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24/Sep/2009 9:30AM
John Derrick radioed in from Menari, on his way to Efogi to catch up with the team taken out and moving on by his assistant, Wallace Lemeki.
He had a talk with Grey May who agreed to stay on and take it easy, while waiting for the plane to pick him up on Friday. Derrick also assured him that he is in good hands and most important is to rest his knees.
24th September 2009 11:00AM
The Team who went before John Derrick under the care of Wallace arrived safely at Naduri, where they had lunch. After lunch they will push onto 1900 where they will camp.
Both Trekkers and KTL Boys are doing fine. Hopefully John Derrick will catch with them at 1900.
Yesterday we heard that trekkers were heading for Myola Junction and possibly Templeton's Crossing depending on how they were going so not too sure where they ended up but will wait for further updates from the track to confirm.
Greg May has remained at Manari and will fly into Port Moresby this morning.
25th September: I have not heard from the track today but as they are down quite low its sometimes hard to get a signal. I suspect there are somewhere near Eora Creek. By tomorrow they should be walking into Isurava Monument area before heading down to Kovello where they are spending the night.
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IMG_0922__Small_.JPG26th September: John Derick called in by phone today from Alola Village saying there planning the night at Isurava Monument. All trekkers continue to do well.
Alola_Village__Small_.jpg27th September: Last night as planned trekkers spent the night at Isurava Monument area. Today they pushed on down to Kovello where they had lunch with Rod Ori.
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IMG_0921__Small_.JPGMid afternoon they walked into Kokoda and at the present time they are relaxing at our base in Kokoda, 'Orohaven Kokoda Retreat'.
I talked to Wallace and he said some trekkers are wanting to head down to Kumusi River for the day tomorrow. Others are going to take a walk around Kokoda. John Prossor has indicated he wants to head to Saga village where Wallace and his family live.
As I type this I am thinking my son Shane will be run off his feet in Kokoda today with 22 hungry people to feed.
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P1050088.jpgApproximately four months ago I purchased some egg laying chickens. I only wanted about 10 but was informed I had to order a box.
When the box turned up it contained 70 + baby chics. These chickens are now fully grown and I was informed today are laying up to 45 eggs a day!..now thats a lot of eggs. So I guess if trekkers are looking for a boiled free range egg diet, they will have nothing to complain about at Orohaven!
P1050062.jpgSince commencing this business, I have noted how hard it is for the people of Kokoda and surrounding areas to always have protein in their diet. Hence, when I began building the retreat it was decided to include the Kokoda community so we introduced a chicken project.
In the beginning we purchased 50 meat chickens every week, however we are now purchasing 200 each week as is the popularity of this project.
We have also introduced rabbits which are yet to commence producing as the adult male we purchased to do the job died on us. Two new male rabbits travelled over to Kokoda today along with another 4 females.
Tomorrow morning trekkers will more than likely wake up to the sound of our ducks flying around the retreat. More often then not, they land on the roof of the huts and walk around the retreat so proud, almost like they own the place.
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P1050092.jpgTrekkers may have to fight over the only flushing toilet since they left Port Moresby but I am sure after the pits toilets, its a nice to know you no longer have to squat over a hold in the ground…oh the luxury!
There are also two showers or a creek whatever takes their fancy. Also hairdryers in the huts.
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P1050023.jpgThere is also a small shop where they can buy softdrinks; cold beer; snacks and hot food. I have not heard what is on the menu tonight but it may be pizza's cooked in our wood fired oven.
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Pizza__s.jpgWe caught up with trekkers last night when they shared their experiences with us. It appears they all had a great time walking with our Kokoda Trekking KTL boys.
By the way they spoke many may have come for say the personal challenge of walking the track but along the way found the history and also the culture of the people of the Oro Province.
Apparently in Kokoda lots of families of our staff went to Orohaven to meet the trekkers their husbands walked with. I heard also that one guy gave his trekker a pig tusk which is an honour they bestow very few people which makes him pretty special to his porter and their village.
The 'couple' apparently got a thrill out of the place we used to refer to as the honeymoon suite….now all and sundry have re named it the 'Love Shack'.
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Orohaven_Guesthouse_2.jpgAfter they arrived in from Kokoda yesterday, our driver picked them up and drove them around to the market area at Boroko and some other parts before returning them back to the Gateway Hotel.
It was arranged by John Prossor that trekkers be picked up at 6:15pm to take everyone down to the Royal Papua Yacht Club for dinner. We met up with them there and I took some photographs which turned out pretty terrible perhaps due to the lighting inside the club so my apologies in advance for the clarity of the pics.
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IMGP0904.jpgmore pics following:
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