rest of the trip to the Point would be at beach level. As I parted the first grasses at the end of the airstrip, I realized I was walking into prime cobra territory heading for a cemetery!!! I tried not to dwell on that thought.
This part of Corregidor Island is covered with areas of numerous thin trees and open sections with thick high grasses, vines and bushes.
Just east of the airstrip was by far the easiest walking I would encounter until I reached the beach.
This is actually an old road. The grasses are neck high in places and quite thick. Walking here might not look bad but you cannot see your feet so you might step on something or trip over a fallen tree etc. I prefer walking within the tree line where the shade prevents grass from growing very high. Visibility is much better and only a few branches and vines need to be cut.
The first open grassy area starts just past the rifle butt. Trees end abruptly at a wall of green. From here the grasses have direct sunlight all day long to grow as high as they want. Now is December so the rainy season has just ended, vegetation is at its peak.
A “wall of green” ahead. This looked like the most open spot to cut through into the sunlight.
View of the opposite side of the “wall of green”. The dark area in the centre is where I just cut the hole and passed through.
Looking east, I am holding the camera over my head to take this photo. Grasses, vines and bushes are well over my head as I make my way towards the next treed area. This is like walking on a sponge of live and dead grass stems. I just part the grass and slowly walk along. Occasionally I can see my feet. I rarely talk out loud to myself but I will admit to trying to make friends with any nearby snakes.
The field of view in the above photo is about 2/3 of the ridge’s width here. After a couple more tree/grassy transitions I finally see get my reward for this trek. I think the east end has some of the best views on all of Corregidor Island.
The slope declines as I approach the “cut” in the ravine where I can get down to the beach. Here is the view looking eastward. Caballo Island is to the right and Cavite in the distance.
Looking directly along Corregidor’s tail, my destination of Razor Island is ahead to the right.
Standing on the eastern side of the cut, here is the view looking back along the curved tail of Corregidor Island.
From the cut looking back along the northern coastline. Bataan is in the distance.
From the cut looking back along the southern coastline.
Down on the rocky beach I continue along the south side of the island towards the point.
The narrow rocky ridge of Corregidor’s tail.
Approaching East Point. Razor Island is ahead and Caballo Island is off to the right.
Here is East Point, the most eastern tip of the main part of Corregidor Island.
At East Point, looking towards Razor and Caballo Islands.
A better view of my route across to Razor Island.
The slow trek from Kindley Field to here means I missed low tide but that was no problem. Back in my old country tides are something a person is wise to take seriously (tides as high as a two story house) but here the hi/lo difference is only a couple of feet. Worst case I will get a bit wet, I won’t get stuck there. As it was the waves that day meant I got wet to the crotch, warm water though so it felt good. The rocks are covered with barnacles and are not slippery.
At Razor Island.
Looking back towards East Point.
Halfway around the south side of Razor Island. (looking SE)
Halfway around the south side of Razor Island. (looking NW)
Finally Hooker Point (to the right). I assume the chunk of rock on the left is too small to be considered an island by itself. The western end of Corregidor Island is in the background.
Caballo Island seen from Hooker Point. Its really windy around here.
The north shore of Razor Island looking towards Bataan.
Time to head back across to East Point.
At East Point looking along the southern coastline of Corregidor.
Walking along the steep south side shoreline heading home. The cut is just behind the rocky hump up ahead.
Back at Kindley Field there is a viewpoint where you can look along the coast to where I had just spent the day. It is 3:35pm and the December sun is already starting to get low. You can see East Point, Razor Island, Hooker Point and even the little chunk of rock at the very tip.
Considering the time of day and for the first time ever, I decided to treat my old body to a ride from Kindley Field back to Bottomside. I called the Corregidor Inn on my cellphone. Within minutes they picked me up and deposited my butt on a chair at MacArthur’s Café. Sixty seconds later I had a cold drink in my hand. Now that was the icing on my cake that day.
Another reason to get back earlier was that I had been invited to a party. The head of the Inn’s kitchen crew was having a combined birthday party and a 22 year anniversary party as a Sun Cruises employee. Many of the islands folks are “long term”. Although I have been coming to Corregidor Island since 1996, nineteen of those trips have been in just the past two years. I know quite a few of the Sun Cruises, CFI and Coast Guard staff and they are nice people.
It was mid week and for the second time this trip I was the only overnight guest on Corregidor Island. The Inn shut down at 5pm and we all moved to the south side Kiosk. It was a good evening with great food, videoke and a drink or two (or three). A few hours later I wandered up to the Inn and spent the night with the ghosts.
Another good day on The Rock.
More exploring coming next year. Happy New Year everyone.
) Those dark window looking areas look much like gun ports such as one would see at Forts Jefferson, Sumpter,etc, rather than possible verandas. I have now about talked myself out of my initial guess as to what this mysterious structure actually is. Again I am of no help. Where is our very own Battery Boy when we need him?