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On Sunday the 13th June we said goodbye to seven aussie trekkers including two sets of brothers who set out on a 6 day trek expected back in Port Moresby tomorrow 18th June, 2004.
On Wednesday night we found ourselves giving out the scores of the Rugby State of Origin match where it seems they were supporting the BLUES! … SORRY GUYS, better luck next time!
All trekkers are expected to reach Ower's Corner on or around midday tomorrow.
Pete Sanders, Andrew Harrison, Gerard Groth, Luke Minto, Brad Dorahy, Anthony Dorahy and Domonic Groth were all very excited as they went into the boarding lounge at Jackson's Domestic airport:
DCP_0001.jpgOur sub contractor Russell Eroro (Kokoda Trekking Ltd) headed back to Kokoda on Wednesday to prepare for the arrival of the Aussie High Commission Federal Police trekkers and other friends who head out this coming Sunday.
Was talking to Richard Terry earlier this week and it seems they too are all getting excited about their upcoming adventure.
Some of the trekkers seen here in the grounds of the Australian High Commission Building early one morning before they headed out on the hills of Sogeri for a practice session leading up to this weekends kokoda trek:
P1010247.jpgAustralian High Commission Federal Police and other trekkers took off for Kokoda this morning at 6am. Airlines of PNG ended up putting on three separate flights to Kokoda. Due to weight problems, three of the following trekkers were offloaded until the second flight. Porters & Guide from the Friday Trek boarded the third flight:
Update 20/06/04: Trekkers have all made it to Hoi Village and will get up early in the morning to head to Isurava.
In the group were the following trekkers:
1. Richard Terry – Trek Leader
2. Bob Chittenden
3. Jul Carr
4. Jock Oliver
5. Jim Taylor
6. Matthew Anderson
7. Brett SWAN
8. Andrew Eacott
9. Mark Bainbrigge – President RSL Club of Port Moresby
10. John Brock
11. Mark Anderson
12. Jessica Anderson
13. David Gordon
14. Matthew Arnett – independant trekker from Sydney
15. Deahne TurnbullThere is also a large group of Papua New Guinea personnel as follows:
1 Guide – Russell Eroro – Kokoda Trekking Ltd
1 Assistant Guide – Justus Evara
15 Personal Porters
8 Food Porters
DCP_0005.jpgUpdate 21st June, 2004:
All trekkers have reached Isurava Village where they will spend the night. I received a radio message from Mark Anderson saying the day was hard but they walked an extra 45 minutes to the Isurava Memorial Site and then another 45 minutes back again to the guest house.
The radio was breaking up but I am pretty sure there was a message for Travis that his daddy misses him.
They also wanted to say that some of them are walking for the 'Motor Neurone Disease' and to raise funds for this cause and that today is Global MND Awareness Day.
They wanted everyone to know that they are all travelling ok and no-one has experienced any problems whatsoever at this stage.
Tomorrow they will make their way to Templeton's Crossing where I do not expect to hear from them as we do not have radio contact whist in that area.
The next update will be the 23rd June.
The photograph below was taken on the previous trek but it will allow you to feel you are looking at the same thing they were today at the Isurava Monument:
P1010288.jpgUpdate 23/6/04: Everyone has reached Efogi where they spent last night. The whole team are travelling quite well. Jul was the last one in around 7:30pm last night. Russell our guide said it rained all day yesterday and everyone was wet, tired and hungry. At the time we spoke, our porters were preparing food and trying to dry off boots etc Message from them to me….HAVE SOME BEER READY AT OWER'S CORNER OR THE PICK UP POINT!!! does this tell you anything?
Photograph:The previous group of trekkers about to head off at approximately the same area as where the above group is located
P1010352.jpg27th June Trek: Yesterday we welcomed some of the next group of trekkers to walk this coming Sunday. Tom Polley arrived along with his five children. I had the pleasure of meeting them all yesterday and I think the other accompanying Tom and his family will have a great trek.
What a wonderful view I thought I would share with you all:
Our guides and porters taking a well earned rest…just look at the size of their backpacks they carry….for such small people, they can carry loads and walk up and down hills like you wouldnt believe.
P1010330.jpgJune 25th 2004 Update
Tom Polley and his five children from Queensland, Australia who arrived yesterday afternoon will spend three days in Port Moresby before heading on the trail this Sunday (27th June).
Tom Polley (standing – second from left) with his five children, Steven, Jaqui and Mark (sitting – front row) and from right to left Tom and Mark pictured here with Jessie Garap and Kokoda Trekking Guide Eric Uwea.
tom_006.jpgThe Polley family on the steps of Deloitte Tower downtown Port Moresby on Thursday, the day they arrived in PNG. I couldnt wait to meet up with Tom and his family as I had been corresponding with him for many months leading up to their trek. I was told by the children that Tom as trimmed down and lost a lot of weight in preparation for their Kokoda Trek. All the family looked fit and healthy and cant wait to get out there on Sunday.
tom_002.jpgSorry no further updates from the trail as the repeater is down and no radio messages as a result are being received.
Last night our trek should have overnighted at Manari. Here in Port Moresby it has been raining non stop now for two days and doesnt look like letting up at the present moment.
For this time of year it is really unusual as its meant to be the dry season. Will let you all know the minute I hear something from the trail.
Please try and not worry too much as they have with them one of the most experienced guides on the trail in Russell Eroro and I know he wont make any decision he does not feel is safe in the present conditions. He may even decide to stay put and move on once the rain eases up. Richard Terry is trek leader for the trekkers so between them both I am sure everyone is safe.
The Polley Family on the steps of the Gateway Hotel where they are staying situated five mintues from Jackson's Airport:
tom_001.jpgSaturday Night 26th June, 2004:
Aussie High Comm Trek:
Attention all family members and friends of the Aussie High Federal Police Trek…..G O O D N E W S …… they got across the biggest river and made it to Naoro village where they spent last night.
Our guide got through to us by two way radio around 8pm and said all trekkers were fast asleep, that they had a tough day…again in the wet….but all were 100% ok, fit and well.
Our guide Russell also went on proudly to say, that another tour group were ahead of them at the river crossing but were stranded. Our guys went into action and made rafts etc for our group. Russell and I assume others swam across to secure the rope and they managed after some 3 hours to get everyone safely across and lost no packs.
Our guides and porters also offered help to the executive excellence group to cross also but they refused and decided to walk back to Menari.
Well Done Russell, for all of us back here in Port Moresby we are just so proud of you!!!
Richard Terry mentioned to me once that they were all looking for an adventure….well guess what….they got more than they bargained for! We havent seen the likes of this kind of rain even in the wet season!
Tom Polley Family Trek: Tom, his five children together with other trekkers who decided to join them for their Kokoda experience headed out this morning to Kokoda. Here in Port Moresby it is raining like you wouldnt believe but according to the guys on the ground in Kokoda, it is ok out that way.
All trekkers had an early start having to be at the airport for a 5am book in. After obtaining their boarding passes, they had to wait around hoping the weather would clear for takeoff.
The flight got away at 7:45am. As I type this I am sitting here waiting for the phone to ring to say they have landed at Kokoda Airstrip.
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