- This topic has 4,467 voices and 12 replies.
- Posts
Tonight we welcomed Timothy Falland to PNG who has come to walk the Kokoda Track commencing by flying into Popondetta and driving by road up to Kokoda where he will overnight at Orohaven Kokoda Retreat. The next day he will commence his walk across the track with John Derick Eroro as the guide. John is one of the longest walkers on the track with over 400 treks to his credit so they definitely will not get lost!
Photograph: Timothy Falland seen here at the Gateway Hotel swimming pool area.
IMGP1671__640x480_.JPGHe has an early start tomorrow morning as the flight is down for 6am and he has to book in an hour early. After arriving at Orohaven he will have time to relax before he commences his trek as he relaxes at Orohaven Kokoda Retreat. Our driver Richard drove down to Popondetta today to make sure he is in time to meet the flight when it arrives at Guria airport tomorrow.
Update 24th May: Tim arrived around 8:45 into Guria Airport after the flight ended up going via Tufi. Our driver Richard and his two sons were there to meet him. Shortly after arriving they drove into the township of Popondetta and he was shown the monument area.
KTL2_Kokoda.JPG
SDC10183__640x480_.JPG
SDC10184__640x480_.JPG
SDC10185__640x480_.JPGAt 12:30pm I phoned up our driver to check on how things were going and he informed me the expected time of arrival at Orohaven would be approximately 1:30. I then spoke to Tim and he said he was enjoying the experience of seeing first hand the countryside surrounding the Kokoda district.
At 1:30 Richard phoned to say they had in fact arrived and that our cook had prepared some lunch and that they were going to have pizza tonight for dinner.
At 6pm I made another call to Kokoda and was informed it was raining heavily and that Tim was resting inside his hut. John Derick Eroro and the others guys on this trek were there in waiting and all was good for them walking off tomorrow towards Isurava.
No doubt Tim is enjoying his sleep on a mattress, the last for awhile before he beds down for the night on the track on a bed roll or inflatable mattress, whatever, unless you are used to sleeping like this, one can never get really comfortable. This morning he informed me the hotel forgot to wake him on time and it was one hell of a rush to get down to the domestic airport for his flight. Apparently the time he was supposed to book in was the time the hotel woke him up.
IMGP0253__640x480_.JPG
IMGP0254__640x480_.JPG
P3310838__640x480_.JPGNot too sure which hut he was designated, but assume he got the double bed. Perhaps this afternoon he relaxed in the hammock as he got some rest for what lay ahead when he commences his walk tomorrow.
Main_Pic.jpg
Orohaven_Guesthouse_3.jpgUpdate 25th May:John Derick Eroro called in this morning to say they were on the move and would spend the night at Isurava Village. He said they aimed for a 6:30am start but got away just before 7am. Picture him this morning walking along this road on the way up to the Kokoda Station to begin his walk. Past the Kokoda Hospital where we erected a signpost some years back and then onto the track itself. The first photograph shows the road from Kokoda up to the station.
IMGP0242__640x480_.jpg
SDC10744__640x480_.JPG
SDC10749__640x480_.JPGBy now he should have reached the Deniki area where he will start to climb. It will be at this point he will know he is on the Kokoda Trail.
SDC10735__640x480_.JPG
SDC10728__640x480_.JPG
SDC10729__640x480_.JPG
SDC10730__640x480_.JPGUpdate 26th May: John Derick phoned in yesterday from the Isurava Memorial area to say everything was going really well and that Tim was walking well with no problems whatsoever.
He went on to say that last night the plan was for them to spend the night at Eora Creek. Tonight will be spent at 1900/Myola Junction area.
SDC10622__640x480_.JPG
SDC10686__640x480_.JPG
SDC10685__640x480_.JPGUpdate 28th May: Around 10:30am John Derick phoned in to say they were at Mt Bellamy. Turns out they are ahead of schedule and spent last night at Templeton's I. Tonight plan a) is to stop at 1900/Myola Junction and plan B) Naduri Village.
The way Tim is walking John thinks it will be plan (b.
SDC10614__640x480_.JPG
SDC10607__640x480_.JPGUpdate 29th May: Tim and our staff are now on the home stretch. Around 7:45am this morning they called me to say they were at Maguli Range, that all was good.
I spoke to Tim and he said it is what he expected but he is enjoying himself. He has a few names for John who is pushing him along but said it tongue in cheek so am assuming they are getting on really well out there. He said John has been singing away as they walk.
On the last overnight the plan is to be at Goldie River. I did not ask the question but am assuming tonight will be at Ua'Ule Creek.
P3270640__640x480_.JPG
P3270641__640x480_.JPG
P3270649__640x480_.JPG
P3270630__640x480_.JPGUpdate 31st May: Sorry I could not update until now as my internet has been down all weekend and only just now have I been reconnected again.
Tim is now safely back in Port Moresby after having been picked up earlier this morning along with his guide John Derick Eroro and other Kokoda Trekking staff who walked with him along the track.
As I write this, they are all enjoying a beer together before he returns to the Gateway Hotel.
Congratulations Timothy from all of us here at Kokoda Trekking.
SDC10849__640x480_.JPG
SDC10850__640x480_.JPG
SDC10855__640x480_.JPGOn behalf of Kokoda Trekking, thanks for choosing to walk with us.
kind regards
Gail & the team at Kokoda Trekking
Kokoda_Logo_160_size.jpg
- You must be logged in to reply to this topic.