During the night, tropical storm Neoguri passed about 150 miles southwest of Guam.  Strong wind and heavy rain could be heard even inside our concrete roofed apartment.  The wind was strong enough to make the seals in the window occasionally ‘buzz’. We slept in a little later than normal this morning.

As a result of the passing storm, the TWR picnic at Nimitz Beach Park was moved inside.  The Canadian couple, Phil and April, opened their home for the ‘picnic’.  They have a large living/dining area with a big kitchen which easily accommodated the TWR staff .

The ladies prepared goodies to go with the hamburgers and hot dogs that were grilled under the carport.  One of the delicious desserts even had a patriotic theme.Here are a few photos of the staff enjoying a time of relaxation:

The TWR ‘girls’!

After a good meal, we played some table games.  Some new ones, to us, were Bananagrams — http://www.bananagrams.com/our-games/bananagrams — and Bandits, a card game, which is no longer made.  [Located one used deck on Amazon as a collectible for $65 and one used deck on Ebay for $40!]

We headed home about 4 pm and, since we were within a couple miles of the east coast, decided to head that way first.  We passed through the villages of Ipan and Talofofo.  Unfortunately, the rain and haze did not allow for good photos.

On the way back to, and about 1/2 mile north of, our apartment, we noticed another ‘hidden’ memorial beach, Apaca Point, on the west side of Guam.

Apaca Point was another location where the Japanese had well-hidden defenses, including pill boxes and tunnels.

A Japanese tunnel at Apaca Point.

Apaca Point Island is just off Apaca Point. Usually, the Philippine Sea is very calm on the west side of Guam. Because of tropical storm Neoguri, the waves are quite spectacular today.

While at Apaca Point we met a couple that were collecting shells on the beach.  We visited with them for a while and learned that they were here to attend her mother’s funeral.  They met while he was stationed on Guam with the US Army.  She was a local Chamorro and they were married in 1975 at Marianas Baptist, a church about 300 yards east of our apartment.