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This morning our latest group of three trekkers headed out to Owers' Corner for the commencement of their trek. Trekkers consisted of two brothers, Patrick & William Foran from Sydney and Barbara Bell a radio personality from Perth.
When we met up with them last night they were just in time to meet with another group of 10 who had just returned from a trek so lots of hints and stories were handed over to the three new trekkers.
It was decided that they have a 6am start from the Gateway Hotel where they would then be taken to the Bomana War Cemetery before being driven out to Owers' Corner.
By special request, David Clark Embo who flew in from Kokoda on Tuesday has been chosen as their guide. David was a school teacher before he became a Kokoda Track guide. Since he commenced walking with us he has been reading a lot of books and is fast becoming our historian guide. This week I handed to him Bill James book on Kokoda which excited him as he took delivery of it. With his background and desire for knowledge, I am sure he will be a popular guide for years to come. David is also the brother of Sister Margaret who is in charge of the Rotary Memorial Hospital in Kokoda.
Photographs below were taken last night at the Gateway Hotel:
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IMGP4786__Medium_.JPGOur vehicle has not long arrived back in Port Moresby after dropping off our trekkers and porters so I can now share some photographs taken today with you all.
Pic 1: Owers' Corner Group Photo
Pic 2: Bomana War Cemetery Group Photo
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DSCN0775__Medium_.JPGTrekkers have made it to Goodwater where they will spend the night. Barbara has a problem which she just spoke to me about by two way radio.
Seems she is out of memory on her card and wants me to purchase a 'new' memory card for her. Our boys on standby here will walk it in to her at Ofi Creek.
Ofi_Creek_5__Medium___2_.jpgUpdate 28th September: Trekkers are on the move and this morning David called in from Imita Ridge saying they were all ok and looking forward to their walk today.
Photographs: The terrain around the Imita Ridge area as they climb and climb:
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Imita_Ridge_4__Small_.jpgHi Patrick and Bill
It's good to know things are going well so far. I'm enjoying the photos! Anyone fallen into the water yet?
All good here (me and Peanut). Will check back in/send another message in a few days. Catching up with some of the family over the weekend so will make sure they know how to track your progress.Take Care
Amanda
Hi Bill and Patrick, Hope you are surviving and have not sustained any injuries as yet! All OK at home – I am the taxi driver for all at present. Having potato gems tonite Bill – hows the tucker? Keep on powering through. Love Annie
Daddy!!!! Its Grace. Holidays are soooo good its so hot here and today lauren and i went to bondi junction and saw all the melbourne storm and we told them "good luck"! so exciting! anyways hope you're having fun xxx
hey dad! hey patrick! hows it going? haha i hope your not too tired! holidays have started yay! im missing you heaps!! have a greeeat time and enjoy it.. go storm
love you lots!! caitlin (mouse) xoxannalise: hi i miss u i love u x
Hi Mum,
Looking great out there!!! Hope you are having a blast – we miss you so much already but know you are having a wonderful time – Dad and Chelsea have been checking you out on the website also and we have all printed your photos! I hope this message works – not really good at this kind of thing.
Well will talk to you again soon – happy trekking groovy girl xxxxx Melly
Update 28th September: Trekkers have made it to Ofi Creek where they will spend the night. Barbara did it tough today and the boys even helped carry her day pack but hey she is hanging in there and has the determination to finish.
The other good news is that she got her new memory card all 1gb which was the correct one it seems so she is VERY HAPPY!
As for the guys, they are ok and doing well.
Tomorrow they head to Nauro where they will spend the night.
First chance I get tomorrow I will read out your messages:
Photograph: Ofi Creek and a foxhole at Ofi Creek
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Ofi_Creek_Foxhole__Small_.jpghey mum we hear you are doing it a bit tough but we also know you have the dtermination to finish and we know you can do it. I am very proud of you and love reading about your day i hope you get this message and i hope you are doing well i love you and keep going strong!!!!!! love Chelseaxxxxxx
Hi Mum,
Just read the latest posting – hang in there, I know you are doing a fantastic job, we are all thinking of you – Dad said he loves you and he is going to send you a message when I go down to show him how tomorrow (unless he works it out tonight, cause he is so clever!!).
Love you heaps Mummy, love Melissa xxxx Matt, Lissy and Zaccy say hi as well and love your photos!!
Update Saturday 29th September: Thanks for the messages – will read out first chance I get.
As I write this, a vehicle is heading up to Owers' Corner to pick up the two young men who walked in the memory card for Barbara. Last night they were to sleep at Goodwater and walk out today. Stand by for some photographs they took yesterday with my camera when they caught up with them at Ioribaiwa before turning back the way they came.
Last night I received a sat phone call from David their guide at Ofi Creek asking for me to put the photographs up on the website ASAP at the trekkers request so you can all seem them out in the jungle on the Kokoda Track.
Are they kidding…..of course I will….thats why I sent the camera with the guys in the first instance!!!
So hang in there everyone….promise photograps later today when my camera makes it back to my office.
Photograph: Ioribaiwa Pics:
Pic 1: War Relics
Pic 2: The view from Ioribaiwa towards Imita Ridge
Pic 3: Village children
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Ioribaiwa_Village_5__Medium_.jpgUpdate 9:30am Saturday 29th September: Have just spoken to Barbara by two way radio and she is raving about our KTL boys and how she owes it to them for her progress so far.
I read out all your messages and she said to tell you she is thinking of you all, that she loves you and that she is determined to FINISH!!!
She said we have picked the best boys for her and feels with their help she will make it all the way.
A message from Barbara:
Mel can you please contact by email:
as there should have been a posting from them by now….is she missing her work? think so…..
Today our trekkers will meet up with our other trek heading in the opposite direction who are on a 6 day 5 night trek. No doubt there will be some excitement as always when our two groups of boys and trekkers meet each other. Usually the ones heading out are looking buggered as they are still to get their mountain legs, whereas those heading for home are on a high as they sense not too far to go to the finish line at Owers' Corner.
Could not read out the messages for the guys as they were further up ahead but will do so first chance I get.
Photograph: Nauro Village where they are presently heading to.
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Village_2__Small_.jpgUpdate 10:10am Saturday 29th September: Have just spoken to Bill and Patrick and read out your messages.
Patrick said yes he did FALL IN and you would laugh if you could see how they look right now!
Both of them echoed the words that they love you all, miss you, but having a hard/tough time but enjoying the company of our KTL boys and despite the conditions, loving the experience!
They said they were always about half an hour in front of Barb but she is now catching up to them so must have found her mountain legs.
Correction from David and the group, it all depends on Barbara but the plan is now to head past Nauro Village and down towards Brown River where they plan on spending the night.
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Russell_at_Naoro_crossing_6__Medium_.jpgPhotographs as promised just arrived in off the trail:
Pic 1: Barbara with our two porters Polly and Cyprian who walked in her memory card
Pic 2: Their guide David Clark Embo
Pic 3: Brothers, Bill & Patrick
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DSCN0773.jpgMore photographs:
Pic 1: Our KTL boys boiling the billy. For me its nice to see our donated water containers on the right hand side as I know they they are being put to good use.
Pic 2: Our KTL boys accompanying your loved ones. The two exceptions are Cyprian and Polly 2nd left and 2nd right who returned to Port Moresby this morning.
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