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At the International airport yesterday our latest group about to head out on the track arrived in PNG. They all spent the night at Loloata Dive Resort as Sogeri Lodge were booked out. They arrived in two separate groups, the first 4 arrived at 2pm and the others close on 4pm with Debbie being the last out the door.
Trekkers include :
[*]Victor Smith will be walking along with Charles Aiwa as his personal porter
[*]Matthew Smith – carrying his own pack
[*]Simon Dorman – also toughing it out carry his own backpack
[*]Debbie Pepper has the 2012 trek champion Ramsy Idau as her personal porter
[*]Larissa Walsh is walking with one of the longest walkers – Kingsley Boropi
[*]Sue Harrington also walking with a experienced personal porter – Johnsford Eroro
[*]Loretta Roberts walking with a popular personal porter – Chris Orimba
[*]Clyde Dorman will be kept amused as he has Tom Hango for company who these days go by the name of Tom Hanks – Tom won one of our Kokoda Challenge Races in a little over 19 hours
[*]Emma Broadfield has Gary Juari as her personal porter and her partner
[*]Rodney Wilson has been teamed up with Noah Kiransa
[*]Helen Hanson – is walking with one of our most popular porters – Jenen BaraiIMGP0234 640×480.JPG
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IMGP0239 640×480.JPGThis morning I met up with the group again when they booked in for their flight to Popondetta. The photograph below was taken before they headed into the boarding lounge.
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IMGP0243 640×480.JPGThe group were met in Popondetta by their guide Wayne Urina Tihimi who is one of our most popular guides. Wayne also holds the record as the second fastest man on the track in 18:34 in the direction from Owers' Corner to Kokoda. I phoned him this afternoon but found out he was asleep as he was up at 1am to catch the 2am truck to Popondetta to meet his trekkers. Another of our guides Kingsley Boropi took the trekkers up to the station and to the Kokoda Hospital while he rested in readiness for tomorrow's trek.
Wayne has walked often, has a sense of humour and I am sure the trekkers will enjoy his company as they walk the track.
I was looking through my photographs of Wayne thinking which one to use and I came across one of him that was taken when he was part of a team we sent down to the Gold Coast Kokoda Challenge Race. The organiser's of the event made arrangements for them to be tested at a centre in Lismore. Can you imagine for a second how a boy from the bush felt when he was put on a threadmill with all the equipment attached to his body. At the time the people in charge of this area were surprised at their results and the boys came back with more to talk about then the race!
testing write up from NSW 640×480.jpgI was informed they arrived in Kokoda approximately 11:30am where our staff had been preparing their lunch. Later as mentioned they went for a walk up to the Kokoda Station and then rested before their meal tonight at Orohaven Kokoda Retreat.
IMGP2891 640×480.JPGIts 8am as I type this and Wayne has just advised that they are now on the track having just walked through the Kokoda archway. The plan today is to reach Isurava Village where they will stop for the night. Today they have ahead of them what is commonly referred to by the boys as 'TEST MOUNTAIN'. Goodluck trek 829!
Kokoda Archwaya.jpgTrekkers have reached Deniki and are now on the move towards their destination for the day being Isurava Village. All trekkers are doing well it seems.
Deniki 3 640×480.JPGWayne called up earlier this afternoon to say the group are now at Isurava Village and that all trekkers did really well today which is good news.
I think this is the first trek where we have had two doctors and a medic all on the one trek.
Tomorrow they will head on to Isurava Monument area before Alola and down to Eora Creek where they will spend the night.
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Trek 642 Deniki (2) 640×480.JPGTrekkers had a wow of a day today having passed through Isurava, then Alola and now they are at Eora Creek. According to Wayne their guide, everyone is doing really well and not even one of them are struggling. Tomorrow the plan is to head to 1900/Myola Junction where some of them may find it quite cold.
IMGP2983 1280×768.JPGTrekkers are at 1900/Myola Junction tonight. Apparently they have had a good day and looking forward to reaching the half way mark tomorrow. Emma had a tummy problem today but has come good. All others no problems whatsoever.
Walking towards Myola Junction 2 640×480.jpgAt 9pm my phone rang and I wondered who it was that could be calling me. It turned out to be Wayne phoning in from Efogi. He said they have had so much fun today that he forgot the time. I asked what on earth they had been up to, to which he replied, well the trekkers have all had massages! yep you read right. Seems some women in Efogi have been taught how to massage and have been supplied with oils etc. Will learn more no doubt when trekkers return to Port Moresby as to how their massages went.
It seems Sione has been singing along with Wayne to keep them entertained.
Tonight they share Efogi with another trekking company who have been playing tag with them and who are heading for the same campsite Agulogo tomorrow.
Everyone continues to do well.
SDC10126 640×480.JPGWayne called in around 7am this morning to say they were just preparing to head off onto the track. I spoke to Debbie and she informed me they were having a great time and enjoying every day! Apparently there are a couple of trekking companies all heading for the finish line on Tuesday! Today the group are on their way to Ioribaiwa. It will be tough for them as they head for Maguli Range and the 9 false peaks – go trek 829, you are on your way to completing your trek!
Ioribaiwa.JPGTrekkers have now reached Ua'Ule Creek and seems they are undecided whether to have another night on the track or to walk off tomorrow 1 day ahead of their schedule. They are going to phone me between 6-7am tomorrow after they have reached their final decision.
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Ioriawba Ridge 640×480.JPGTrekkers are now at Goldie River and will walk off the track tomorrow morning so another early start for us as we head again up to Owers' Corner. Standby by photographs to be posted tomorrow.
Goldie River Trek 715.jpgWe met up with trekkers today and I have to say they will go down in history as one of the happiest bunch of trekkers I have ever seen come off the track.
The boys were happy, trekkers were happy and lots of nice positive stories where being shared around.
One of our porters scored a bicycle and you cannot wipe the grin off his face.
The boys tonight were sitting around and commenting on how it will go down in history as one of their most enjoyable treks. They remarked the trekkers were really nice people who treated them with respect and in return they could not do enough for them.
The boys talked about singing gospel songs along the track which this group of trekkers thoroughly enjoyed it seems. One trekker remarked how much she enjoyed hearing Sione sing Amazing Grace and it was one of the highlights of her trek.
When asked how they enjoyed walking from Kokoda to Owers' they all agreed it was just a great experience that no matter which direction they would have loved the experience of walking and enjoying the company of our KTL staff.
Thanks girls for being patient waiting for the two trekkers from Popondetta to fly in. When their flight ran late, it was a good decision to drive you up to Sogeri so you had time to prepare for your early morning flight at 6am.
A big THANK YOU for all of us here at Kokoda Trekking. We will remember each and everyone of you for years to come as to be honest the boys are outside still talking about the trek and how special it was for them.
Photographs have been posted tonight which we trust you will enjoy viewing.
IMGP3044 1280×768.JPGThe guys left first to catch their flight to Australia and were dropped off at the airport:
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