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Last night we met up with trek 342 at the Gateway and welcomed back Scott Cassin who had trekked with us before and who set up this trek. Last time he was airlifted off the track but this time round he is determined to make it all the way. Trekkers in this group include :
Scott Cassin; Ian Matheson; Bernard Tobin; Karen Summerfield; Ian Clunies-Ross; Leigh Naunton; Chris Glennen; Catherine O'Byrne; Bernadette Poynter and Cullen Habel
Photograph: Group Pic taken at Owers' Corner the starting point this end of the track around 9 am this morning 17th August:
DSCN0524.jpgUpdate 2pm 17th August: One guy lost his baggage yesterday that did not turn up on his flight from Australia so it was decided to have a short day today and stop at Uberi. They have now reached their destination for today and have set up camp.
As I type this, we have someone at the airport trying to locate the missing backpack which includes his BOOTS….less for EVERYONE…..WEAR your boots on the plane! You can get away with hardly any clothes but try getting away without your BOOTS!
Luckily we had a pair of boots in my home that fitted him perfectly which allowed him to walk today. The plan now is that should his backpack turn up, we have two guys here in Port Moresby on standby who will go out to Owers' Corner to play catch up with this group to hand over his backpack.
Photograph: taken earlier today before they headed out to Bomana War Cemetery beside our truck KTL 2:
IMGP4564.jpgI do not know how they travel around back home, but here in PNG it was a 'new' experience for our trekkers as they boarded KTL 2 our people mover which moved off shortly after this photograph was taken to Bomana War Cemetery:
IMGP4565__Medium_.JPGPhotograph: this group pic was taken at Bomana War Cemetery not long before they headed out to Owers' Corner – do they look nervous…..now what do you all think!
I think excited would more describe them……
DSCN0516.jpgOur KTL boys have been waiting in town all week to walk with our trekkers…check them out!
Check out the guy third from the left in the front row….he has the uke'ule – yes our boys never leave town without their uke'ule's as they just love their music and it provides entertainment for our trekkers both on the track and in the campsites.
DSCN0517__Medium_.JPGOn the way out to Owers' Corner our group stopped at McDonald's Corner where there was another photo opportunity for our group…..boy are they going to be used to smiling by the time they get to Kokoda
what do you reckon?
DSCN0519__Medium_.JPGAt Owers' Corner it was soon time to unpack and get set to start trekking!
DSCN0520__Medium_.JPGyep, almost ready to GO:
DSCN0522__Medium_.JPGGood News: The missing backpack HAS BEEN FOUND and is presently being driven up to Owers' Corner by our driver. Our guide Arnold and another porter by the name of Arthur has the job to run it in to the campsite. Arthur is very fast and I have been told it should only take him a fraction of the time it took the trekkers to walk there earlier today.
I am sure Leigh will be so relieved to see his backpack turn up and to know he has his first aid supplies, change of clothes etc.
Photograph: a few minutes before they posed for their photograph under the archway and walked down their first mountain – at least Scott knows this terrain as he has been on it before:
DSCN0523__Medium_.JPGUpdate 18/08/07: David our guide radioed in from Imita Ridge saying they were all on the move and heading towards Ofi Creek where they plan on spending the night. So far so good, all are trekking quite well along with their porters.
Photograph: the climb up to the top of Imita Ridge:
Imita_Ridge_4__Medium_.jpgPhotograph: Ofi Creek Campsite area where they should all meet up with our other group heading from Kokoda to Owers' Corner. Suspect a big campfire tonight and lots of singing when our two groups of trekkers and porters meet.
Ofi_Creek_5__Medium_.jpgUpdate 19th August: David their guide radioed in this morning from Ioribaiwa Village and said everyone was doing just great.
Not so long ago he called again saying they were heading down to Menari where they planned to stay the night.
He also mentioned that they not long passed some of our entrants in the Kokoda Challenge race doing a practice walk/run who left Kokoda yesterday 18th August and plan to be up at Owers' Corner by 8am tomorrow morning. Among them was the current record holder Brendan Buka from Owers' Corner to Kokoda in 17 hours 49 minutes. For anyone who has walked the track this time is amazing! This year we have around 30 competitors all trying to break his record. Brendan has decided to enter from the Kokoda end and chase John Hunt Hiviki's record of 22 hours 1 minute….how will they all go….stay tuned for a LIVE update next weekend when the race kicks off at 7am from Owers' Corner and Kokoda Memorial Hospital.
Photograph: Scenic View of Menari Village:
10144_Menari_Village__Medium_.jpgUpdate 21st August: Last night trekkers stayed the night at Efogi Village Guesthouse commonly referred to by our guide, porters and trekkers and the best guesthouse on the track.
Photograph: Efogi Guesthouse
Efogi_2_Guesthouse__Medium_.jpgToday David called in from Kagi lookout to say they were on the move and heading towards 1900 Myola Junction where they planned to stay the night. Scott was struggling today and found the heat exhausting. Our guide David and his porter Tony Ogomeni say they are doing their best to try and get him to Kokoda.
They apparently took everything off him and although strugging was determined to make it to Kokoda.
All other trekkers are doing ok it seems which is good news!
Photograph: Kagi Lookout:
Kagi_Lookout__Small_.jpgPhotograph: 1900 / Myola Junction campsite where they will spend the night:
Myola_Junction_1900__Medium_.jpg
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