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Our trek got away this morning with a few things not quite going to plan. First off the ranks was Paul Prizibilla who turned up for his flight in Brisbane only to be told it was overbooked. Turned out later on, that the flight he was supposed to go on got cancelled and had to be re-scheduled to a smaller aircraft so he got offloaded and some of the other trekkers in this group got on the first flight. Paul then arrived after 10pm last night and by the time he got a room at the hotel it was after 11pm.
He had two options to head out with the other trekkers who we met up with last night or wait until the Julia from South Africa arrived today on the flight from Brisbane. He chose to get up and go out with the other trekkers.
All went according to plan this morning and we picked up the trekkers from their hotels and drove them out to Bomana War Cemetery.
Julia arrived around 11am and was soon being driven up to Owers' Corner but she forgot something…..some toilet paper so we asked our driver to stop off at Sogeri on the way past. We heard around 3pm that she had caught up with the other trekkers in her group and that they had all stopped for the night. We kept behind her personal porter and a food porter to play catch up with her.
Trekker 335 includes:
Peter Gubb; Michael Phipps; Kane Phipps; Loretta Monaghan; Kimberley Mellas; Julia Stock; Paul Przibilla
Photograph: some of the trekkers taken at the Gateway Hotel last night:
IMGP3760.jpgLater in the afternoon we received a call from our guide on the sat phone saying Julia's tent was not in their packs…..ok so what to do next…..everyone was out and about at the bank…doing other errands etc. When Russell came back to base he was soon on the road with our mechanic Roger heading for Ower's Corner to find some guys from Vesulogo who could walk the tent in for us as we knew they were going to spend the first night at Goodwater Campsite.
A short time ago around 6:30pm Russell could be heard on the radio asking for someone in Vesulugo to answer him as they were bogged on the hill leading up into the village and could someone come down and help get them out and pick up the backpack!
Sogeri Monument Area 15th June, 2007:
IMGP3779.jpgTurned out the boys who were waiting at Vesulugo heard the sound of our Toyota Troopcarrier and came walking down the hill to pick up the backpack and to help turn round our vehicle after it had been bogged.
Earlier in the day it can be seen here dropping off our first South African trekker Julia Stock who flew into Brisbane overnighted and then came up today and straight onto the track.
Julia Stock getting organised for her trek seen here at Owers' Corner:
Earlier in the day Peter Gubb who is back for his second trek, caught up with his personal porter who he requested all over again, Fordy from Sairope Village.
This is a story in itself. Messages were left for Fordy that he had a trek…..months, weeks and days went by and no-one had seen Fordy as he lives in a remote area outside of Kokoda. In a last minute dash, Russell went personally in his Toyota Hilux and drove for hours over rough road just to pick up Fordy and bring him back into town so trekker and porter could once again be reunited. Peter seemed really pleased when he heard this last night.
When Russell turned up at Fordy's house he was not prepared but quickly got his gear ready and was soon in the Hilux heading for Kokoda as he had not received any of the messages passed onto other boys to inform him. We suspect the boys were perhaps jealous and wanted him to miss out as they all love carrying your packs and there is never a shortage of boys wanting work!
From out point of view, its great to see a trekker come back and ask for their old porter as we know he became very special to them when they last trekked.
Photograph: Peter and his porter Fordy:
IMGP3776.jpgTrekkers seen here at Bomana War Cemetery earlier today after they were picked up from their hotel:
IMGP3764.jpgOn this trek our guide asked for a guitar, Michael Phipps seemed to like the sound of this when we mentioned this last night as he has an electric guitar…..so who knows, perhaps he might enjoy playing at night in a campsite.
They also have a uke'ule I believe so can imagine music will play quite a big part of their trek:
IMGP3761.jpgAnother photograph of trekkers seen here at Sogeri Monument area earlier today:
IMGP3777.jpgPhotograph: Bomana War Cemetery 15th June. If you wish to view other photographs taken today, CLICK HERE:
IMGP3772.jpgUpdate Saturday 16th June: Heard from Arnold their guide earlier today that they were at Imita Ridge and were heading for Ofi Creek where they planned to spend the night.
Turned out the tent only made it to their campsite around 6:30am this morning. I asked where Julia slept last night and it appears she made some space on the canvas alongside the KTL boys under their tarpaulin.
Ofi_Creek_2.jpgUpdate Saturday afternoon 16th June: Father and son Michael and Kane Phipps have called it a day and have decided to turn around and walk back out. Michael felt it yesterday and hired a porter to carry his pack. Today Kane struggled to keep up and finally gave up and a decision was made by them not to carry on with their trek.
We have been on standby for a message to say whether they intend coming out tonight or tomorrow morning with 'Trek for Tom' trekkers who we are picking up at 9am 17th June.
Update Sunday 17th June: Have just come back from Owers' Corner and still no sign of our two trekkers who turned back. After talking with the trekkers we picked up today, it poured rain yesterday afternoon and last night and can only assume they are taking it easy and walking back out slowly.
Before we left Owers' Corner we sent two of our staff who walked out today back in to catch up with them and their two porters walking with them.
In the meantime I arrived home to find this message waiting for me:
HI MY NAME IS JONNY MELLAS, MY WIFE KIMBERLEY IS DOING A TREK WITH YOU RITE NOW,GROUP 335. I WOULD LIKE IF YOU COULD PASS ON A MESSAGE JUST TO TELL HER, IM SO PROUD OF HER AND THINKING OF HER EVERY MINUTE,GOOD LUCK AND LOVE YOU XO. THANKYOU FOR YOUR TIME JONNY.
So Jonny, first chance I get I will pass on your message.
hi Kimberly, we are watching your progress on the news sheet from Kokoda everyday, we are proud of you and hope you make it all the way. there are really good photo's and news of your group's trek.
congratulations to who ever is putting it all together.
love mum & dad.Update 18th June 6pm: Guess what….they have reached the half way point of Efogi where they are spending the night.
Message from Kimberley after reading out 'your' two messages…..loving every minute of it….cant wait until tomorrow to start all over AGAIN!!! will tell you ALL ABOUT IT when I get back home.
By the sound of her voice, she is going to DRIVE YOU ALL CRAZY……
Photograph: Efogi Village Guesthouse:
Efogi_2_Guesthouse.jpgUpdate 19th June: Today saw our trekkers head through Kagi and then onto Templeton's where they will spend the night.
All trekkers are doing just fine and enjoying their trek.
The next update will be from Alola Village as they are down low at the moment.
Photograph: Templeton's campsite area:
Templeton__s_Crossing_3.jpgTrek 335
Please pass on best wishes and safe trek to trek 335, wish we where still there.
Gail, once again thank you for such an adventure and the backup you provide. Although disappointed with not finishing we had a great time and Kane is more determined than ever to go back and finish what he started. I will trek again by myself one day. I have told Tom, Kane's porter, when he comes to race we will catch up with him.
Michael & Kane Phipps
Trek 355
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