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Date: 26 October 2012 – 2 November 2012
All trekkers arrived from Australia yesterday and spent the night at Sogeri Lodge before being picked up this morning and driven out to Owers' Corner for the commencement of their walk across the Kokoda Trail. Trekkers in this group include :
[*]Guide – Shane Thomas – walking on his 38th trek
[*]Cameron Wallace
[*]Daniel Ratcliffe
[*]Brooke Kelehear
[*]Tanya McRae
[*]Jason Peters
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IMGP3300 640×480.JPGOn the way out to Owers' Corner, trekkers stopped off at McDonald's Corner. I was not with them but judging by the photographs, they got a lesson in rubber farming:
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IMGP3302 640×480.JPGAt Owers' Corner trekkers got to meet their personal porters who will carry their backpacks and help them wherever they can. Shane was joking with Ramsy last night that just like the Melbourne Cup, his trekkers backpack was the heaviest so she must be going to try and slow him down.
For those of you who do not know, we hold an annual Kokoda Challenge Race across the track and this year Ramsy Idau from Kokoda was the overall winner in a time of 18:28
On this trek Ramsy is a personal porter for Brooke Kelehear.
Earlier this year Ramsy walked with Angus Forrest and fell in love with his stock whip. Angus got a thrill out of this and when back home he purchased one from America which Ramsy received yesterday. Late yesterday afternoon he could be heard trying to show off his latest toy with sounds like gunshots ringing loudly for us all to hear. So far he appears to have his own unique style of cracking the whip above his head with both his left and right arms.
In the photograph below, you will see a plastic bag with the whip inside as he carries it home to Kokoda.
Late August Ramsay won K10,000 (approx $5000). I asked if his life had changed and expected him to tell me heaps of things he had bought. Seems he bought his son a bicycle; himself a mobile phone, and for his wife well she borrowed his plastic card and let loose until he locked it away for future use.
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Ramsy Idau2.jpgCameron Wallace met with Duggie Eroro one of most experienced personal porters.
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IMGP3322 640×480.JPGThe ever smiling Evan Myosi from Saga Village in Kokoda met with his trekker Daniel Ratcliffe:
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IMGP3318 640×480.JPGNext off the ranks is Tanya McRae who met her personal porter Ivan Semie. Everytime Ivan walks, trekker comment on how good he is, not just his own trekker but the group as a whole. So unless this trek is different to others, Tanya has one very special guy to carry her backpack who will be there for her every inch of the way. He has a very big smile which makes it a delight to be around him.
I told you he was a character, refer below, two sets of pics for the same location:
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IMGP3320 640×480.JPGLast but not least Jason Peters got to meet his personal porter, Dylen Aire. This came as a surprise for me as when my camera came back from Owers' Corner I wondered who the new guy was as I was expecting to see Cyprian Aire.
When I questioned who the guy was, I was informed he was the younger brother of Cyprian. Seems Cyprian could not come so sent his brother to walk in his place.
I wonder as he walks on his first trek if he can follow in the footsteps of his two brothers Jessie and Cyprian who are regular walkers with us. Both Cyprian and Jessie always enter our Kokoda Challenge Race and regularly finish in the top 5.
So Jason and Dylen will be able to share the fact that walking the Kokoda Track is a first for both of them. Go Dylen, do your family proud. Apparently Dylen has been away finishing off his schooling and has not long returned to Ejeka Village where his family reside.
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IMGP3317 640×480.JPGGroup Photographs were taken at the Owers' Corner Archway before they headed off towards Goldie River.
IMGP3313 1280×768.JPGBye bye trek 798:
IMGP3314 640×480.JPGTrekkers reached Imita Ridge around 1:30pm and tonight are at Ua'Ule Creek.
Ua'Ule Creek (2).JPGTrekkers have reached Ofi Creek where they have settled in for the night. Tomorrow will be a tough day as they climb up Maguli Range and head for Agulogo.
Everyone is ok and doing well according to Shane.
Climbing up from Ofi Creek.jpgI received a call from Shane at the top of Maguli Range earlier this morning informing me that everyone was doing just great and were about to head to Naoro Village before reaching their destination of Agulogo where they plan on
stopping for the night. Last night they shared Ofi Creek campsite with another trekking company. We keep our treks smaller than most companies so can always share areas. Some trekking companies have 50+ and demand taking over the whole village or campsite area.
IMGP3171 1280×768.JPGTrekkers reached the half way point of Efogi mid afternoon. According to Shane, everyone is doing really well and looking forward to the second half of their trek.
Looking towards Efogi Village.jpgThis his trek is spending the night at 1900/Myola Junction. Everyone continues to do well with not a problem in sight.
Tomorrow should see them reach either Alola or Isurava Memorial. They now know they are on the home straight so no doubt will be looking forward to reaching Isurava tomorrow.
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View to the Kokoda Valley.jpgWell done Shane and good luck to all trekkers. Congratulations to Dylen also on his first 'official' trek as a Personal Porter. Knowing Jessie, who was on our trek a few months ago and was superb, as we do, then Dylen will be just as good>
warm regards
Waza
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