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Today we said goodbye to Trek 320 which headed out to Kokoda. Trekkers included:
Richard Moody, Lance Moody, Paul Laurent, Christopher Bedem and Wallace (Soc) Kienzle.
Soc having grown up in Kokoda still has it in his blood and was just so passionate heading back to his backyard. He was looking forward to jumping on a tube with his friends and floating down the river where as a kid he played with his PNG friends.
Tomorrow they will begin their trek towards Owers' Corner.
Photograph: Group Photograph at Kokoda today in front of our newly painted mural which he said his family used as a rubber shed:
DSCN0483__Medium_.JPGUpdate 12th August: Our guide Ernst Jinga called up by radio at 4:15pm to say they had all reached Isurava Village where they planned to spend the night.
One trekker is struggling so is going to decide tonight if he wants to hire a personal porter or push on himself.
Apart from that everything is going ahead as planned.
Photograph: Isurava Village:
IMGP1837__Medium_.jpgUpdate 13th August: Our trekkers are on the move towards Isurava Monument area. Paul Laurent decided last night to hire a personal porter at Isurava to carry his pack.
We often joke with a guy called Jove who lives in Kokoda Village that he must just sit and wait and hope someone finds it tough so he can get another job! as he is our most regular porter! When he arrives he asks to be sent back home as quickly as possible obviously to wait for another guy to struggle walking up to Isurava Village which the boys have knick named 'test mountain'.
Photograph: Isurava Monument Area:
Isurava_Monument__Medium_.jpgUpdate 1pm 13th August: Our guide Ernst Jinga called in by two way radio from Alola Village to say they walked in and around Isurava today before heading off to Alola Village.
After a break they planned to head on down to Eora Creek where they would spend the night. Tomorrow night they plan on being at 1900.
Photograph: looking down on Alola Village:
Alola_Village__Medium_.jpgBefore walking up the hill to the campsite area they will have to cross over Eora Creek. At night they will sleep listening to the roar of this creek.
Photograph: Eora Creek Crossing:
Eora_Creek_Crossing_1.jpgUpdate 15th August: Trekkers only moved off from Eora Creek mid afternoon 14th August due to Paul who has not stopped vomiting and is very weak. A helicopter was arranged to pick him up but due to bad weather and pilot restrictions, he will be picked up early this morning. Unfortunately this morning its bad weather this end in Port Moresby so the company is waiting on that to clear and out they will go.
Webber and a personal porter he hired at Isurava have stayed back with him. Webber will wait for them to depart and will then catch up with the remaining group who should have spent the night in the Templeton's area.
I spoke to Webber this morning by sat phone and he said Paul remains sick and resting waiting on the chopper to airlift him off the track.
Editors Note: After talking with Paul this afternoon, turns out they all spent the night at Eora Creek (14th August) and the rest of the group moved out this morning around 9am.
Update 15th August 12:45pm: Paul has been picked up by helicopter and is now back in Port Moresby where he will be admitted to the Pacific International Hospital. Have just spoken to Andrew Chin who is in charge of Niugini Air Rescue and he says he ok. I will pop down to see him shortly but know he is in good hands at the hospital.
With regards to the others we spoke to our guide Ernst earlier today and they are all ok and on the move. As we were in the process of trying to get Paul airlifted off the track and were after weather updates, we did not ask for their position. Hopefully he will call us again later in the day and we can post where they are on the track and where they will overnight.
Editors Note: I popped in to see Paul this afternoon and he is in good spirits, talking and joking. When I left he had a drip in his arm and the doctor had just been to see him. Later this afternoon or tonight they will phone me re a time to go down to pick him up and take him to a hotel.
Update 4:30pm 15th August: Ernst called in to say they were at 1900/Myola Junction where they should spend the night. Tomorrow they planned to go to Naduri; Myola and Kagi before moving onto Efogi where they will spend the night.
Apparently the porter Paul hired has now been taken over by Chris so still keeps his job and hopefully allows Chris to move more freely as he has a sore knee. Paul loaned him his knee strapping so is hoping that too helps him.
Photograph: 1900 Campsite area:
Myola_Junction_1900__Medium_.jpgUpdate 17th August: We heard that they all reached Efogi Village where they spent last night. Later today we expect our guide Ernst to call in to say where they are spending the night.
One guy was struggling it seems but is still hanging in there. The rest of the group are doing ok.
Photograph: Inside Efogi Guesthouse – who says they are roughing it….check out the mattresses and pillows:
Copy_of_10136_Efogi_2_Hilton__Small_.jpgSome of our trekkers refer to this guesthouse as the HILTON compared to others on the track.
Efogi_2_Guesthouse__Medium_.jpgUpdate 19th August: Sorry no updates but they have all been quiet – must be enjoying their walk.
Heard from Ernst today to say they were on target for a 8am pick up tomorrow from Owers' Corner.
All of them are trekking ok. They spent last night at Ofi Creek.
Photograph: Ofi Creek:
Ofi_Creek_5__Medium_.jpgTonight they will push down to Goldie River. We have just heard by two way radio that some of our competitors in the Kokoda Challenge left kokoda yesterday for a training walk/run and are now catching up with them. Tonight they will sleep at Ioribaiwa and tomorow will be up bright and early to try and arrive at Owers' Corner at 8am for the same pickup.
As Soc at one time held the record for the fastest crossing he will no doubt share a few stories with these young entrants. Brendan Buka who holds the record from Owers' Corner to Kokoda is in this group along with the second placegetter Wayne Urina.
Photograph: Goldie River:
Goldie_River_4__Small_.jpgTomorrow they will climb their last hill and reach the archway at Owers' Corner:
Archway_Ower__s_Corner__Small_.jpgUpdate 20th August: Trekkers were picked up as planned at 8:00 am this morning and are now back in Port Moresby after a visit to Bomana War Cemetery on the way back into town.
Photograph: Bomana War Cemetery:
Bomana__Medium_.jpegUpdate 11:30 am 20th August: Met up with Wallace (Soc) Kienzle tonight and it appears they all had a great time which is good news. A couple trekkers popped in and out and one disappeared to the Yacht Club for a last night on the town.
All trekkers will fly out tomorrow back to Australia and we hope they take back with them many fond memories of their trek.
I will now post some photographs taken today: Pic 1:
DSCN0534__Medium_.JPG
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