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On the 8th May we met up with Jaap Risselada at the Gateway Hotel and informed him our plans for the following day. Two women from Australia were flying in with Airlines of PNG on their morning flight and that he was to wait for us at the International arrival area.
We later heard from my son Nathan in Australia that he had been contacted to say the flight was running late and instead of arriving at 10:40 they would now be arriving after 1pm.
On the 9th as planne Jaap headed for the airport as I was unable to contact him by phone. Russell met up with him and it was decided he return to his unit at Ela Beach Tower (yeah, Jaap – pronounced Yap hails from Holland but is the chief engineer for SP Brewery and is based here in Port Moresby) and wait for our call.
Later in the day the two women were met by Russell Eroro and driven through Port Moresby to pick up Jaap then onto Bomana War Cemetery and later Owers' Corner.
Last night there camped at Goldie River. Trekkers are:
Dianne James; Laurel Santry and Jaap Risselada
Photographs taken yesterday:
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DSCN0016__Small_.JPGAlong for this trek is one of our key employees who I have worked with for over 20 years of my life with Talair; Airlines of PNG and Islands Nationair by the name of Francis Geheso.
When I left Islands Nationair (Sir Julius Chan's company) to work for Ernst & Young an accounting firm Francis asked me to find him another job as he was sick of working in Port Moresby. I made a few phone calls and found him employment with Airlink in Madang where he stayed until their closure mid last year.
In 2008 I made a decision to employ an assistant for myself and immediately thought of Francis. I managed to track him down in his village in Goroka where he was happily growing coffee. As he had worked with me previously it only took a few minutes to get a YES out of him and a reply 'send me a ticket' and I will come straight away.
Come he did and since March has been working side by side with me. Its now time to send him on the track so he knows how to answer any of the questions that come our way. He has met the majority of our guides and porters and they have welcomed him as a wantok (KTL Boy) so this walk will just complete the journey for him from Aviation to Trekking!
Yesterday he was up early buying his KT26's and any other items he needed based on the boys feedback as we only decided on Friday to send him out on the track even though we had talked about it since the day he started working here.
We will all be waiting to see how he goes. We joked that the track champion Brendan Buka is also from Goroka so he might have the same genes and find the going easy….. we will just have to wait and see!
Francis is a success story. When he worked at Talair he was selected to travel to Singapore to do a 'Interline Ticketing Advanced Course'. Senior Management argued that it was a waste of time as he had not even gone to high school and finished in grade 6. We argued that he had what it took to pass as he was bright and easily caught on whatever he was asked to do. Would you believe he passed with flying colours and others with Grade 12 from other companie failed the course. He then went on to work really hard and before long was earning more than the majority of staff working in Head Office due to his responsibility. He is now with me and catching on fast and will soon be a real asset to our company. Go Francis WE ARE WAITING TO SEE HOW YOU HANDLE THIS NEW CHALLENGE without any prior TRAINING!!!
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DSCN0018__Small_.JPGArriving at Owers' Corner:
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DSCN0026__Small_.JPGOn this trek is Freddy Yaugo who carries a guitar that one of his ex trekkers gave to him. He will sing in every campsite so hope they all enjoy his music.
Photographs: Trekkers meeting their porters. The guy kneeling is Freddy Yauga. Last year the army cadet group from Sydney had a young girl who walked with her father. She was so inspired by his music that she went back and raised money to buy him a saxaphone.
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DSCN0028__Small_.JPGGroup Photograph before heading down the hill:
DSCN0031__Small_.JPGTrekkers and KTL boys as they head down towards Goldie River 9th May 2008:
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DSCN0040__Small_.JPGIf they dared to look up, this would have been the views all around them:
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DSCN0043__Small_.JPGUpdate 11/05/08: We heard from Joseph Kanawi their guide today that they spent last night at Ioribaiwa along with another of our treks heading in the opposite direction.
Apparently it rained quite heavily and they could not get a message out to us. This morning they were at Nauro having lunch and were planning on moving down to Agulogo where they would spend the night.
All trekkers are doing just great and enjoying their trek.
Photographs:
Pic 1: Ioribaiwa Area
Pic 2: Naoro Village
Pic 3: Agulogo Signpost
Pic 4: Creek at Agulogo
Pic 5: Campsite area
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D6_COOKING_BREAKFAST__Small_.JPGUpdate 12th May: Trekkers have now reached Efogi where they will spend the night. All trekkers are doing ok according to Joseph. When I received the call they were passing through Menari and were going to call again at Efogi but no call so assume it must have been raining and perhaps they could not get through.
Most people enjoy their stay in Efogi especially the water tank shower as seen in this photograph below.
Tonight I had the pleasure of meeting up with our four trekkers who came off the trek today along with their porters and guide. I asked after this group and they said were happy and ok. However, one porter Paulo remarked that my office assistant Francis was doing it tough and was the first person asleep the night they shared the same campsite at Ioribaiwa. No doubt I will hear all about it when we meet on his return.
Other photographs:
Pic 2: A river crossing they would have passed over today.
Pic 3: Entrance to Efogi Guesthouse aea
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Copy__2__of_Efogi_Guesthouse_area__Small_.jpgUpdate 14th May: Trekkers spent last night at Efogi and this morning called in by two way radio to say they were heading towards Templeton's Crossing. All trekkers are still doing ok.
Photographs – the area around where they will be walking today along with a river crossing:
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IMGP4078__Small_.JPGUpdate 17th May: My apologies as I lost internet access so could not update. Trekkers have continued to do well and last night stayed with Rod Ori in one of our guides guesthouse at Kovelo. I spoke to Rod by sat phone and he said everyone was happy. I also spoke with Francis and he said he thoroughly enjoyed his trek and time with both the trekkers and KTL Boys.
Apparently today trekkers were going to try and head down to the Kumusi River area and wanted to get our truck to drive them. Unfortunately, our truck broke down and is presently being repaired so I suggested hiring a truck from someone else in Kokoda.
Have just heard they are on the move into Kokoda Station.
DSC03311__Small_.jpgHi It's Alan James here Dianne's (Trek 470) husband. I just wanted to congratulate Dianne and the rest of the group for their tremendous achievement and let Dianne know that I am so proud of her, give her all of my love, Alan
11am 17th May:Trekkers have now reached our camp in Kokoda and are presently resting inside one of the guesthouses.
DSCN0603__Small_.JPGUpdate 18th May: Trekkers arrived back in Port Moresby as planned today and seemed to have a great time. Out of 10 I asked them how they rated their past 9 days. They answered 9/10. When I asked Francis he replied 10/10 – this is the first time in my life to have experienced such an adventure. I was hurting but I had the best time ever.
So there you go, trek 470 completed their trek so congratulations to each and everyone of them as we too are proud of their success.
Will post some pics later.
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