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The guys are up at Naduli lookout – enjoying the panaromic view and resting their tired legs.
From here it's all downhill and a pause at the bottom where the cool creek is to cool off or have a refreshing bath and then walk from here towards Efogi the next stop-over.
The guys asked if they have any messages (probably dying to hear some messages right now now) but we'll call them up and ask if they want to send messages at this stage.
However, all is well and having a taste of what it's like to trek along one of Papua New Guinea's renowned WWII track.
TREK 88 and TREK 146 have hit town!! The guys are now at Gateway Hotel Port Moresby, probably kicking-off already with a few stubbies and relaxing bath or even a nap at the poolside area.
Tonight will be the presentation of the certificates of Achievement on their trek achievement on the renowned Kokoda Trail.
Everyone's doing absolutely great. Proud of their achievement and happy to come out at last….more so happily looking forward to flying back home and share their trekking experiences with family and friends.
Will upload some of the pictures of the trek on the website soon so you can have a look at them.
Have a good day y'all.
Message from Deb to Robert:
QUOTERobert, all is well here, had huge garage sale, so much room now in your workshop, ha ha
Ray, have you had to use the spade yet? By the way your car has changed shape, not too much damage its just difficult to open the driver door, only joking.
Hope you are having a good time. Love DebThe Updates so far:
We finally got in touch with this group at Menari – What a relief!!
The last few days were tough days for the all-male team who battled it just fine out on the 96km ardous trail. Yes the boys are definitely doing it tough – talk about six days of continous walk accompanied with very rough, steep ascend and descend, and nothing but… up and up and down and down.
Despite the exhaustible and gruelling chore of tackling the rugged, steep, slippery and perilous terrain of the Owen Stanley Ranges in just six days, the guys are putting on a brave face.
"The guys are very, very tired at this stage but I can see they are very, very determined to keep fighting and move on. They all too want to beat the time and yes we will come out just fine," their guide reported from Menari where we radioed in.
And that is very, very reassuring indeed. "Everyone is exhausted, but all in one piece and are okay."
From Menari the guys will continue their next leg of journey towards Nauro – where they set their tents up to camp for the night (tonight).
PS..We also asked the guide to ask them if they wanted to pass any messages back to their loved ones back home. May not seem like a good idea for them at this stage becuase of the pace they are going, however,…..I think it would do them a lot of good if they hear from the lot back home.
The guys have left Kokoda this morning – around 10am. They will make a trip first to Tufi/Wanigela and and then into POM today. It seems like tonight the guys will celebrate the sucess of their walk.
No updates yet from this group. Still waiting for their guide to call and fill us in on the latest progress. Would be interesting to note as they are walking at a fast pace while everyone else is trekking at a slow pace.
We decided to call just now to get their whereabouts and how they are coping with life in the jungle when unfortunately the radio signal blacked out.
It is still not working as I write but hopefully the signals will come back and will try to get in touch with them.
With the amount of feedback we get from our other trekkers, we sure that all is well with the fast trek team.
The only problem is they are moving or walking most of the time to beat the time scheduled to come out that it is hard to keep in touch with them.
Latest Update on this trek:
As of 3:40 am (PNG Time) (almost 20 minutes ago) – the group guide radioed base here in Port Moresby and reported that they have finally reached Eora Creek – where they will set up their tents and camp for the night.
And speaking of which the guys probably have their tents up already. It is pretty cold up here – I remember from my last trip I couldn't even get a wash at the creek as the water seemed like ice once i put my feet in it.
Anyway all seems well as our guide reported: "All trekkers orait, weather orait, track orait, all porters too orait and everything else is all right."
The group is walking towards Ower's Corner and tomorrow should see them heading passed Templeston Crossing and up towards Bellamy and finally the Myola campsite.
They are also likely to come across Trek 85 members who will be making their way towards Eora Creek.
Latest Update on Trail
Everyone experienced a few drizzles along the way. Light showers today, but not most of the way.
"Not bad really, everyone's coping well with the walk and the weather. The track conditions is okay, not slippery and the trekkers are also coping well with that," reported Isaac – the guide.
Isaac was up at Naduri Lookout – the only place where he could get a clear reception – when he radioed base here in Port Moresby.
He said most of the trekkers were ahead, now ambling down toward Myola junction – where they will spend the night under the cooler canopy of Myola juntion.
It will be hard to make contact from now on untill tomorrow after they have left Myola and reach the tip of Mt Bellamy.
Sorry Leila and Saal I was unable pass your messages at this stage as Tony and Brendan had already gone ahead of Isaac and towards the next campsite. However, I told him to inform the guys that they have messages when he reached them at the campsite. I'm sure they will be happy and will be looking foward to recieving these messages tommorrow. (Might take some time to climb up to Bellamy which the highest point along the track – almost 3,000 metres – so will need a little bit of patience from you)
Until then….. <img src="http://developer2/board/upload/style_emoticons//smile.gif” style=”vertical-align:middle” emoid=”:)” border=”0″ alt=”smile.gif” />
And come out today they did!! The guys completed their final leg of journey today at Kokoda Station. It's over! No more trudging up and down the infamous trail for Trek 88 and Trek 146 .
What an adventure for the guys and you made it all easier with your wonderful and encouraging messages.
Tonight they camp at Russell's Block and will all fly out of Kokoda tomorrow back to POM ….and from Port Moresby back home.
Like many before them, they came they saw and conquered the mighty Kokoda Trail.
A BIG TWO THUMBS UP TO THE GUYS!!….and please don't forget to share your wonderful experiences with friends and family. Let's keep the spirit of Kokoda Alive
LEST WE FORGET
100_370644.jpgFrom us at KTL:
CONGRATULATIONS TO EVERYONE WHO COMPLETED & OTHERS WHO MADE AN ATTEMPT TO COMPETE IN THE RACE, EVERYONE's A WINNER!!!
What a great effort put in by everyone during the event. Thanks once again for making this event a successful one.
Once again a BIG CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL OF YOU:
To the Anzac Team: Sean O'Hara, Brian O'Hara, Robert Drysdale, Charles Chambers and Andrew Rowan. Congratulations..What a Great Effort! You guys did great!
IMG_1263.jpgWith the challenge set for next year, everyone is looking forward to compete with better results.
From the KTL boys ?This isn?t the end and we are looking forward to another race.?
Ends//
KTL team at the beginning of the race started out with eight (8) players. Three didn't make it till Monday – a day after the race.
IMG_1264.jpgThe guys were happy with their turned up which made them the winners of the team event.
?We are happy at least we have made a name for the company in winning the team event,? Rod said.
Rusty__s_Kokoda_Challenge_079.jpgRod Ori who was the main tip for KTL boys, was also ahead but had his knees injured at Efogi ? that too slowed him down.
However, both Rod and Wayne manage to make it to the finish line. ?We will be more prepared next year. We have learnt something on this first race,? the guys said.
Rod Ori struggling up hill…..
Rusty__s_Kokoda_Challenge_070.jpgWayne fell and injured his knee at Nauro and that slowed him down. Before then he was ahead of everyone.
He said, he also had problems with his torch batteries. ?I would have run all night if I had enough batteries for the night.?
Wayne with Gail Thomas who welcomed him with a song at Ower's Corner……
When the boys took off from Kokoda Memorial Hospital, John Denver's TAKE ME HOME COUNTRY ROAD belted out from the PA system. During the last climb at Ower's Corner, Wayne was in considerable pain and was really struggling…..thats when Gail started singing the same song, TAKE ME HOME COUNTRY ROAD and he smiled, dug deep and got across the finish line. Before long others joined in and everyone was singing the song…..it gave Wayne the inspiration he needed to get up those last few yards and finish in the top 10:
Rusty__s_Kokoda_Challenge_078.jpgThey said they would have made it first but have all experienced problems along the way.
?I would have made it all the way and to the finish earlier if I hadn?t injured my knee,? Wayne who was clearly disappointed because of his injured knee said.
Wayne, completed the race even though he injured his knee. He walks with the support of his walking stick up the last steps to Ower's Corner.
Rusty__s_Kokoda_Challenge_077.jpg
