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Wallace has called up twice today. The first call was around 7am when he informed me they were all getting ready to move out from Efogi and were going to try and reach Templeton's Crossing II today.
He said all trekkers were happy, enjoying themselves and everyone was bonding quite well with himself and our porters. He said he was leading from the front and Harold his assistant guide as down the back at the rear of the group.
Some trekkers were struggling a bit but were coping ok and he is confident they will all finish their trek.
As it was a good signal today they caught up on where they had stopped along the track. Their first night was spent at Goodwater. The next night they spent at Ioribaiwa. They then had a long day to push past Nauro to Agulogo. From Agulogo they walked to Efogi.
He said there were three rations packs missing from day 7 so we will have to get someone to run them in from the other side up to Isurava Village to meet up with them. Sometime back when the people who look after our half way point guesthouse went to church someone broke into their storeroom so assume it was that time they were stolen. However, its all part of doing business up here.
Photographs:
Efogi area
Copy__2__of_Day_5_Will___Gary_crossing_after_leaving_Efogi_1__Small___Small_.jpg
D4_GOOD_VIEW__Small_.JPGAt 10am he called in from Naduri saying they were all sitting around having morning tea in that village before moving off towards Templeton's Crossing.
Photoraph:
Part of the track they would have walked down this morning.
D4_MOVING_ALONG__Small_.JPG8th August:Trekkers have now reached Isurava Memorial area where they are spending the night. Tomorrow morning they will have a service down at the monument before moving off towards KOKODA and the completion of their trek.
Wallace was saying they planned on a singalong last night but it rained at Templeton's I where they ended up on the track!!! So tonight if everyone is not too tired, they plan on singing a few songs.
Geoff, if you are following this trek, I spoke by sat phone to Greg and YES, he too remembers you! so you have definitely got the right guy who you knew from high school. He seemed quite surprised when I told him you had tracked him down through this website.
Everyone continues to do well and it seems they have all bonded as a group. I spoke to Kerry Little earlier on who was chasing the footy scores..poor guy must have been hanging on all day as earlier this morning Wallace asked me when I was in the car driving and only now found out the results and passed them on….thanks to 'Google' as I do not follow AFL.
Photographs:
Pic 1: Eora Creek crossing where they would have walked today
Pic 2 & 3: Alola Village
Pic 4: The track from Alola to Isurava Monument areaAlola_to_Eora_Creek__Small_.jpg
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Isurava_to_Alola.jpgPhotographs:
Pic 1: Aerial view of Isurava
Pic 2 & 3: Isurava Memorial
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Isurava_Monument__Small_.jpgHi Gail,
Delighted to learn that Trek 531 has apparently gone so well and is nearing a successfull completion.
Thanks for mentioning my name to Greg, I was certain Greg was my old school mate from circa early 1960's. Feel free to pass on my email address to him at your convenience. I will also leave my address with his Melbourne consultancy room. Nice if a couple of old "Grey Nomads" can make contact after all these years.
Cheers, Geoff Hardie.
Editors Note: Especially now, that you have another thing in common besides school as you now have KOKODA
Update 9th August: Heard from Wallace twice today. The first time was when they had reached Deneki saying they were on target to walk into Kokoda around midday. After looking around the station he thought they would be at Orohaven around 2pm.
Around 5:30pm I heard from him again saying they were all safely at Orohaven Kokoda Retreat and that he was very HAPPY as all 18 trekkers started and finished their trek.
Apparently there were lots of laughs and celebrations going on. The husband/wife combination got the guesthouse with the double bed and it seems that got a little bit of excitement going with other trekkers paying them out according to Wallace.
So picture Catherine and hubby Jeff sleeping in this room tonight! The others will spend their night on camp stretchers with mattresses…hey we can't spoil everyone but in time we will try.
I heard the menu tonight is chicken for dinner! After days on dry rations I am sure it will be a welcome change.
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Orohaven_Guesthouse_1.jpgCongratulations trek 531, we trust you enjoyed your trek and the company of our porters. You all did extremely well it seems according to the report just received from Wallace Lemeki.
Looking forward to meeting up with you tomorrow with the exception of Adam and Michael McKellar who have decided to stay on in Kokoda for another day and fly back in on Tuesday.
Thank you all for choosing to walk with Kokoda Trekking.
kind regards
Gail & The team at Kokoda Trekking
Update 11th August: Michael and Adam are now back safely in Port Moresby. One flight is missing so thought I would post this so you are all aware they are safe and sound at the Gateway Hotel.
The aircraft we chartered today to fly in the generators and to pick them up was cancelled due to weather but they ended up boarding another flight and arrived back around 1pm.
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