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This morning I was up bright and early to meet with two treks who headed out today from Owers' Corner. Last night we arranged to pick up Tim from the Crowne Plaza before heading out to the Gateway Hotel to collect Rahman.
Tim was right on time having been dropped off at the hotel by a friend he stayed with in Port Moresby. On the other trek was a father and son combination all the way from the middle east to walk the Kokoda Track.
By the time I got to the Gateway around 6:30, Rahman was waiting at the gate entrance obviously excited to be soon on the track.
On the way up to Sogeri we stopped at Rouna falls so they could stretch their legs.
The two trekkers are as follows:
1. Tim MacDonald
2. Rahman LabelakPLEASE NOTE: All photographs have been uploaded onto our FACEBOOK page:
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2204…id=374403025970
You can either access by clicking on the above link or by logging onto http://www.facebook.com and then typing in the 'search button' Kokoda Trekking. This will take you to our homepage. Our staff have a camera on the track with them. Once we have it back at base these photographs will also be uploaded onto this website. Photographs can then be shared with family and friends by tagging them.
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IMGP1373__640x480_.JPGIt was not too long after the photographs above were taken that we arrived at Sogeri Monument area where once again they posed for photographs. Now do they look like happy trekkers or what?
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IMGP1379__640x480_.JPGThe dirt road has now been graded and is almost a highway (well almost) compared to what we as trek operators have been used to, and we soon found ourselves at McDonald's corner.
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IMGP1385__640x480_.JPGAs we got closer to Vesulogo the road once again resembled the old road we are so used to and it was then a slower drive to reach Owers' Corner. Trekkers then started preparing to head out on the Kokoda Track after meeting up with their porters and guide Wayne Urina.
IMGP1387__640x480_.JPGWe then started taking photographs before they headed off. Here Rahman posed for a pic.
IMGP1388__640x480_.JPGWe commented on Tim's backpack so told him to stand side on and he quickly turned and posed for a photograph.
IMGP1392__640x480_.JPGTim and Rayman under the archway by themselves and then with their porters and guide.
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IMGP1395__640x480_.JPGThe guide on this trek is Wayne Urina who sadly lost his two year old daughter who drowned in a river near her home a couple of weeks ago. Due to the expense of her burial he phoned and asked for this trek so he could start to pay off his huge loan that he seems to have now due to several pigs; transport and other things required by tradition that he had to do. The sum is close on K4000.00 but to Wayne that is a lot of money and he wants to walk often to help him reduce this quickly.
Other staff on this trek include : Winnie Pore; Conwell Barai and Cyprian Haera.
Approximately 9am trekkers moved off from Owers' Corner. As they are on a fast trek, their destination for day 1 was Ioribaiwa Village. A few years back porters wanted uke'ule's, now they are keen to play guitars. On this trek Conwell proudly walked off with his new guitar all wrapped in plastic in case the strings got wet. As they walked off down the hill, he sung out, thanks for the guitar boss meri, I LOVE IT!!
I just noticed that Cyprian Haera is still wearing the runners he used in the Kokoda Challenge Race a couple of years ago. He is a 20 hour runner and Wayne of course is the second fastest man in 18:34 to walk/run the track from Owers' Corner to Kokoda.
IMGP1397__640x480_.JPGbye bye trek 647:
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IMGP1399__640x480_.JPGAt midday they had reached Imita Ridge. Later in the day they had reached the village of Ioribaiwa where they are spending the night.
Hi Rahman,
Glad to see your underway!!! Photos are great, almost feels like we are there with you….. Looking forward to the next post. XOXO Monica
Update 20th April: Trekkers have now reached Menari where they are overnighting. Tomorrow they will have another big day as they head towards either Naduri Village or 1900/Myola Junction.
Tim it seems is doing ok despite his blister yesterday. Rahman has not experienced any problems so far it seems and is powering along.
A bit of drama today however, when the other two trekkers, the father and son combination pulled out at Nauro and decided to be airlifted off the track due to a knee problem. All our staff on this trek will be now have caught up with this group of trekkers and they will all be spending the night together.
If they cant make it now there is something wrong as if they all stick together there will be 9 staff to attend to just two trekkers, now how is that for a ration?
Will let you know more as I hear from the track tomorrow.
D5_MENARI__Small_.JPGI have not heard from the track today (21st April) but I assume its because they have a big day ahead of them to reach 1900 where I am expecting them to spend the night as they only have one more night in the bush which should be either Eora Creek or Alola Village if all is still going to plan as they are to walk off the track sometime on the 23rd.
Will keep you posted if I receive a sat phone call.
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