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Tonight we met up with our latest group of trekkers at the Gateway Hotel for a briefing. As Andrew has to go to the Australian High Commission at 9am in the morning it was decided to delay leaving Port Moresby until around 10am. They will all be picked up at 8:30 and while Andrew is at the AHC the others will be driven to Parliament House and for a drive around until they receive a radio call to say he is ready to be collected.
One of the porters on this trek is the trek champion from Owers' Corner to Kokoda – winner of this years Kokoda Challenge in a time of 16 Hours 34 minutes, Brendan Buka!
It will then be back to the hotel to load up the vehicles before heading out to Bomana War Cemetery. Trekkers are made up as follows:
- Gary Wonnacott
- Andrew Marshall
- Mick Rayson
- Tony Wagner
- Marc Palmer
- Paul Trehearne
- Kym Davis
Photographs taken today 3rd November:
Pic 1: At Sogeri Monument area shortly before they drove off towards Owers' Corner
Pic 2: National Museum minus Andrew who was at the Australian High Commission
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DSCN0065__Small_.JPGHi Guys,
Don't you all look handsome at the start
I hope your trekking is all going well and that your keeping up with Brendan Buka.
Mitchell and I are quite impressed when we read Brendan's time to complete the trail. I think Mitchell might of had idea's of Dad coming home sooner… I broke the news gentle for him
Have Fun!
Looking forward to your updates
Love Kate, Mitchell and Jamie
(The Palmer Clan)Hi Kym
Hope you are enjoying your adventure so far. I had to convince Jameson that it was you in the second photo, and that facial hair grows particularly fast in the humid weather. (It is you, isn't it, minus the 70's porn star mo????)
Clare had 17mm of rain in the past 24 hours, with plenty more on the way at the end of the week for the area. Oakbank still dry!
Fish and chips all round at OGS for tea on Sunday night with Mardi and the girls (and the Grafs).
Bart Cummings won his 12th Melbourne Cup today, with Viewed.
We all miss you…..
love from Kirsten, Jameson, Chubbs, Topaz, Pearl, Lucas (and the rest) xxxxx
Hi Mick,
We hope you and the others are all enjoying or coping with the trek so far :
The girls and i are fine but you are being missed… Went out for lunch today to the Balhannah for Melbourne Cup lunch, that was lots of fun and i won a sweep…Yippy!!! :
We are looking forward to the updates..
Takecare and make sure you take lots of pictures.. u know me……stay safe
love you from your girls!!!xxx
Mardi, Ashleigh and Keely
Hi Paul,
Bad news – I think you left the map on the rock. Ha Ha. Hope it is going rooolly well and not raining (??) – looking forward to the updates and photos. Nicholas finished his 2 camps last week and had to have Monday off to continue sleeping ! They won their basketball in a nailbiter last night. Jack says hello and misses you. Nicholas says "love you" and hope you don't cry like Mum. Enjoy !
Love from Irene, Nicholas, Jack and Dusty xxxHi Tony!
Hope you're 'enjoying' your journey so far!
We're missing you already, of course.
Guess what? I PICKED THE WINNER OF THE MELBOURNE CUP!!!!!…(Unfortunately I also picked 7 of the losers, so my winnings are far outweighed by my bets.) Won't tell you how much I spent…it's better that you don't know…See what happens when you leave me alone!
Tonight we're having dinner at Tim and Nicole's, which Aspen is very excited about. Leaving in about 10 minutes. Also have a busy next few days and weekend planned to make time go faster til you get back!
Love you, miss you, can't wait to see you. TAKE CARE!
Julie, Aspen, Archie, Molly & Polly
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxHi Andrew,
It's great to finally see a picture of you! We've been so excited and couldn't wait to hear some news.
We are all really missing you, and are really proud of you. Can't wait to get a further update and see some more photos.
All is well here. Jack scored 2 great goals in soccer. Amy has made a countdown chart and is crossing off the days until we see you.
I could hear you really well on the mobile yesterday – pity you couldn't hear me – but I'm glad you kept on talking regardless! I've sorted everything out so there's no need to worry.
Hope the foot is OK and you're enjoying it all.
Will write again soon. Good luck to you and everyone.
Love
Karen, Jack, Amy and Tommy the Chew xHi Kym, Mick and Paul,
Goodluck on your journey.
Heres hoping it rains plenty and the humidity makes you very smelly, the mozzies are big and the leaches are even bigger.
The boys played a cracker of a basketball game on Monday night, getting up by one point. 13-12
You would have been proud of them, as was I.
Keep safeCraig
Hi Kym
Hope that you are staying relatively dry, and that your pack has not deteriorated into a heavy and sodden bundle. I guess you have worked by now out whether your training regime was adequate!
Don't forget your sunscreen – although (and how weird is this considering how much I am outside?) the results of the blood tests revealed I am Vitamin D deficient (due to very diligent sunblock application) and need to spend more "unprotected" time in the sunlight! Damned if you do, damned if your don't
I am wondering if this is like Survivor …. that for good team work and effort you are rewarded with letters from home, and you bravely fight off the tears as you read how much your families are missing you and love you (while the ones that get no mail equally try to smile and appear interested as they hear about your child's winning goal)?
Well, we do miss you and love you (although Jameson is afraid you "look weird" without a moustache!
Weird or not, come home safe. Regards to the other guys.
Kirsten, Jameson, and everybody else. xxx
Dear Gary,
Hi gorgeous, not sure if you actually get these messages, and not sure if it will do you any good to hear from us or not when you are focussed on the task at hand… BUT I couldn't not send you something when everyone else is! I really hope that you are enjoying yourself and it is not too rainy and uncomfortable. We check the weather everyday but foxtel and the computer tell us different things, anyway I hope Foxtel is right with basically fine weather.
We are all fine and no probs at all. We are thinking of you lots and CAN"T WAIT to see you in Cairns next week. The house is looking good, tiler should be in next week…
Hazel's message is: "ohh we're sorry you went to kokoda but I'll give you a kiss soon".
Here is Tilly: hello dad i miss you but i'll see you in cairns loveyou.
Love and kisses from us all.Hi everyone, sorry we have moved house and turns out the aerial they have installed on our house allows us to receive but not to transmit on the radio. We have been jumping up and down and help was supposed to be on its way this afternoon but it did not happen so more than likely they will install it tomorrow.
However, Tarina spoke to Russell this afternoon in his car by two way radio and was advised that all trekkers are doing ok and spent last night at Ofi Creek. Tonight they reached Agulogo where they will spend the night.
Photographs:
Pic 1: Ofi Creek area
Pic 2: Nauro Village
Pic 3 & 4: Agulogo Village area
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IMGP3970__Small_.JPGTomorrow they will walk to Menari and then on to Brigade Hill before reaching the half way point of Efogi sometime during the mid afternoon.
Photographs:
Pic 1: Menari
Pic 2: Brigade HillThanks for the update! It's great to hear they're all doing 'OK', and to have some idea of where they are.
Angie (Gary's wife!)Hi Everyone,
Thanks for the update.
We have been pouring over our Kokoda books and maps today trying and figure out where you would be along the track today
Looks like it was a hard slog uphill, we figured everyone will be snoring in camp tonight
Mitchell wanted to let Marc know he is missing you, and you know I love you the most
Jamie too would have something to say, but he has long crashed and burned.. he has come down with the flu 
We cant wait for your next update and Mitchell is looking forward to more pictures… it's a bit like, Where's Wally? But instead it's, Where's Daddy!
I hope the weather is staying good for you and your feet are dry
Lots of Love,
Kate, Mitchell and JamieWho woulda thought a pigeon could hike? Hiya Mick! There's betting going on more spirited than for the Melbourne Cup as to whether or not you're really on this trek. After all, we've seen you guys for sure only at the beginning; otherwise they could be stock photos afterwards while you're at some resort. I would hazard where but I'm still learning the geography of this part of the world. Hope your super Flubber-based socks are actually working and the pinkie balls were a hit. Thank your guide daily and don't let Gary fall off any logs. All the best!
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