Issue 12: Road Trip for Some Southern Comfort 🌊
Tag along while we explore the historic village of Humåtak where Magellan first landed and our hike to the cradle of creation.
Hey Friends!
Pack your bags because we’re going on a road trip! We’ve planned several trips around our island, starting with the historic villages in the south.
Even as locals, sometimes we can take Guåhan’s natural beauty for granted. This week’s itinerary is a road trip cruising through Hågat's glorious bay views and into Humåtak’s old and rich history, then through the windy roads of Malesso’ and into Inalåhan.
We’re also taking a scenic hike to Fouha Rock, the origin of our island’s creation story, and then exploring the village of Humåtak on foot. 👣
There is much magic to uncover, so join us for the ride. Don’t forget to check out our IG Reel of our road trip, which drops tomorrow!
Until next week!
- WW Team
Your Week to Weekend Roadtrip South is Fueled by 76 Circle K
📍 Starting point: 76 Circle K Anigua
We’re starting today’s adventure by fueling up at 76 Circkle K in Anigua and dropping in to pick up some snacks and drinks. We love that they have all the hiking essentials you need, from grab-and-go snacks, paper products, mosquito repellant, and sunblock.
✔️Checklist
Our weather and nature trails can be brutal due to the heat and humidity, and the razor-sharp sword grass. Don’t forget your protective gear, and be sure to stay hydrated.
📍 Head down to Fouha Bay in Humåtak
Proceed down Marine Corps Dr. toward Asan and Hågat and take in the beautiful scenery while driving south.
🥾 Hike to Fouha Bay/Creation Point
Once you drive into Humåtak (Hwy 2), you’ll come across a substation before you get into the residential area of the bay. Although it’s rather a quick hike (approx. 10-15 minutes to get to the bay), be sure to carve out about 2-3 hours for this hike so you can truly enjoy yourself.
The hike to Fouha Bay will lead you to Fouha Rock, also known as the “Creation Point,” and the origin of Guam’s creation story.
Reminder: You can truly feel the ancestral presence here, therefore please remember to respect the land and do not remove any ancient artifacts. Enter with respect as you would any sacred place.
🌕 The Legend of Puntan and Fu’una: Gods of Creation
(Sources: Guampedia.com and CHamoru Legends: A Gathering of Stories)
The CHamoru creation story centers around Puntan and Fu’una, a brother and sister who made the earth and earth’s people. The siblings are the only two gods in the ancient CHamoru religion since historical sources have denied the existence of religion in the Mariana Islands before the Spanish colonization.
“Puntan instructed his sister to take apart his body and create the parts of the world. One of his eyes would become the sun, and the other would be transformed into the moon. Puntan’s eyebrows would become rainbows. His back would become the earth.
Fu’una had supernatural powers of her own. She used her energy and spirit to bring to life the parts of her brother’s body that now formed the world. With her power, she made the sun shine and the earth blossom. After she completed her task of bringing new life to Puntan’s body parts, Fu’una decided to create life out of her body, as she had her brother’s. She threw her body into the earth and created Fouha Rock, sometimes called Creation Point. Out of Fouha Rock, the first human beings emerged. This rock can be found close to Humåtak Bay in the southern part of Guam.”
🥪 Pantry Pairings Using Leftover Rotisserie Chicken from 76 Circle K
Ingredients:
4 slices of bread
3 cups leftover rotisserie chicken
1/2 cup mayo
1/2 cup ranch
Lettuce
Salt and Pepper to taste
Instructions:
Shred leftover rotisserie chicken with a fork
Mix ranch and mayo together
Season with salt and pepper to taste
Toast bread and assemble
📍 Explore Humåtak on Foot
🌊 A Brief History of Humåtak
(Source: Guampedia and Mayor’s Council of Guam)
The village name derives from the word uma, meaning to carry something on the back or a heavy load on the shoulders. The village is also the second oldest after Inalåhan.
Humåtak’s history is rich in itself. Along the bay, you’ll find remains of the former Spanish governor’s residence, the site of the old San Dionisio church, and Fort Nuestra Señora de la Soledåd. This is also where Portuguese seafarer and navigator Ferdinand Magellan landed, and through his escapades, renamed Guam the “Islands of Thieves.”
Magellan’s voyage marked the beginning of intermittent visits throughout the next 150 years by foreign navigators.
🦶🏼 Explore on Foot
The drive into Humåtak bay is filled with historical charm and remnants of its colonial ruling. Adjacent to the bay, the Magellan Monument erected by the Guam Teacher’s Association in 1926 with an inscription that reads, “Ferdinand Magellan landed near this place.”
Across the monument lies the ruins of San Dionisio Church originally built in 1681. The church has an ironic history of being destroyed and rebuilt three times; first by rebelling Chamorros, then by a devastating typhoon, and finally by an earthquake.
📍 Unwind with Something Sweet
Cool down with a sweet treat or a snack after your adventure down south! We stopped by Malojloj 76 Circle K for some sweet acai and vanilla milkshakes. They also have a wide selection of grocery items and other goodies to refuel you after a long hike. Other popular places to dine include McKrauts and Jeff Pirate’s Cove.
✨GIVEAWAY✨
We are so excited to announce that we’ve partnered up with 76 Circle K to do weekly giveaways. Winners will get a $50 Gift Certificate redeemable for gas and in-store items + a Week to Weekend reusable canvas bag to go shopping with!
Our subscribers will be automatically entered into ALL our weekly giveaways, so be sure to stay subscribed and follow us on IG for additional details to get multiple entries.
May the odds be ever in your favor!
🤙 Esta Later!
You might have noticed that we did not include our regular “Events” section in this newsletter, but not to worry! We’ll be sending it out bi-monthly on Mondays starting next week 😉
Stay tuned for our north and central road trip guides! This newsletter is made with lots of love and a ridiculous amount of coffee. You can support us by sharing our newsletter with your homies and/or by showing some love on Buy Me a Coffee ☕️