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Today we said goodbye to 10 trekkers who headed out from Owers' Corner with our guide Arnold Jinga. Trekkers are as follows:
Derek Fowler; Wayne Tunbridge; Phil Condor; Doug Conway; Francesca and Ryan Mays (Ryan celebrated his 21st birthday on the 17th Sept and this is his birthday present); Peter Hall; Robert Wright; Travis Horne and David Dundas.
They were picked up from their hotel and taken out to the Bomana War Cemetery on their way up to the commencement of their trek at Owers' Corner.
I sent out my camera but unfortunately when they went to use it the batteries were flat. I told my driver to purchase some more from a store at Sogeri but they too were flat.
So my apologies for no photographs of this group.
Photograph: the Archway at Owers' Corner which is where they would have had their first test of what was ahead of them on the Kokoda Track:
Archway_Ower__s_Corner__Small_.jpgThe plan was to reach Ua'Ule Creek where they would overnight.
Ua__Ule_Creek_17__Medium_.jpgUpdate 19th September: Trekkers didn't quite make Ua'Ule Creek yesterday and overnighted at a campsite just prior to the one shown in the photograph above.
Tonight they are staying the night at Ofi Creek.
We heard from our guide today that all are doing ok, some are finding it tough, but they are all travelling along ok and tomorrow will head for the village of Nauro. We will no doubt hear from our guide tomorrow if they intend to spend the night there or push on further along the track.
Photograph: Ofi Creek and Nauro Village:
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naoro__2___Medium_.JPGUpdate 20th September: Trekkers have now reached 'Brown River' where they are spending the night camping out next to the creek. A couple of the trekkers are doing it tough, but hey, they are still doing well and making it to camp each day which is great news.
Update 21st September: Trekkers have made it to the half way point of Efogi. Robert is struggling but is insisting on continuing and does not want to get air lifted out so mind over matter at the present time.
Some are quite slow and are getting into the campsites late in the afternoon but hey full marks to them – they are still getting there and by the sounds of things will make it to Kokoda.
In Efogi our guides refer to it as 5***** as its the best guesthouse on the track! Since day one we have put all our trekkers at this guesthouse and it has paid off as they really look after you all.
Just take a look….beautiful green grass; mattresses and pillows to sleep on; a dining room to eat at and much much more. I have even heard the guesthouse owner is now selling chickens so who says you have to live on dehydrated meals 8 days of your trek.
Photograph: Efogi Guesthouse
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Copy_of_10136_Efogi_2_Hilton__Small___3_.jpgHey Dado!! (WayneTunbridge), Mr Flower and Mr Conder
Been thinking about you all lots, I hope you are all great and enjoying the opportunity!!!
Dado I hope your back is holding up and that all your hiking gear is treating you well!! I look forward to seeing you when you get back – please shower before you do though
Goodluck!! Remember to take lots of photos and video for me!!!
Miss you lots
Love from Elycee-JaneUpdate 23rd September: Have not heard from our guide today but if everything went to plan they should be overnighting around the 1900/Myola Junction area.
Myola_Junction_1900__Medium_.jpgUpdate 24th September: Have just spoken to our guide by two way radio and he advised that they spent last night at Eora Creek. All trekkers are ok and looking forward to walking out in Kokoda tomorrow.
Photographs: Eora Creek
Today they would have walked through the village of Alola before reaching the Isurava Battlesite area:
Pic 1: Alola Village
Pic 2: The trekkers would more than likely have stopped at Alola to taste some of their beautiful bananas or passion fruit or perhaps had their lunch there.
Pic 3: Isurava Monument
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Isurava_Monument__Medium___3_.jpgThey then would have walked down past Isurava Village and then on through the Choko Field before reaching Deneki where they will spend the night.
Pic 1: Wild Choko Fields
Other Pics: Letting you walk along with them as they make their way through this area they were in today.
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DSC03498__Medium_.JPGPics: Deneki Village area where they are presently spending the night.
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DSCN0782__Medium_.JPGUpdate 26th September: Trekker walked out as planned into Kokoda and spent the night at Russell Eroro's family block and travelled back into Port Moresby today.
Pic 1: Typical guesthouse on the property
Pic 2: Inside a guesthouse
Pic 3: The creek where they would have had their last wash
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Creek_2__Medium_.jpgUpdate 27th September: Last night we caught up with trekkers at the Gateway Hotel. The group seemed to have got on really well with each other and appointed the only femal as the leader of the group. Before the trek commenced I asked what inspired them to want to walk Kokoda. Francesca replied that she was accompanying her son Ryan who had just turned 21 that day and she wanted to give him a present that would remain with him forever.
Well judging by the look on her Ryan's face last night, I doubt he will ever forget his walk with his mother on the Kokoda Track!
Everyone was in a happy mood and when I first walked into the restaurant I spotted a group of them getting stuck into a meal which was definitely not a ration pack!
Photographs: taken last night in the Gateway Hotel coffee shop:
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IMGP4784__Medium_.JPGSome more photographs taken last night at the Gateway Hotel:
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IMGP4772__Medium_.JPGReceiving their 'Certificates of Achievement' and T/Shirt:
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