At this point of time Russell Eroro asked me if Iwanted to go up and walk along the trail or take the short cut. I looked up and at the time the river seemed like a better choice……that is until you walk over rock after rock after rock! Sorry about the pic, its not so clear but it will give you the general idea of what it is like…..who said…[Read more]

I forgot how many logs I climbed over along the trail. I noticed the boys used to just step over them……but for my short legs, it was sit, throw one leg over and follow suit with the other….now guys, this is hardly the time to take my photograph!Hey take a look…..this time I am ahead of BEV, she must have been having a bad day! DSC01220__Sm…

Day 2 – we can do this we say as we pause at yet another river crossing on the Kokoda Trail. Of course we can, we have the determination to finish walking the trail no matter what. As Bev remarked, she never thought for one moment that we would not complete the Kokoda Trail…but still this was only Day 2: DSC01219__Small_.JPG

As you will see in this photograph, personal porters are always there to help. Chris reaches out and holds onto the back of Bev's backpack to help break her fall as she climbs down a steep embankment. If you look carefully you will also see tree roots which are pretty much the norm on the trail. If you put your foot incorrectly on a slippery…[Read more]

You thought I carried everything but the kitchen sink but check out Bev's pack that Chris is carrying. Our boys have remarked in the past that they prefer to carry for men than women as we tend to pack more than men…..after seeing the amount of clothes the guides took, I can see why…haha DSC01215__Small_.JPG

Day 2 – Uberi Creek to Va'Ule Creek: Bev and Chris take the lead and head off up the hill. Bev always felt she did better first thing in the morning and was always up and away first before any of us could keep up with her. Chris as her personal porter was only seconds behind her and made sure she was safe throughout her 9 day…[Read more]

Eric Uwea takes a break before heading off on the trail. Check out his medical bag….its his baby and he insisted on carrying it all the way along the trail. Eric is another really fit guide and he is our tip to win the Kokoda 24 hour race in August. He is tall, long legged and is really very fast so definitely stands a good chance of winning…[Read more]

On one of the hills leading up to Uberi Creek Russell who had not been out on the trail since July, started vomiting. Eric Uwea ran ahead and it was decided instead of Ua'ule Creek we would set up camp at Uberi instead to give Russell time to get his strength back…..yes, I guess my pack must have been heavy. I weighed it at one time during the…[Read more]

One of our food porters Aiwa from Veselugo takes time out for a rest on a log at Uberi Creek. Picture_006__Small_.jpg

Oops, the guys are not quite ready to trek…we turned around and saw our guides (now food porters climbing out of the water to get dressed….I quickly reached for my camera).Take a look at these guys, not an ounce of fat on them just muscle! You should see how they walk up and down the mountains on the trail, they make it look easy and yet they…[Read more]

On reaching the other side, Bev was all smiles as we both discussed our very first river crossing….little did we know how many more there was to come!Photograph: Bev Howell relaxes on a large rock following her first Goldie River crossing before commencing to climb, up, up & up! On the left in this picture is Syprian Haera one of our Kokoda…[Read more]

We soon came to Goldie River where we saw the majority of the guides (now food porters) already on the other side stripping off about to go swimming…..but I still had to cross over the river. Russell told me to take my shoes off and put on my sandles as the stones are quite sharp. So being a very good student, I took off my shoes and changed…[Read more]

The picture below does not emphasise the steepness of the climb down from Owers' Corner but we managed ok and were soon heading through the bush for our next destination being Goldie River:Bev Howell & her porter Chris heading down the steep embankment from the hill at Owers' Corner: DSC01206__Small_.JPG

Loaded once again with our backpacks, we decided to pose for a photograph before heading down the hill from the archway at Ower's Corner to head for Goldie River. This particular area I was already familiar with as during a training session, we headed out one weekend for an overnight. For anyone living here in Port Moresby I strongly recommend…[Read more]

After about three hours of walking we ended up at Ower's Corner where we stopped to eat our lunch, and took some photographs for our album and to share with you our visitors here on our website. Three of the boys sat down and played their ukulele and kept us entertained as was to be the start of many more to come!Our group sitting down at Ower's…[Read more]

A short distance behind was Bev Howell and Russell Eroro:DSC01203__Small_.JPG

A short time later we all headed down towards Ower's Corner which even at that hour was quite hot and we soon built up a sweat. Dont ask me how I ended up with a uke'ule as I wouldnt have a clue how to play it.Myself Gail Thomas (pen name aussie on pngbd & kokoda websites) heading off towards Ower's Corner to commence the trek of a lifetime! DSC01…[Read more]

We finally reached our destination of Veselugo where we employed another two guys to act as food porters. Our guys at Veselugo checking and packing the last minute things into their backpacks. In the foreground is Gava our IT guy who took over from Jimmy when he left to live in Australia. Gava drove our Hilux back into Port Moresby and I have…[Read more]

Day 1 – Port Moresby to Veselugo by road transport. Then by foot for a three hour walk to Ower's Corner followed by another couple of hours to where we overnighted at Uberi Creek: On the way out to Veselugo, Bev wanted to stop and have her photograph taken at McDonald's Corner. Bob McDonald checks our website every morning so will have a…[Read more]

Somewhere in amongst all my training, an old friend from Lae days by the name of Beverley Howell a nursing sister who worked at Angau for many many years as the night superintendant asked if she could join me on the trail…wait for it, Bev is now a proud 65 1/2 but contrary to myself still works in a hospital 3 days a week so is used to being on…[Read more]