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Both these treks got underway on the 18th May at Owers' Corner and were welcomed by the Governor of Queensland, His Excellency the Honourable Paul de Jersey AC and his wife Mrs Kaye de Jersey before they commenced their walk across the Kokoda Trail.
Trek 1012 consists of:
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[*]Paul Blomfield
[*]Che Ramsey
[*]Antony Zahra
[*]Ray Randall
[*]Graham Baxter
[*]Kristal Carter
[*]Chris White
[*]Milica KmetovicTrek 1021 consists of:
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[*]Alistair Birch
[*]Brett Serratore
[*]Anthony Di Fabio
[*]PatVainerere (Guide)Both groups got away from Owers' Corner mid morning and spent the night at Goodwater. The next morning they were on the move early and spent last night at Ofi Creek.
Today they have reached Menari Village with the exception of one very brave ex SAS soldier by the name of Antony Di Fabio who is walking with the use of crutches and willpower, he is at Agulogo for the night.
For photographs taken on the day they commenced, please refer to our facebook page:
https://www.facebook…153979209385971
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13230341_10153979391240971_5587029501420603498_n.jpgToday they had another tough day arriving at Menari Village for the night with the exception of Antony Zahra who arrived at Agulogo campsite around 8:30pm.
Everyone is doing well but Antony as could be expected walking with the aid of crutches and only 1 leg, is hurting. Blisters are starting to appear and both sides are giving him problems. But hey he is one gutsy guy to even be on the trail with his disability.
I am sure you will all join me in wishing him the very best as he tries to complete his trek.
Antony Zahra2.jpgWith the exception of Antony Zahra, the two groups have remained together and spent the night at Kagi. This morning I talked to Pat Vainerere our aussie guide and he said it was a tough day yesterday but they all did well and now looking forward to the day ahead. This was around 6:30am this morning. The plan today is to reach Eora Creek. I also spoke this morning to another group heading in the opposite direction.
Both will cross paths sometime today and no doubt tell a few stories of whats ahead of them. Its been raining on the other side of the track so they should start to experience some wet slippery areas. This morning I received two way radio contact from Efogi. No sign of Antony Zahra so either the group stayed the night in Menari or somewhere in between. The Efogi radio operator has promised to contact me once they are sighted in Efogi the half way point. Its a hard climb up to Brigade Hill so Antony will have his work cut out for him as he makes his way across the Kokoda Trail. Will keep you all informed as soon as I receive confirmation from the track either by two way radio or satellite phone.
Eora Creek Bridge.jpgI spoke to Antony Zahra at Menari yesterday. I asked him how he was and his reply was 'pain is a state of the mind'. This was after I had spoken to Wayne who was telling me he has blisters; been vomiting, you name it….but….he is not giving up. He wants to keep going to the half way point of Efogi this afternoon. In PNG the term used is 'hard headed'. Wayne has been trying to encourage him to rest at Menari but he wants to definitely push on. He is even thinking of the hardest route via Kagi and not Naduri.
I had heard they make them tough in the SAS but now I know its true. He sounded so HAPPY when I told him total strangers back home are posting not just friends and family. I told Wayne I would text some of your comments to his satellite phone. He said to tell you all, HE WILL MAKE IT TO KOKODA EVEN IF HE HAS TO CRAWL. He then heaped plenty of praise on our two boys with him, Wayne Urina Tihimi and Hobert Keke. He said what they have had done for him out there is beyond belief. I think Antony has found the modern 'fuzzy wuzzy angels' of today. Well done Antony , well done our KTL boys.
Update 22nd May 1:30pm. I will copy paste something I just put up on our Kokoda Trekking facebook page:
This gutsy former SAS soldier has now reached the half way point of EFOGI. Last night his group of three spent the night in Menari. This morning they reached Brigade Hill around 11:30am and were in Efogi by 1:30pm. Apparently two different trekking companies crossed paths with them today and were shocked to see Antony. One guy was struggling in one of the other companies when he noticed Antony. He told our guide that if he can do it, so can he! In Menari women were crying. Today in Efogi a similar experience when the whole village saw him coming down the mountain and were apparently yelling and cheering him on. Tomorrow instead of taking the easier route through Naduri Village Antony has decided on the hardest way through Kagi. Guess he heard his mates went that way so wants to follow suit. According to the ranger at Efogi, he wanted to keep walking to Kagi today but they encouraged him to stay and enjoy their hospitality instead. If you can reach Kagi tomorrow Antony, you can finish this trek! GO ANTONY ZAHRA
Antony Zahra.jpgThis morning they left Kagi shortly after 6am and were at Digger's camp for morning tea with the final destination for the day being Eora Creek. Chris apparently fell on a bridge crossing and hurt his back. He is ok its just slowing him down a little bit. He has hired a personal porter to help him and all is now ok as they both head toward the finish line. No problems with others in either group. Two more nights on the track until they walk off in Kokoda. Naturally each time they contact me they ask about Antony.
This morning Pat said his Kokoda Property guys were doing quite well and enjoying the company of the others as they make their way along the track.
Both treks have now reached Isurava Village where they are spending the night in readiness to walk off the track into Kokoda around midday to 1:30 pm tomorrow.
Pat called up to say they were all ok and doing well but thinking a lot about Antony Zahara coming up the rear of them that due to time restraints they were forced to leave behind.
No doubt exciting times for them tomorrow as they prepare to walk off the track and celebrate a successful trek.
http://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fkokodatrail.com.au%2Ftrek1012.html&h=8AQFYT9-m&s=1
Isuravaa.jpgRe – Antony Zahra: Wayne, Hobert and Antony are now at 1900/Myola Junction having left Naduri around 11am this morning. Antony is still putting in a gutsy effort and has people all along the track talking about him. I have a two way radio in my office and several times today I have heard messages being passed around as to whether they have sighted him; his location and so forth. It should get a little easier for him now as mainly downhills ahead but still a big climb up to Alola and lots of tree roots as he heads down off the mountain in a few days time.
Anthony Zahra.jpgCongratulations to trekkers from both groups as they walked under the archway in Kokoda round 1:15pm this afternoon. They have had a look around the Kokoda Museum area, about to head to what is referred to as the china shop no doubt to stock up on a few beers to be shared later today as they make their way along the road that leads to Popondetta.
Tonight they will sleep approx half way along this road at Orohaven Pija Retreat – enjoy a home cooked meal and some pizza's and cool off in their creek.
Tomorrow they will have breakfast at Pija and then head to Girua airport on the outskirts of Popondetta before flying back to Port Moresby.
Well done everyone from all of us here at Kokoda Trekking.
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Side view guesthouse.jpgAntony Zahra: Not long ago I got the phone call I have been waiting for all day! Wayne called around 2pm to say they have now reached Templeton's Crossing 2. Is there such a thing as a blister on top of a blister? Seems Antony's hands are stuffed and full of blisters but he refuses to give up. In fact the subject has never come up. I doubt Antony would give up on anything he set his mind to doing. I asked if he had bandaged his hands but Wayne said he offered but he said no, that he knows his body and will put up with them until he finishes his trek. His mates walked off the track mid afternoon and will fly back to Australia tomorrow.
For Antony there is no need to hurry he can take his time and make every day count as he heads towards the finish line in Kokoda. Earlier today an aussie guide from another company stopped and spoke with him. He told Antony, you are the first to walk totally unaided without being carried at sometime throughout your trek. Come on anyone reading this, only a couple more days to get this guy across the finish line and under the archway in Kokoda. What an inspiration he is to us all. For those of you who have never walked the Kokoda Trail, just check out the terrain below and imagine for a minutes doing this with only one leg.
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