The road has recently been graded and is very good so we made good time and arrived at the top of the hill at Owers' Corner just before 9am.

When we arrived there were several boys there waiting informing us we could not go down the bottom to the archway as the Minister for Tourism and the people he walked with were being greeted and therefore unless we were with this party, we would have to stop at the top of the hill. So stop at the top we did and our boys and trekkers got ready and walked down the hill.

At the time we dropped them off there was lots of noise coming from down the hill such as sing sing dancers; car horns; and lots of people and children creating their own kind of excitement as I assume the trekkers made their way up the last mountain.

We said goodbye to our trekkers as they walked off down the hill.
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We have not heard from the guys on this trek since they left and can only assume they are going ok otherwise they would have reported in by now.

Last night however this trek made the news as it appears they were interviewed on the local TV network EMTV at Owers' Corner the day of their departure. Quite a few captions were taken of them as they got ready to depart and walk down their first descent.

Ash was also interviewed by the media crew who were all there to welcome home the Minister for Tourism and his team at 9am when they arrived up from Goldie River to the archway at Owers' Cnr.

As their departure from Owers' co-incided with the Minister's arrival there was quite a long time devoted to the segment and often there were shots of our trekkers and their porters. Our boys looked rather shy but the trekkers looked like they were enjoying the limelight of being celebrities.

At the time of their departure there were sing sing dancers, lots of refreshments and huts built for the occasion as the Minister was also there to open the police building at Owers' Corner.

All trekking companies were asked to contribute and whilst driving we informed our trekkers that along with their backpacks on the roof, were also boxes of bread; sausages; soft drinks etc. One of them remarked at the time that they would enjoy being part of the festivities at Owers and the news last night proved exactly that.

8th September: Cyprian called in by sat phone around 6pm tonight to say they had reached Agulogo. The three trekkers are all doing their own thing apparently in so much as they are preparing their own meals and are not asking too much of the boys. Being in the army I guess they are not new comers to roughing it in the bush.

Cyprian added the porters and trekkers are fine with no problems whatsoever. Cyprian remarked that he can tell they are used to a pack on their back and for them its a matter of showing them the way and their experience is showing through.

We joked along with him. I think what he was trying to imply, was that these guys really know what trekking is all about and are wanting their own independence and are not relying on them like some other treks. Seems there is not too much work for them to do so they are enjoying the fun of just being out there with them and sharing the time they have together on the track.

Tomorrow they head to Efogi where they plan on spending the night.
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