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A group of POMIS High School students along with Wayne Ible and his wife Gillian left for Kokoda yesterday. On arrival they were taken up to the Kokoda Station for a look around the monument area before heading down to Russell Eroro's family block. Later in the day they would have met up with a group of KOKODA KIDS who arrived on the Airlines of PNG flight from Brisbane and who flew out to Kokoda later in the day.
Sorry did not get down to the airport in time to get a photograph before they all left as I was tied up waiting at the international terminal, however have sent over my camera to Kokoda so will hopefully get some pics from Kokoda and on the track.
Trekkers in this group are as follows:
Wayne and Gillian Ible; Danmon Maskelyn; Michael Pohonhelan; Grayson Ling; Grace Abaijah; Nathan Calibud; Stephen Lutschini; Francis Ali; Natasha Mawa; Anne Andrew; Lana Gangloff; Melanie Josiah; John Rabbie; Michael Parker; Hannah Rice; Samson Singut and Ninisahafo Neheja.
Photograph: The creek that runs through the property in Kokoda where no doubt they would been taken yesterday for their wash before settling down to a night in one of the win haus's on the property.
Creek_2__Medium_.jpgA typical win haus where they would have slept last night:
Rusty__s_Block_Guesthouse.jpgHave heard that they are already on the move this morning heading for Isurava Village where they plan to stay the night. Their guide is Harold Hauro from Kokoda:
Photograph: Kovelo Village – the first one they will pass as they head out on the track:
Kovelo_Village__Medium_.jpgWalking up to what we call 'test mountain', they will commence their walk with the terrain as show in this photograph:
IMGP1817__Medium___2_.jpgUpdate 16th September: All trekkers did really well yesterday and slept at Isurava Village as planned. This morning they were up and preparing for their walk up to the Isurava Monument Area where they will sing the national anthem to celebrate PNG's 32nd Independence Day. They have carried both the school flag and the PNG flag for this occasion.
It should also be very special for the Kokoda Kids who will share this time with the POMIS school students.
Photograph: Isurava Village where they slept last night:
Isurava_Village_800_size.jpgPhotograph: Looking towards the Isurava Monument area from the direction of Isurava Village. On average this is around a 2 hour walk:
IMGP1847__Medium_.jpgPhotograph: Isurava Monument Area where they will celebrate Independence Day with the Kokoda Kids (www.kokodachallenge.com):
Picture_115__Medium_.jpgUpdate 8:45am 16th Sept: All trekkers and KTL guide and porters have now arrived at the Isurava Battlesite Monument Area. I have just been informed by two way radio that the weather is not so good but they are all coping ok with the exception of one, Natasha Mawa who has had to hire a porter Nelson Barai to carry her pack. With his help Natasha is now coping ok
John Rabbie has an upset tummy it seems and has been doing it tough this morning only just now arriving at Isurava at 9:10am. They have told him to drink plenty of water and our boys have been helping him to get to Isurava.
Photograph: Isurava Monument:
Isurava_Monument__Medium___2_.jpgAfter the ceremony at Isurava they will walk on towards the village of Alola which is a couple of hours away depending on their trekking speed:
10061_Alola_Village_View__Medium_.jpg
015AloloVillage0001__Medium_.JPGThis is no doubt where they will stop and enjoy some beautiful village fruit under a win haus such as the one in this photograph:
Day_7_Feast_for_a_king_at_Alola_Village__Medium_.jpgIf everyone is still going ok, they will move down to Eora Creek where they will spend the night listening to the roar of the river below which they will have to cross over today before getting up to the campsite area.
If they wish to wash they will have to walk back down again to the creek which is quite cold. Our boys see to go up and down with ease carrying water etc but for others this is enough to turn you off wanting to shower just thinking of another up and down…haha:
Eora_Creek_Crossing_1.jpg
Eora_Creek_Crossing__Small_.jpg
Eora_Creek_Campsite__Small_.jpgAs planned trekkers are overnighting at 1900 and all are doing ok. When I spoke to the guide John Derick Eroro for the Kokoda Kids they were in front and expecting the POMIS High School students to join them around mid afternoon. Both groups of students and carers would spend the night in the same camp and tomorrow will head off to Kagi.
Myola_Junction_1900__Medium_.jpgUpdate 18th September: Trekkers have now reached the half way point of Efogi where they will spend the night. All are doing ok and enjoying their trek.
Photograph: Efogi:
Pic 1: Aerial View of Efogi
Pic 2: Inside Guesthouse
Pic 3: Efogi Guesthouse
Air___Efogi_Village__Small_.jpg
Copy_of_Efogi_Mattresses__Medium___Small_.jpg
Copy_of_Efogi_Guesthouse_Area__Small_.jpgUpdate 19th September: The group was aiming for Nauro today but ended up stopping at a campsite near one of the rivers instead of pushing on as the majority are carrying their own packs and doing it a bit tougher than the aussie Kokoda Kids who have porters.
The majority are coping really well with just a few strugglers at the end Have not heard any news that they are sick so all is in order for the to walk out off the track on Saturday 22nd.
For anyone who wants to plan to go out to meet them, they usually come up at Owers' Corner around 10am. When I have a clearer idea of the time I will post on here for anyone checking the website.
Photographs:
Pic 1: Brown River which they should have crossed over today
Pic 2: Nauro Village which they will pass through tomorrowPicture_084__Medium_.jpg
Picture_077__Medium_.jpg
Nauro_Village_another_nice_pic__Medium_.jpgOur guide called in today from Maguli Range saying they were all doing ok and heading towards to Ioribaiwa Village. If all went according to plan this is where they intend to stay the night.
Day_2_View_from_Ioribaiwa_village___Imita_Ridge_in_foreg__1___Medium_.jpg
Peter_Malik__s_Guesthouse__Medium_.jpg
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