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Trek 120 – Pam Christies group: All trekkers arrived back in Port Moresby yesterday along with their porters and guide.
Sailas and his porters returned to Kokoda this morning along with porters left over from Trek 59. All had permanent smiles on their faces as they headed for home sweet home after 9 + days away.
Trek 74 – Harry's Heroes – Walking for a Cure: Have just received radio contact from John Derrick Eroro and they have all reached our food drop off point Efogi. Tonight they will have wild pig for supper providing of course some villagers where able to catch one.
John said all trekkers, porters and himself were all in good shape. In the background I could hear the trekkers yelling and shouting so know they are in good spirits. They plan to come out on Wednesday from Ower's Corner.
Treks 79 – 22/05 – 30/05: All trekkers are in town ready for their flight to Kokoda tomorrow with the exception of one, Melissa Houghton who missed her connection. Melissa will now fly out to Popondetta and play catch up. However with the group overnighting at Russell's family block tomorrow night and her expected arrival into Popondetta around 7am on Monday followed by a three hour drive up to Kokoda, Melissa wont be too far behind and hopefully will catch up with the other trekkers for their next overnight at Isurava.
Trek 94 – the Fast Trek Guys: Mark Goodear phoned up to say they had reached Port Moresby and are all ready for their trek commencing tomorrow.
A pre briefing is planned at the Gateway Hotel tonight at 6pm poolside.
Sunday, 22nd May, 2005:Unfortuntately the flight to Kokoda today was delayed due to the pilot and aircraft getting stuck on the ground at Fane due to bad weather.
The flight to Kokoda is now due to leave at 11am. Trekkers were picked up at 7am and taken to the airport. All backpacks and trekkers were weighed in and the wait began.
I drove them around Port Moresby to kill some time but on arrival back at Jackson's airport, the aircraft had not long landed and was being refuelled and had not even done its first flight for the morning via Woitape onto Kokoda.
I also ran into Robert Frost – Toogee Treks from Newcastle and his group of trekkers were waiting to board the first flight to Kokoda via Woitape. Robert & I had emailed back and forth earlier so it was good to meet him at long last.
After some discussion it was decided by the trekkers to return to the Gateway Hotel and sit poolside until the flight was due to take off rather than sit around the airport. Airlines of PNG have just phoned and said to have my trekkers back at the airport at 10:55am.
Our porters and guides are on standby in Kokoda waiting for trekkers to arrive.
Trek 79: Trekkers all got away ok around 11ish and were met at Kokoda Airport by Russell Eroro (Kokoda Trekking Ltd – my JV Business Partner) and his two guides + porters.
Trekkers after arriving at Kokoda were driven around Kokoda Station and later taken down to Russell's Family block where they were to have a relaxing afternoon hanging out with the family, taking a swim in a nearby river and getting to bed early in anticipation of heading off early this morning to reach Isurava their destination for today.
Melissa Houghton flew into town on the Cairns flight at 1:25. I met up with her and booked her on the 4pm afternoon flight to Popondetta. Two way radio contact was then made with KTL 1 guys in Kokoda to inform them they had to arrange for a driver to go down to Popondetta and collect her from the airport so she could join her 9 day group.
Melissa was just so pleased that we were able to assist and accommodate her at the last minute into another way of reaching Kokoda. Turned out she sat on a Qantas flight in Sydney for a few hours not been able to get off. When she complained she had another international connection, they took her ticket and came back and explained to her she could get another flight later that day.
When she finally arrived in Brisbane, the flight had left and she could not get another flight so panicked and phoned me. All the staff offered was that she cancel her trip and claim back from her insurance company. Melissa phoned and said she didnt want to cancel and was there another way. So the good news is we found another way and Melissa now will do the trek she has been thinking about and training for, to walk the Kokoda Trail in 9 Days.
Trek 94 – The Fast Trek: By the time they left the Fast Trek guys were getting a little edgy worrying about their first day's walk and their desire to make Isurava by nightfall. Well at least Grant Colman who was appointed their trek leader seemed worried.
I explained to Grant that I suspected Russell would spoil them and due to their late departure would more than likely drive them up to Kovello in his Red 4 Wheel Drive Hulux. He smiled at this point then added….we will feel cheated!
I heard later on yesterday that they did in fact get driven up and last night heard by two way radio from Rod their guide that they had reached Isurava Village where they were to overnight. This morning they will walk up to Isurava Battlesite and then probably Templeton's Crossing for their next overnight but will keep you posted. All trekkers looked fit and ready to take on Kokoda!
Trek 74 – Harry Heroe's Walking for a Cure: This group split into two yesterday with two guys struggling. John Derrick Eroro their guide stayed back with the two and this morning will be up bright and early to walk up to Nauro Village to join the others. They are both doing ok but John made the decision to let them rest rather than push on yesterday.
Before they left the indicated they wanted to make up a day and come out at Ower's Corner on Wednesday not Thursday as previously planned so they could have another day in Port Moresby. Based on this, they are target to get out this coming Wednesday.
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