IBM Beach

Kind of a weird name for a beach, I know. It's probably got another name, but I just don't know it. Today we went to IBM Laundromat Beach. It's named that because it is right across the street from the IBM Laundromat. Don't let the name of the laundromat (or the beach) fool you; these are no high-tech computer-run washers and dryers. IBM is probably the owner's initials (still no word on any trademark infringement problems).

One of the best things about IBM is it has good sand. Some other pluses are that it is located across Pago Pago Harbor from Rainmaker Mountain, which is really beautiful, and that the snorkeling past the reef is outstanding.

The surface water can be dirty at times, but it's bearable. We swam past the reef at high tide and it drops probably 50+ feet. When it's sunny, you can see practically all the way down, and there were some absolutely beautiful coral and fish!

After swimming, Jaydn got a kick out of stuffing sand down his shirt (although it didn't feel so comfortable later).

Me standing under Rainmaker. Maybe this is good luck. Maybe Rainmaker can make some rain fall on me!

Jaydn decided he wanted to dig the biggest hole in the sand he possibly could. When he got down to a level where there was only huge rocks, he asked for our help. Mark and I helped him get out as many rocks as we could, finally exerting all our efforts on a 40+ pounder. It's amazing what pointless activities a dad will do just to hear his son say, "oh my gosh mommy, look what daddy did!" Mark obviously felt the pressure as well. And Jessi, well, she just wanted to take pictures of our ridiculous accomplishment.

After watching Mark and Dad make fools of ourselves, Jaydn, of course, had to show off his manliness as well.

After the beach, we got ice cream and drove up to the cable car monument. On Flag Day 1980 (April 17), some Air Force jets flew over the sky of Pago Pago to commemorate United States' rule of the territory. Unfortunately, they crashed into the cable car which connects Mt. Alava to the mountains on the other side of the Harbor. As a result, the pilots and many others were killed.

The cable car never ran again. It has languished since then, gathering moss and graffiti. Unfortunately, it is an eyesore. I could think of a few treasured government perks that could be done away with to pay for a new cable car. But that's a whole different story.

What might have been...

The view from here did provide for some good pictures, however.

Then we drove around trying to find the Blunt's Point WWII gun. We ran across a good picture of Faga'alu. You can see the outline of the coral from here.

Finally we found the gun. But word to future visitors to Blunt's Point--you have to sneak around the water tower at Blunt's Point to get to the gun. It's hidden behind and over the water tower. And, unfortunately, it is another neglected monument of American Samoan history.

All right, enough exploring for us! We're pooped.